Chapter 4 - The War at the Docks
That night, the silver drive revealed everything.
Sitting in Gabriel’s study, we reviewed the mirrored files. Chloe hadn't just been running credit checks; she had been leaking confidential harbor development plans to Nicholas Marcone’s men, allowing them to buy up surrounding warehouse leases before the city council could approve the public bids.
“She’s sloppy,” I observed, scrolling through the spreadsheet. “She used her work email to send the encrypted files to Marcone’s lieutenant.”
“She’s nineteen and thinks her mother is invincible,” Gabriel said, sitting beside me on the leather sofa, a glass of scotch in his hand. “People who have never faced consequences always leave a trail.”
“What’s the next step?” I asked, turning to look at him.
Gabriel set his glass on the coffee table. “Tomorrow night, Marcone is hosting a private auction at Warehouse 14 on the eastern docks. He’s putting your father’s riverfront deeds on the block to raise liquid capital for his drug shipment.”
“He’s selling my father’s land?” Anger surged through me again.
“He thinks he owns it,” Gabriel replied smoothly. “He invited the city’s top land developers, along with your stepmother. He wants her there to sign the final transfer papers in front of the buyers so the title appears legitimate.”
“I want to be at that auction,” I stated firmly.
Gabriel looked at me, his gaze lingering on my eyes, my lips, and the posture of my shoulders.
“It’s dangerous, Nora,” he warned softly. “Marcone’s men don't play by suburban rules. If a gunfight starts, I cannot guarantee your safety if you’re standing in the open.”
“I’ve lived through a house fire, my father’s murder, and being sold in a back alley for fifty grand,” I said, looking him dead in the eye. “A mob auction doesn't scare me.”
For a long moment, the quiet room was filled only with the sound of the ocean crashing against the cliffs outside.
Then, Gabriel reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His fingers were warm against my cool skin, sent a shiver straight down my spine.
“You are remarkable, Nora,” he murmured, his voice laced with something raw and dark. “Most people break when they’re thrown away. You turned yourself into a weapon.”
“I had a good teacher,” I whispered back.
His gray eyes darkened. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my cheek, his hand sliding around the nape of my neck. For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me. My pulse hammered in my throat, my lips parting instinctively.
Then the radio on his desk crackled to life.
“Boss,” Leo’s voice came through the speaker. “Marcone’s scouts just pulled up near the front gate. They’re dropping off an envelope.”
Gabriel paused, his thumb tracing my jawline one last time before he pulled back, his icy composure returning like a steel shield.
“Bring it up,” Gabriel commanded into the mic.
Two minutes later, Leo brought a heavy black envelope into the room.
Inside was a single polaroid photograph and a handwritten note.
The photograph showed my stepmother Diane sitting inside a dimly lit room, holding today’s newspaper, her face bruised and pale.
The note read: “Gabriel. The girl for the deeds. Tomorrow night at Warehouse 14. Bring Nora, or your harbor leases burn.”
I stared at the photograph, my stomach churning.
“She tried to double-cross Marcone,” I realized.
“She tried to claim she didn't owe him the two million because she delivered you to me,” Gabriel said, crumpling the note in his fist. “Marcone realized she was useless to him, so now he’s using her as bait to drag both of us into his killing ground.”
May you like
I looked at Gabriel, my mind working at lightning speed.
“Then let’s go to his killing ground,” I said coldly. “And show him who the real monster is.”
