Chapter 7 - The Shadow Within
Night fell over the Berkshire mountains, bringing a heavy blanket of fog that clung to the pine trees surrounding the estate.
Inside the grand dining room, a fire crackled in the massive stone fireplace.
Leah sat at a long mahogany table, feeling entirely out of place among the silver cutlery, crystal glasses, and porcelain plates. She wore a simple dark blue dress that Martha had provided—a dress that fitted her soft, generous curves comfortably without pulling at her waist.
Matteo had already been tucked into bed in a luxurious suite upstairs, snoring softly under a feather duvet.
Julian sat at the head of the table, sipping black coffee. Across from him sat Gabriel, who was methodically reviewing financial ledgers on a tablet.
“Sable has taken control of three shipping docks in South Boston,” Gabriel reported, his tone measured and professional. “He’s claiming to the board that you are incapacitated or dead. If we don't strike back by Friday, the other syndicate bosses will vote to recognize his authority.”
Julian set his coffee cup down with a quiet clink.
“Let him claim whatever he wants,” Julian said coldly. “On Friday night, Sable is holding a victory dinner at the Grand Aurelia’s private penthouse suite. I will attend.”
Leah froze, setting her fork down. “You're going back there? To the hotel?”
Julian looked at her, his amber eyes softening slightly. “Sable needs to be eliminated publicly, Leah. In our world, if a traitor isn't punished in front of his peers, another one rises the next day.”
“It's a trap, Julian,” Leah warned, her voice thick with genuine concern. “He knows the hotel. He has guards everywhere.”
“He doesn't know I am alive,” Julian replied. “And he doesn't know that Gabriel has already secured the hotel’s internal security feeds.”
Gabriel nodded smoothly, offering a polite, practiced smile. “Everything is prepared, Miss Moreno. Mr. Vance will be in and out of the Aurelia within fifteen minutes.”
Leah looked at Gabriel.
Something about his smooth, calm demeanor bothered her. Over the last two days, she had caught Gabriel watching her when he thought she wasn't looking. It wasn't a look of disgust or anger—it was something far worse. It was the look a butcher gives a piece of meat before deciding where to make the cut.
“I’m going to check on Matteo,” Leah said quietly, standing up from the table.
“Martha prepared some chamomile tea for you in the conservatory, Leah,” Julian said softly. “Rest tonight. You look tired.”
Leah offered him a small, genuine smile. “Thank you, Julian.”
As she walked down the long, carpeted hallway toward the grand staircase, she heard the low rumble of Julian and Gabriel’s voices continuing their discussion in the dining room.
She reached the top landing and walked toward Matteo’s suite.
The door was slightly ajar.
Leah paused, her hand hovering over the brass handle.
Inside the room, standing by the window near Matteo’s sleeping form, was Gabriel.
He had his back to the door, an encrypted satellite phone pressed to his ear.
“He’s going to the Aurelia on Friday,” Gabriel whispered into the phone, his voice cold and flat. “He thinks I have the security feeds. He’s walking right into your kill zone.”
Leah’s blood ran cold. Her breath caught in her throat.
“Yes,” Gabriel continued in a low hiss. “The boy and the woman are here at the estate. Once Julian leaves for the city on Friday, I will disable the outer perimeter alarms. Send your men to clean up the house. Make sure the boy doesn't survive... I don't want any loose ends connected to Julian’s estate.”
Leah backed away from the door step by step, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.
Gabriel.
Julian’s closest ally. His strategist. The man who had served the Vance family for fifteen years... was the traitor who had helped Sable drug Julian at the hotel.
And now, he was planning to ambush Julian at the Aurelia while sending death squads to murder her and sick little Matteo in their sleep.
Leah reached the top of the stairs, her knees shaking violently.
She had to tell Julian. She had to warn him right now before Gabriel walked back down to the dining room.
She turned to rush down the stairs—and ran directly into a solid wall of chest and broad shoulders.
Julian caught her by the arms, steadying her.
“Leah?” Julian frowned, looking at her pale, terrified face. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Leah opened her mouth to speak—to tell him everything—when heavy footsteps echoed behind her.
May you like
Gabriel walked out of the corridor, his hands tucked neatly into his trench coat pockets, a calm, polite smile resting on his face.
“Is everything all right, Miss Moreno?” Gabriel asked smoothly.
