Part 39 (1/2)

As he fights back the tears watering his eyes, I stroke his face in a soothing gesture. ”Everything is going to be fine, Gabriel.”

”It's my aunt,” he says hoa.r.s.ely. Immediately, I know what he's referring to.

That makes me start to cry too. After everything he's been through, to add this on top of it? ”I'll kill her.”

He shakes his head and makes a noise that might be a laugh. ”Simon says he'll take care of it.”

”Simon? You talked to Simon?” d.a.m.n, a person misses a lot while involuntarily sedated.

His lips quirk into a small smile. ”Yeah, and I think he sort of gave me his blessing.”

I pretend mock indignation. ”Don't go thinking that I'll ever make it easy for you, Gabriel.”

”Oh, I know. But I wouldn't want you any other way.” His salacious grin hints at how much he's looking forward to it. His expression turns serious and I wonder if he's thinking about his aunt again. ”But why me, Annabelle? Why do you love me?”

I sigh at the question I've asked myself frequently over the years. With a quick peck to his lips, I tell him, ”Because, in you, I found my heart.” I shake my head ruefully. ”It may have taken awhile to get past the obstacles, but you're my match, the other half of my soul. Someone who has what it takes to be my partner in life, but isn't already disillusioned by this lifestyle.”

Grinning like my answer just made his day, eyes s.h.i.+ning with happiness, Gabriel asks me, ”Aren't you going to ask me why I love you?”

Holding back a smile, I answer, ”Nope, I already know why you love me.”

He raises his eyebrows at that. ”Oh yeah? Why?”

”Because I'm awesome.” At my answer, he picks me up and tosses me on the bed. Laughing, he follows me down.

Before he can occupy my lips again, I need to tell him something. ”Thank you for coming to save me, Gabriel.”

Those green eyes catch mine in their mesmerizing hold. ”You saved me too, Annabelle. It's you and me forever now.”

”Forever, Gabriel.”

Simon.

Three days later.

Getting into the building late in the evening was simple enough. The busted lock on the back stairway exit won't be discovered until tomorrow. On the sixth floor, taking out the two guards posted outside the office door gives me open access to the room past them. Now I'm standing here, pointing a gun at the threat. She looks respectable and harmless in her designer business suit. A beautiful woman at the age of forty-three, Lucy Garcia sneers at me and the weapon in my hand. ”You'll die for this.”

”No, you will,” I calmly inform her before pulling the trigger. The first bullet enters her chest and the second enters her head with a spray of blood on the window behind her. Her body jerks back in the chair before slumping forward against the glossy black desk. Lucy Garcia, aunt of Gabriel Sanchez, is no longer a threat.

The original contract on Xavier Sanchez was traced back to her as well. It seems she meant to slowly eliminate the Sanchez family until herself and her son inherited the fortune and businesses, both legal and illegal. It can be a.s.sumed that the death of Gabriel's mother can also be blamed on Lucy. Having her killed and making it look like a suicide wouldn't have been hard with Eva Sanchez's mental state at the time. I've done something similar in the past.

Walking out of the building, into the warm Miami night, I pull off the ski mask and gloves. My family is safe once again. Or, at least as safe as we ever are. The choices I make are never easy, but I've never regretted raising Annabelle and Jackson myself. Since the day each of them was born, I've loved my G.o.dchildren.

The threat of Lucy Garcia was nothing compared to the enemies still out there. I've prepared them to the best of my ability for what's to come. I'm counting on them to not only protect themselves, but others as well. The occurrences of the past three years have put us on the radar of enemies from long ago. Max Garcia unwittingly fed the secrets Gabriel had confided in him to one of those enemies, Lucy Garcia. That enemy in turn leaked the information to others.

We may not have complete anonymity anymore, but we'll hide from anyone who means to harm or use us. And we'll survive.

Epilogue.

Toronto, Canada - February.

Dancing with her, I run my hands down her back. At the feel of her trembling, a predatory smile forms on my lips. I have her now. When she gets up on her toes and begins to kiss my neck, I lean down and suggest that she meet me in the parking lot in five minutes. She eagerly agrees, her eyes expressing l.u.s.t. But, she's a predator too, and I also see that in her eyes.

A quick phone call and a few minutes later, I discreetly follow her out of the club, slipping on a pair of leather gloves as I go. Winter in Toronto is brutal. I breathe in the cold air, missing warmer climates. When I reach her, standing under a streetlamp in her red wool coat, she gives me a knowing look. ”How about we go to my place?”

Nonchalantly, I ask, ”Where's your car?”

She gestures to a white luxury sedan parked two s.p.a.ces down. ”I'll drive.”