“Business.” Gabriel’s shoulders straighten, and the uncertain mask slips for a fraction of a second, revealing a cool calculation underneath.
Unease prickles through me. I don’t know this version of Gabriel. I thought I had him figured out.The rich flirt who couldn’t take a hint. The spoiled Alpha with nothing better to do than chase after club security.
This Gabriel is an unknown variable.
Before Rowan can ask more questions, the back door swings open again, and all three of us turn toward the sound, conversation dying as Orien steps out into the alley.
Pale gray eyes scan Gabriel, cataloging him from head to toe like he’s measuring him for a body bag.
I tense, waiting for Orien to tell Gabriel to get lost, no matter who sent him. Orien doesn’t tolerate outsiders in his territory, especially ones who reek of money and privilege.
Instead, Orien nods once. “Avery Moore’s brother-in-law?”
My head snaps toward Gabriel so fast my neck cracks.
Avery Moore is a name whispered in backroom deals and street-corner conversations. A gunrunner who somehow never saw the inside of a jail cell and, as far as I know, was not connected to the Rockfords.
Gabriel hesitates for a heartbeat, his fingers twitching. “Yes.”
A chill raises the fine hairs on the back of my neck. I’d written Gabriel off as the harmless,pampered, youngest sibling of Micah’s mate. But linking his name to an arms dealer proves I was wrong.
Orien jerks his chin toward me. “Then you’re with him.”
I step back, putting distance between myself and Gabriel. “What? No.”
Orien ignores my protest, his attention fixed on Gabriel as if I hadn’t spoken. The dismissal burns, but I’m too caught up in his assumption to push back.
What the hell made him think Gabriel and I were together?
Orien folds his arms across his chest, his stance immovable. “Word on the street says Tony’s resurfacing, and your family would want to know he’s trying to set up new trafficking channels.”
Gabriel’s face hardens, transforming him from soft to deadly in an instant. “Tony Rossi?”
“Who the hell is Tony?” I demand. “And what does this have to do with me?”
Orien’s focus sharpens as it slides to me, and his eyebrow lifts in challenge. “Thought you wanted in on the group who tried to sell your boy.”
My lungs empty, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. Micah. He’s talking about Micah. The stalker who followed my best friend wasn’t just someobsessed fan. He was connected to human traffickers.
If this Tony guy was in on it… My vision turns red around the edges.
Gabriel’s jaw flexes at my reaction. “Why couldn’t you have given this info to Sebastian over the phone?”
Orien shrugs. “I like to see who I’m doing business with, especially when it’s not with my usual clients.”
“Caleb and my bro— Caleb and Avery are tracking leads out of town,” he admits. “So I was sent to handle things.”
He appears genuinely uncomfortable, as if he didn’t plan to reveal so much, and I don’t trust it. I thought I had a read on Gabriel, had placed him in his box, and this new information is messing with my head. Suspicion prickles through me as I wonder what else his perfect smile hides.
“Does Aaiden know you’re here?” I demand.
I can’t imagine the head of the Rockford family jeopardizing his baby brother.
A muscle jumps in Gabriel’s cheek. “My brother is far too busy to do footwork, so unless you want your bestie’s mate down here, which would lead to Micah being here….”
My lips peel back in a snarl of refusal.
Orien steps closer, holding out a slip of paper. “Here are the details. You can go with him, or you can let him go alone.”
