His heart thundering, Gabriel urged her with his eyes.Come on, princess. You’re strong. Remember what I taught you.
Her eyes widened—from lack of air or awareness?
“The other one, too,” Cicero snapped.
With no choice, Gabriel threw away his remaining weapon.
At that moment, Thea acted. In a flash, she let go of the arm choking her and brought her elbow back, connecting with Cicero’s solar plexus. He grunted in surprise, and she lifted her right foot, stomping on his instep. His hold on her loosened, and she jerked free, stumbling to the side.
“Little bitch—”
Before Gabriel could get to his knives, Cicero recovered, taking aim and firing at him. Gabriel dove out of harm’s way, the bullet shattering a mirrored wall, glass raining everywhere. He rolled, his fingers closing around a jagged shard. Twisting to face his enemy, he let it fly.
The glass glittered in the darkness, a deadly star, and it hit true.
Gabriel staggered over to Cicero. The other lay blinking, the shard planted in his neck, crimson bubbles gurgling from his lips. A dark, glossy pool spread beneath him. Gabriel watched, unflinching, until the traitor’s eyes went blank and unseeing.
“Gabriel?”
Thea ran up to him, and he wrapped his arms around her. Held her close.
“Are you all right, love?” he said.
“I’m fine.” She was trembling all over. “Just a bit shaky at the moment.”
“’Tis the aftermath. It’ll pass.” He looked into her beautiful eyes. “I’m proud of you, my fierce princess.”
“What about you? I know you never wanted to kill again—”
“I did what I had to. And that is what I’ve always done.” He kissed her softly on the forehead. “I’m at peace, knowing you and Freddy are safe and that no one will suffer at the hands of the Spectre again.”
Her gaze shimmered. “I love you.”
“And I love you. With everything that I am.” Emotion swelled, and he didn’t try to fight it. He cupped her precious face in his hands. “It killed me, thinking that I might not have the chance to tell you. I was a fool not to recognize what was in my own heart. But I swear I’ll make it up to you. You’re going to tire of having a husband who tells you day and night how much he adores you.”
“I don’t think I could ever tire of that.” Her smile warmed his soul.
The romantic moment was shattered by the sound of gunshots in the distance.
“Damn, I’d best check on Marius,” Gabriel muttered. “He must be losing his touch.”
“Marius?” she said in surprise.
Retrieving his weapons, Gabriel flashed her a quick grin. “I’ll explain later.”
Chapter Forty
The next afternoon, Thea found herself safe and snug in her sister’s drawing room. Gabriel sat to the right of her on the settee, Freddy to the left, and the entire Kent clan was present. Surrounded by the ones she loved, she felt as if a Bach hymn was soaring through her. Her heart was so full it was nigh bursting at the seams.
“All three of you were so brave,” Emma was saying. In her arms, she cradled Olivia, who cooed and tried to grasp her mama’s hair with tiny fists. “A family of derring-doers.”
“Freddy especially,” Thea responded with pride. “Not only did he manage to get into town for help, but he had the forethought to use the invisible ink. He was brilliant.”
Freddy’s face flushed as the others added their nods and words of agreement.
“Like father, like son.” This came from Strathaven, who was busy trying to pry one of Emma’s dark curls from their daughter. “Now, my little angel, don’t grab at your mama,” he admonished.
“Like father, like daughter,” Gabriel said.
