When he’s gone, Gabriella steps over to me without hesitation. I cradle her face carefully, running my thumb beneath the smidge of dirt on her cheek.
“You scared me,” I say.
“I didn’t mean to.” She curls into my chest, small and warm andalive. I press my lips to her hairline, holding her just a bit tighter.
I don’t say the words. Not yet. But they’re here, hanging back in my throat. I can tell she feels them. I can tell by the way she rests her head on my chest, the way her fingers curl into my coat.
Footsteps crunch on gravel behind us. I turn. Johan approaches, suit jacket gone, his tie undone. He looks like a man who has just been through hell. Then again, he had, in a sense.
“Gabby,” he says, warmth on his words. “I’m glad you’re alright.”
She gives him a weary smile in return.“Thanks, Johan.”
He gives her a once-over, as if he’s noticed something the medic missed. “When this mess settles, you and Angie will be planning the mother of all baby showers. And I’ll make sure Father pays for it.”
In that brief moment, I find myself wondering what sort of life awaits these two, what relationship they’ll build now that they know the truth.
Gabriella laughs. “I’ll hold you to that.”
He purses his lips for an instant. “And I’m looking forward to meeting them. My nieces or nephews. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Uncle Johan.”
With a bright smile on his face, Johan nods his head politely and returns to his men. Peter and his own soldiers are nearby, preparing to leave.
Peter turns. Our eyes lock across the muddy parking lot. Rain drips from his silver hair. The exhaustion on his face makes his features droop. He’s a man ready to rest. Perhaps a man ready to retire.
The look he gives me isn’t forgiveness, and neither is the one I give him. Not even close. But it’s a conditional truce. It’s a recognition that our war nearly cost him everything, and ending it for good will take more than what happened today.
I bow my head once in return. Johan and Peter slip into a sleek, gray car. Gabriella lets out a breath as soon as the doors are shut.
“I can’t believe it’s over.”
I glance over my shoulder, watching as my cleanup team carefully carry out the bodies of Ruth and her men. What a goddamn mess.
“It’s not over yet,” I say gently. “But it’s stable.” I brush a kiss against her temple. “And that’s enough for tonight.”
I take her hand.
“Come, let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 46
GABBY
A few days later…
The office feels different at midnight. It’s silent, aside from the low thrum of the HVAC and the occasional creek of the building swaying. Everyone’s gone.
Aside from me and my ever-demanding boss.
I lean over in my seat, spotting his office door at the far end of the hall. The frosted glass doesn’t let me see anything inside, other than the faint amber glow of his desk lamp and his shadowed figure moving here and there.
I smile. I place my hand on my belly, like I have so many times since learning the news. My babies are in there, my middle finally starting to swell.
After soaking in the sight of him in the office, I ease back into my chair. I absently swirl my hand over my stomach while my free hand scrolls through the Share Purchase Agreement. Final markup of the Dandelion-AngelCorp merger—checked. Revised capitalization table—checked.Schedules of assumed liabilities, IP assignments, closing deliverables from both sides. Everything is there. Johan’s holdings shifted, and our audit trails line up perfectly.
My gaze drags over to Peter’s old holdings. Peter.
