Gabe’s warm brown eyes met mine, and he nodded. “I’ll be by your side through it all.”
I reached through the metallic bars and ran my fingers through his thick, wavy hair. Wrapping my fingers around his head, I brought him closer to the bars until our lips touched. His soft rose petal lips brushed against mine, and his strong hand gently cupped the side of my head. Gabe didn’t kiss me often, but when he did, it was raw passion. This is what I missed. I know if he were out of this cell, he’d rip my clothes off.
Through our strained breaths, I pulled away. “I’ve missed you.”
“You don’t even know how much I missed you, Vin.”
We pressed our foreheads together, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and excitement. “I-I need to hurt him like he hurt me. D-do you know w-where Dante’s lab is? Or have any idea? W-we need to disable the Dogs to get to him.”
Gabe grunted and shrugged. “I have an idea. Years ago, I accompanied your dad to a hidden location in the mountains that was surrounded by Dogs. He didn’t allow me to go inside, but if I had to guess, it’s there.”
I nodded, knowing he was telling me the truth.
“I love you, Vinny. I’d do anything for you.” He smiled and let out a slight chuckle. “I guess that’s how I’m in this jail cell.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the exhaustion weighing on me, the turmoil in my heart, or the unexpected comfort I felt with Gabe, but we both laughed. I didn’t have it in me to say it back because my new relationship with Jude made my feelings all the more complicated.
It was reassuring to know that even though our environment was grim, we still had each other.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Wehaveto stop meeting here!” Jude, Arthur, and I returned to the room, only to find it filled with the hushed whispers and serious faces of the council members. I’d hoped my sarcastic quip would lighten the serious mood in the council chamber, but the council members remained as stony-faced as gargoyles.
“Where did the vampire advise the second laboratory is?” The red-haired woman looked at me expectantly, like I owed her a response.
“He didn’t.” Arthur’s head turned to the council, then to me. “Vincent, care to explain?”
I nodded. “Gaberemembers going there once, a long time ago, but cannot pinpoint where it is by memory.”
“Then what good is he?” With a sigh, the short council member threw his arms up, his sleeves falling slightly. “He bombed our medical wing. Kill him!”
“He didn’t bomb anything!” I screamed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Let’s not do anything rash. How about we bring him in to get more information?” Arthur raised his stubbled white beard to the door. “Men, please bring us the prisoner.”
My mind was put at ease, knowing Arthur was on our side and would make sure nothing happened to Gabe, despite what the council wanted. He wanted the Dogs deactivated as much as anyone else, so why not work together? I held my breath, every nerve ending tingling as the distinct sound of approaching soldiers’ boots neared the room. Jude tenderly grabbed my hand, but I snuck a look at my boyfriend before shaking it away.
Gabe entered with both men on each side of him. His hands were secured behind his back with a thick, knotted rope, and a heavy, suffocating mask was strapped to his face. The cold steel of a gun barrel pressed against his back, urging him forward, while the hum of tasers poised nearby threatened any sudden movement.
“Gabe!” I ran to him, the buzzing of the bat-like tasers filling my ears as the guards waved them menacingly close to my face.
A jolt ran through the air as Gabe shifted uncomfortably upon seeing me, the distinctive buzzing and crackling of tasers filling the silence. The bat in the guard’s hand came to life, and a blue light flashed through the room as it touched Gabe’s skin. His screams, sharp and piercing, echoed through the empty room and the long hallways as he fell to his knees.
I spun around, fury blazing in my eyes, and glared at the council. “Release him right now.”
“He’s a criminal, a danger to all of us.”
“He isnot!” My voice cracked as I yelled at them. “Am I? Is that what you think of me?” I scanned the council’s stoic, unmoving faces before finally settling on Arthur’s. I breathed out a large puff of air. “Please.”
“Do you take responsibility for him?” A flash of light, like a sudden spark, glinted in Arthur’s eyes. “If he chooses violence, we’ll shoot him dead.”
I searched Gabe’s face and found my answer, nodding slowly. The guards backed away, both with their guns locked onto the back of Gabe’s wavy black hair. I carefully removed the mask from his mouth and the tight cuffs from his wrists. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
He was breathing heavily and whispered each word. “I’ll kill all of them. I’ll-I’ll rip them to shreds and-and drain their blood until they’re nothing but an Exile.”
I gently cupped his face, tracing the line of his jaw with my thumbs. “Youneedto stay calm. I need them to trust you.” A silent understanding passed between us as Gabe’s gaze held mine, a connection deeper than words. He gave in and entrusted his life to me. I grabbed his hand, and together we rose to our feet, a united front against the council. It felt good not to be so alone, to have people I could truly depend on. “You have our full cooperation.”
The red-haired woman’s chin jutted out in a clear show of disdain. “Prove it. Where’s the second lab?”
