I say nothing.
“Do you know what would’ve happened to you if you were taken to Kolya?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Torture. Interrogation. And then a slow death meant to send a message to anyone else who might challenge him. You’re not some nobody, Thea. You’re the last trace of an old rival that he tried to wipe off the face of the earth. He’d make sure everyone knew what he did to you.”
My stomach tightens.
“So no. Don’t think about those men. Don’t mourn them. They chose this life. They knew the risks. And they would’ve done terrible things to you without hesitation.”
I say nothing for a long moment, trying to process it all.
“You killed them so easily.”
“Yes.”
“Like it was nothing.”
“It wasn’t nothing. It’s never nothing to take a life.” His jaw tightens, his eyes on the road. “But it was necessary. And I’d do it again. I’d do it a thousand times over if it meant keeping you safe.”
I want to argue, but I can’t. Because he’s right. I know he’s right. Those men were going to take me, hurt me, kill me. And Gabriel stopped them.
The realization sits heavy in my chest.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He cocks his head to the side, looking slightly surprised.
“For what?”
“For coming after me. For…” I swallow hard. “For saving me. Again.”
His expression softens, and he regards me for a long moment. Then he turns his eyes back to the road.
“Always, Thea. I’ll always come for you.”
The gates of the mansion open slowly as we approach.
I didn’t think I’d ever be so happy to see them again. But as we pull through, as the tall iron bars close behind us, something in my chest unclenches.
I feel safe.
Gabriel comes around to open my door, and I step out into the rain. It’s coming down harder now—a proper storm, thunder rumbling in the distance, the sky illuminating with flashes of lightning.
Gabriel’s hand finds the small of my back, guiding me toward the house.
Oscar is waiting in the entry hall, his expression tight with concern. I don’t say anything, but I’m glad to see him.
“Miss Thea,” he says, scanning me for injuries. “Are you?—”
“She’s fine,” Gabriel cuts him off. “Get her some tea. Something strong. And a change of clothes. We’ll be in the living room.”
“Subito, sir.”
Oscar disappears. Gabriel leads me through the house to the grand living room I dusted just yesterday. It feels like a lifetime ago.
The fireplace is already lit, casting warm light across the space. Gabriel guides me to the sofa, and I sink into it, suddenly exhausted. The adrenaline is wearing off, leaving me hollow and shaking.
