Page 46 of The Beast

“Elliott’s losing his mind that he can’t be here,” she adds. “He’s stuck in London—some deal that’s been in the works for months. He can’t get out of it without tanking the whole thing. But he told me to tell Gabriel—and I quote—‘to get the fuck over it.’” She almost smiles. “He said he’d tell him personally, but transatlantic travel takes longer than Gabriel’s stubbornness deserves.”

“That sounds like Elliott.”

“He’ll come if we need him,” she says. “He made that very clear.”

As I settle into a corner of the massive sectional, Ruby disappears into the kitchen for coffee, and I sink into the cushions, letting myself feel, just for a moment, how exhausted I really am.

The penthouse is filling up now. Leo by the windows, still on his phone. Harper beside me, her hand on my arm. And in the corner, quiet and watchful, stands a man I’ve only met once before.

Alexander Grimm.

He’s the most polished of all the brothers—impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit that probably cost more than the annual budget of a small nation. His dark hair is swept back, his face composed into an expression of perfect neutrality. He has the kind of stillness that makes you nervous without knowing why. I’ve heard rumors that he gives Gabriel a run for his money as to who’s the most dangerous Grimm brother. Looking at him now, I believe every whisper.

He catches me staring and offers a slight nod. No smile. No warmth. Just acknowledgment. Then his gaze slides away, and he goes back to watching. Taking it all in. Filing it away for later.

I suppress a shiver and turn back to Harper.

Ruby returns with a tray of steaming mugs and settles beside me, tucking her feet underneath her. Leo finishes his call and joins us, dropping into a chair across from the sectional.

“Liam wanted to be here,” he says, reading the question on my face before I can ask it. “But Sasha’s exhausted—the baby’s been fussy all week—and he didn’t want to leave her alone. Apparently, the army of baby-related staff isn’t sufficient,” he adds with a grin. “Guess my big brother’s a softie for his little girl. But he’s on standby,” Leo adds. “If this goes sideways, he’ll be on a plane or chopper in a heartbeat.”

I look around the room, and something loosens in my chest. I’m not alone. Gabe’s friends and family are here, and not one of them believes that I tried to kill him. They’re on my side. They’re rooting for Gabe and me.

More than that, they’re actively helping me get him back. Not the Gabriel who exists now—cold and vengeful and consumed by rage—but the man he used to be. Hell, yes, he had an ego and a temper. But this fury that now drives him—that isn’t him. I want to excavate his cutting wit. His sharp mind. His way of looking at the world as if he could see straight through to the truth of things.

My father broke him. I’m certain Father was behind it. I want proof. I want to hand Gabriel proof and then stand back and watch the shit storm. And then I’ll be the one smiling the widest as my father rots in jail.

Because I’ll have my Gabriel back.

Please, please let me have him back.

Ruby settles closer to me on the sectional, her voice dropping. “How are you really doing? And don’t say fine. I’ve known you too long for that.”

“I’m...” I stare into my coffee. “I’m a mess. And a goddamn fool.”

I take a long sip of coffee, wishing it were more of a whiskey kind of blend. Or, hell, just straight whiskey. “He hates me,” I whisper. “And instead of being sane and getting the fuck away from the entire Grimm family, I’m here, still loving him, and desperately hoping that I’ll stumble across a magic wand that will put his goddamn head back on straight.” I bang the heel of my hand against my temple. “Clearly, I’m pathetic. And a fool.”

Ruby’s smile is gentle. “Love makes fools of us all. Trust me, I know.”

I think about Leo. About everything they went through before they found their way back to each other. “When did you get so wise?”

“Three days ago. A sale on wisdom at Amazon. I grabbed a few pints.”

That does it. I actually laugh.

She grins. “I’m not saying this is going to work out the way Leo and I did. But if there’s even a chance that the man you love is still in there under all that pain and rage...”

“I have to try.”

“You have to try.” She squeezes my hand. “And if it doesn’t work—if he’s really too far gone—at least you’ll know. At least you won’t spend the rest of your life wondering.”

Across the room, Leo lets out a sharp whistle, making us all jump. He’s been making calls, pacing by the windows, and now he settles into a chair, his jaw tight, his whole body radiating barely contained frustration.

“I’ve been piecing together what Gabe’s been doing for the past five years,” he says. “For one thing, he owns the Obsidian under about a hundred layers of corporate rigamarole. As for the operation in the basement, well, The Beast is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s built an entire network—fight clubs, underground gambling, information brokerage, bars, and cigar lounges. Pretty much anything potentially shady you can dream up, he’s got a finger in it under that name you told me,” he says to me. “Lyon Savage. He’s not into any sort of prostitution, but he’s into pretty much everything else. It’s all there, along with hefty payoffs to the authorities, so it doesn’t get shut down. Bottom line—the Beast is just one slice of Gabe’s very big pie.”

Harper’s eyes widen. “Well, shit. He’s not just sliding into a new lifestyle, is he? I mean, he’s not thinking, “Hey, an underground empire sounds like the catalyst for a jolly good income stream, right?”

Leo chuckles. “Actually, from what my people have dug up, it’s pretty damn lucrative. But no. The information he pays the most for is very focused.”