Page 28 of His Untouchable Heart

Back in the main room, I didn’t bother unpacking. I wouldn’t be staying here—not long enough to make it worth it. I unzipped the overnight bag and pulled out what I needed for the day: slacks, a button-down, and a clean undershirt. Everything inside was folded with military precision, the way I always kept it—ready to go at a moment’s notice. Just enough to look respectable, just enough to disappear if I had to.

I was reaching for socks when I saw it—tucked beside my shaving kit.

The bottle of cologne.

Small, square, expensive. The brand Charlotte had given me for Christmas one year.It’s subtle, not too sweet. Clean. Like you.She’d kissed my cheek and told me it brought out something classic in me. I hadn’t thought much of it at the time—just another thoughtful gift from a woman who loved deeply and often expressed it with beautiful things.

But I’d worn it ever since.

It had become part of the routine. Not for her anymore—not consciously, anyway—but familiar. Habitual.

I uncapped it, and the scent hit me immediately—warm, crisp, comforting. And suddenly unwelcome. My chest tightened.

Charlotte had loved it.

But I’d never chosen it. Never once asked if it was whatIwanted. It had become hers more than mine.

Without a second thought, I walked back into the bathroom and tipped the bottle over the drain. The cologne poured out in slow, amber threads before disappearing into the pipes.

The scent not forgotten. Just not mine.

I rinsed the sink and tossed the empty glass into the trash. Then I returned to the bag, zipped it shut, and stood for a moment, staring at the now-empty space where the bottle had been like a fixture and signed before refocusing.

Now, I had to find somewhere better for Gabrielle and me to stay. Somewhere, no one would think to look. A place far enough off the grid where we could breathe without wondering who was watching. Because until I knew who was really on our side, I couldn’t afford to take chances.

Especially not with her.

I opened my laptop again, this time without hesitation.

The jet was the first thing I booked. I used the new line of credit, entering the card details without flinching. It was a midnight departure from a private hangar, a round trip, and just for her.

Then, the resort—quiet, tucked away in a neighborhood near the foundation headquarters. Not flashy. Not too polished. Just safe. Private. Comfortable. A place where no one would ask questions, and no one would recognize us from the MM&W Foundation.

The car came next—a discreet luxury sedan with blacked-out windows, delivered to the Hilton within the hour. I didn’t want to be seen at the airport using the foundation’s vehicle, and I didn’t want Gabrielle anywhere near them, either—not for the time being.

Every move was intentional. Every detail was thought through.

She had no idea how many things I was trying to protect her from—some of which I couldn’t even name yet. But this wasn’t just about logistics. Not anymore.

It was about her.

Gabrielle had handled everything—Curtain’s threats, the gallery chaos, the impossible balancing act between right and wrong—with more grace than most people I knew. She hadn’t spiraled. She hadn’t panicked. And she hadn’t asked me for anything.

That’s what got me the most.

She didn’t demand answers. She didn’t press me for more than I could give. She just kept showing up, steady and solid, even when she had every reason to walk away.

I stared at the screen, watching the confirmation emails roll in one by one.

Jet confirmed. Resort confirmed.

She didn’t just see me—she saw right through me. And for once, I didn’t want to run.

I hitSendon the car delivery confirmation, then tapped her name in my phone without giving myself time to second-guess it.

The call connected on the first ring.

Her voice was soft and cautious like she was already bracing for something worse. I kept mine low and calm, trying to make it sound like I had everything under control—even if I wasn’t sure that was true anymore.

---