Page 19 of Gabriel
Jet laughed, dark and amused. “You still got jokes. That’s cute.”
I didn’t respond. His boot lifted from my shoulder just enough to twist hard. Ignoring the searing pain in my ribs, I drove my elbow straight into his knee. Jet staggered back, and I jumped to my feet fast. My fist caught his jaw with a sickening crunch.
He reeled, stumbling backward, and Elira moved in, but I was faster.
I kicked her leg out from under her, sending her sprawling with a snarl, her knife skidding across the pavement.
“Stay down,” I growled. “I’d hate for you to be the first woman I have to hit.”
I turned to Jet, driving him against the side of my car and slamming his spine into the door, then smiled as I warned, “Try this shit again, Jet, and you’re a dead man. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but definitely soon.”
I shoved him toward his sister who was standing now. The two shared a look, communicating silently, and then they left as inconspicuously as they came.
“Thanksgiving dinners will be awkward as fuck,” I muttered to myself, brushing dirt off my pants before I got into the car.
“Do you think all three of them are up to something? I wouldn’t be surprised with how close they are,” Luis asked over the line, dragging me out of the memory.
“No, something’s telling me Jet’s doing this alone. Or with Elira,” I answered as I watched chaos and evacuations down below. From my vantage point, I could see where the authorities had set up a barricade.
Jesus Christ, this would probably be all over the news if it wasn’t already. I reached for my burner phone while still talking to Luis, and typed a message to Raphael.
Me: Explosion in Paris. Nobody was hurt. Tell Sailor not to worry.
My brother would read between the lines and inform Nico. The last thing I needed was that man sniffing around too, sending Raphael and Sailor into a panic.
“We might have better luck if we snatch the women and question them,” Luis suggested, just as I threw the burner phone onto the table.
“Don’t even think about touching Amara,” I gritted. “She’s off-limits.”
“Cálmate, caramba,”Luis snickered. “Solo fue una sugerencia.”
“Don’t fucking suggest it again,” I snapped, annoyed that he thought he could tell me to relax and make asinine recommendations about Amara.
“And Elira?” he questioned. “I’m guessing your protectiveness doesn’t extend to her.”
“No, it doesn’t, but Amara’s close with her, and she’d never forgive me if we went after her sister.”
Luis went quiet.
“Keep an eye on Amara and Elira,” I said. “But stay invisible. They can’t know you’re there.”
“And if they’re in danger?”
“You step in.” My voice hardened. “They don’t get hurt. Not a scratch. Understood?”
A beat passed before he sighed. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Gabriel. You should just put the cards on the table with Liana Volkov about her son, and include your brother. We’re getting nowhere with Jet, and whatever he’s up to… It’s bound to end badly.”
“Not if we can easily snatch Elira for leverage,” I pointed out.
He snickered. “But not Amara. Jesus, you really have it bad for that woman.”
“It’s not about me, and definitely not about Amara,” I replied smoothly, although it was a known fact that the woman fascinated me. However, I wasn’t willing to risk Anya’s safety. Not for anything, and that included Amara.
Luis let out a low breath. “You really think Jet’s actually interested in your sister?”
“He’s made it clear he wants Anya.”
“I just can’t see that those two could ever mesh,” he muttered. “Besides, after eight months of silence, don’t you think he’s moved on? A normal person would.”
