Page 97 of Burdens
Before I could ponder on the thought, a stranger’s voice echoed in the quiet space.
“Now that that’s over, can someone get me out of here?” it said and I quickly realized that it came from the other side of the wall.
Oh shit, Gabriel.
Without saying a word, I briskly exited the cell and marched down the hallway, the others following behind. I rounded the corner I’d watched them take when they’d carried Gabriel’s body away last week and walked down another corridor, a cell that was about a quarter of the size of mine appeared at the end.
Gabriel, who was much taller than I’d anticipated, was standing at the door, his arm slung between the iron bars. His gaze lifted to meet mine as I approached. He looked worse than when I’d seen them drag his limp body out, but he somewhat still managed a faint smile.
“At last we met,” he greeted me, his voice raspy with exhaustion.
I moved to open his cell door, only to find it locked.Fuck.
Before I could ask, Amalia stepped in front of me with a set of keys in hand, solving my problem.
Gabriel diverted his attention to Amalia. “And it’s nice to see you again, Ines. Or is it Amalia?” he inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.
“Hey, Gabriel,” Amalia replied with a soft smile on her face. “Sorry about last time. I needed a distraction for this guy,” she explained, nodding toward me.
He shrugged. “It’s fine. I figured after hearing all of that,” he said, gesturing toward his right to the wall that separated our cells.
Once Amalia unlocked the door, he stepped aside, allowing her to swing it open. Stepping out of his cell, Gabriel stretched his arms above his head.
“Freedom feels rather nice,” he drawled. Then, with a playful smile, he looked at all of us. “Wait, I’m free right?” he asked, but despite his playful nonchalance, a hint of uncertainty lingered in his voice.
I huffed out a laugh. “You are,” I confirmed with a nod. “Nassim over there,” I began, pointing toward where Nassim was standing a few steps behind next to Jamal. Nassim lifted his hand as if to identify himself as I continued. “He’s the newRai’sand will take care of whatever you need,” I reassured him.
Gabriel peered over my shoulder, raising a skeptical brow. “So he won’t stick me in another cell or use me as a property?”
Nassim answered his question. “The only type of property I like are buildings and I won’t stick you in any cell unless you give me a reason to.”
“That’s fair enough,” Gabriel agreed with a nod, seeming to accept his answer.
Amalia interjected as she wrapped an arm around my waist. “All right, I’m exhausted. Let’s head out.”
I slung an arm over her shoulders, pulling her closer to place a kiss above her head. We all trailed behind Nassim out of this hellhole.
And when we passed my father, I didn’t spare him another glance.
CHAPTER 27
AMALIA (PRESENT)
Kai and Valentinastood side by side, already waiting for us outside of the building as we all emerged.
Kai wore dark olive pants paired with a black T-shirt that snuggly hugged his upper body like a second skin while Valentina donned a black high-neck, long-sleeved unitard jumpsuit with dust streaks covering it.
Her sniper casually slung over her left shoulder, a large duffel bag on the ground next to her feet as she typed God knows what on the large black tablet in her hands.
“Is he…?” Kai’s question trailed off as he watched us trail out of the building one by one, his gaze focusing on Jamal.
“Yeah, Barrera’s dead,” Jamal confirmed as Noah and I came to stand beside him.
Nassim flanked his other side, while Gabriel lingered a few feet behind us, his hands tucked in the pockets of his worn-out jeans.
With the words officially uttered out loud, it felt as if the tension that had cloaked the compound for decades finally eased following Barerra’s demise. As if the nozzle his existence hadaround everyone’s neck loosened and we could all finally breathe easier.
“Thank fucking God,” Kai exhaled with relief, and by the amused look on Jamal’s face, it was clear Kai wasn’t one to regularly curse. “That bastard took ten years of my life with all the stress he put me through.”
