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My stomach twists even though that's not how this would go—I don't think. But I think I know what he's doing. I can't walk into a police station now. Claiming I was there.Where were you the entire night?That would be their number one question, and even if I was willing to throw Gabe under the bus—which I'm not sure I am—it still would look bad for me. And Mom.

"So now we have another question." Gabe continues. His voice turns sharper. "Where did you get the gun? Did you fire it?Did you shoot anyone? Your husband? Did you hire these men to kidnap him?"

My hands clench.

"And if you did…" He straightens slowly. "…why?"

"Stop it," I snap.

The word cracks through the room. Gabriel immediately drops the act. The hard cop expression disappears. Mom leans closer to me and whispers shakily, "He's scary."

Gabe watches me quietly now. I put my face in my hands. What am I supposed to do? And there is more. I need to call his mom. Oh God, his mom. How am I going to tell Kelly that her son is dead?

And the bank. I need to let them know… let them know… Pete is gone. I need to call my job and… they'll probably fire me. I don't even know how I'm going to pay for Pete's funeral. And Pete… Pete is gone. New tears shake my body, and Mom wraps me into her arms, glaring at Gabe.

A few seconds later, Gabe holds a box of Kleenex under my nose and offers me a water bottle with the other hand. I take both. Blowing my nose first, very unladylike, then drinking half the bottle down.

"Okay, this is what's going to happen." Gabe sits back on his haunches and looks up at Mom and me on the couch. "My lawyer is talking to the cops. They found the bodies this morning and tried to notify you."

I swallow a lump, fight new tears, and listen. "He'll handle everything. He's going to send someone to the bank and to your job. I've already contacted a funeral home; they will handle Pete's body after the autopsy."

Mom makes a groaning sound. I feel numb.

"He'll also work on getting Pete's life insurance funds sent to you as soon as possible."

I appreciate Gabe's straightforward approach, and more than anything, I appreciate him taking the lead right now, because God knows I'm in over my head. He's a complete stranger, but after almost being killed yesterday, I don't see many options for me that aren't uglier than the situation I'm in right now. I don't know who Gabe really is. Why he was at the warehouse. Why he saved me, or why he's helping me, but I'm not about to look a gifted horse in the mouth right now, either.

Later. Later, I can deal with all the other questions. The most pressing of all being what's in it for Gabe. If I've learned anything growing up in Vegas, it's that nothing is free. Least of all, someone helping you. Especially not a man like him. I'm not sure what price I'm willing to pay, but that, too, will have to wait.

"I need to get home and feed my cats." Mom returns to her reality.

"I will have your cats brought here, Mrs. Connor," Gabe assures her.

"You can't just pick them up," I protest weakly. "They're feral."

He takes my chin in his hand; the gesture is so unexpected and gentle that I nearly break out in more tears. "Let me worry about that. Can you trust me for a little while?"

Numbly, I nod. Because what choice do I have?

After reassuring the women,I reluctantly leave. Reluctantly because… Audra. Fuck, that woman gets to me. Seeing her, watching her from a distance was hard enough. Having her in my penthouse? That's a whole new level of torture. Holding her in my arms without claiming her the way I want to?

It's fucking unbearable.

Every instinct I have screams to take. To keep. To make her mine in every way that matters. I don't deny myself. Never have. If I want something, I take it. That's how men like me survive. That's how we rule. But her?

She's the one thing I can't touch without breaking something I'm not ready to break. Yet.

I take a deep breath as I walk down the hallway. Because the truth is: if she looks at me the wrong way again… if she reachesfor me instead of pulling away… if she gives me even the smallest reason…

Pete's death should have solved my problem. Instead, it's created a worse one.

Because now there's nothing left between me and what I want. God help anyone who thinks they can take her from me again. Every instinct in me wants to sit in that room. Watch her. Make sure she breathes. But that's not what she needs right now. Right now, I need to find out who the fuck thought they could touch what's mine.

I step out of the penthouse, and the door closes behind me with a soft, final click. The hallway is quiet. Controlled. Unlike the storm inside my head.

Six of my men stand guard. Reassuring me that nothing short of a small army could get to Audra.

Mauro falls in step beside me immediately. "Boss?"