Chapter 14 - GABRIEL’S BREAKING POINT

Gabriel watched the video once.

Then walked outside.

Elena followed.

He stood near the pool.

The same place Cassandra had landed days earlier.

His hands were shaking.

“She left us.”

He said.

“Then came back to kill the man who raised us.”

“We don’t know that yet.”

“I know my mother.”

Elena stood beside him.

“No.”

“You know who you believed she was.”

Gabriel looked at her.

That distinction hurt.

He had spent his life protecting family loyalty.

First his mother’s memory.

Then Cassandra.

Then Theodore’s legacy.

Now every version of family he trusted had betrayed someone.

Elena reached for his hand.

“You don’t have to protect their name.”

“What am I protecting then?”

“Us.”

He looked at her.

“For the first time, just us.”

Gabriel lowered his head.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he whispered.

“I almost became them.”

Elena frowned.

“When?”

“When I threw Cassandra.”

She understood.

“You stopped her from hurting me.”

“I could have pulled her away.”

“I was furious.”

“That scared me.”

Elena squeezed his hand.

“Then learn from it.”

He looked at her.

“Protecting me does not mean you have to become violent.”

“I know.”

“No more throwing people into pools.”

Despite everything, Gabriel almost smiled.

“Agreed.”

That conversation changed him.

He began separating protection from rage.

He let security handle confrontation.

He stopped trying to personally control every danger.

And for the first time, Elena felt protected without feeling managed.

Meanwhile, prosecutors raided Victor’s apartment.

He was gone.

But they found passports.

Cash.

And correspondence showing Vivienne intended to leave the country.

The departure was scheduled for the following night.

Private airfield.

Northern California.

Gabriel looked at the flight plan.

“She’s running.”

Elena remembered Theodore’s warning.

Do not believe her first offer.

Her first offer had been money.

What came next?

At 8:10 p.m., Vivienne called Gabriel.

“I will surrender.”

He put the call on speaker.

“But only if Elena comes with you.”

Gabriel immediately refused.

Vivienne laughed.

“Then you will never find Victor.”

“Why do I care?”

“Because Victor has something that belongs to your wife.”

Elena leaned forward.

“What?”

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Vivienne answered.

“The original letter Theodore wrote the night before he died.”