Page 145 of De-Witched

“Gabriel, I only need her to know you. Screw the rest.” She prodded him. “What price?”

He relented. “The company. I’m out.”

“What?”

“I’m forbidden from taking my place as CEO—or any position—at Goodnight’s Remedies.” He said it matter-of-factly, as if it wasn’t tearing him apart. And it had to be.

“No,” she breathed. She slipped her arms free, pressed her hands into his chest. “Gabriel. I’m so... We can fix this. I can do something, I’m sure.”

“Leah.”

“No. That company is everything to you. It’s all you ever worked for, ever wanted.”

“Leah.”

“I swore I wouldn’t be an obstacle and—”

He kissed her.

Their lips clung until he broke it off. He stayed close. “Leah. I’m fine.”

“You’re only saying that.”

“I’m telling the truth. Look at me.” He forced her to do it, hands on her elbows. His gaze was open to her as it moved over her face. “You were right when you said I didn’t really want to be CEO.”

“But you wanted to be involved.” She felt like crying. “You were forced to give it up because of me.”

“No. I chose to.” He stroked his thumbs over the soft skin of her upper arms. “You heard them. A sacrifice must be made. What is true sacrifice if what you’re giving up doesn’t draw a little blood?”

“But that’s worse. I—”

“Leah.” This time his voice held an edge of laughter, so foreign to Gabriel’s voice that it made her stop. His dimple made an appearance. “You’re my future. Goodnight’s Remedies holds too many memories, too many regrets for me to ever be truly happy there, in any capacity. It was time to say goodbye.”

She absorbed that, heard the truth for what it was. “But what will you do?” She knew he wasn’t the kind to sit around the manor.

“Melly and I are going to open our own company.”

She laughed, then saw he was serious. “You’re going into business with your fourteen-year-old sister? Doing what?”

“We’re going to branch out from what Goodnight’s Remedies does. We’re going to focus on helping animals.”

“You’re—” As the idea took hold, a smile curved her lips and she threw her head back on a laugh. “I love that. The next generation of the Goodnights’ legacy. It’s perfect for you.”

He agreed with a dip of his chin. “The first place I ever truly felt accepted was at the shelter,” he said, contemplative. “Animals never expect you to be anything other than you are. I want to give back, help them as they’ve helped me...which is why I bought the shelter from Sonny’s buyer.”

“You...you what?” Her legs felt weak so she leaned against him before she ruined the moment by cracking her head on the stone floor. Boy, when he committed, he committed. She shouldn’t have expected any different. And she couldn’t love him any more. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He caught her hand, brushed a kiss over it. “But I did it for both of us. That is a special place. It needs to be run by people who appreciate that.”

Chuck nosed in between their legs, pressing his big head into her belly. She stroked his ears and smiled up at Gabriel. Everything was perfect. The only thing that would make it more so would be—

A cocktail stick appeared on the railing.

Leah frowned at it quizzically. “You felt the need for a tiny weapon?” When she looked up, she tensed at the expression on Gabriel’s face. “What?”

“I didn’t conjure that.”

“Then who...?”

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