Page 15 of Gabe

“Elio,” I say, my voice rising an octave as the flames start licking up the garage. “The house. We can’t stop the fire. It’s going to burn the house down.”

“I know Figlia. I know, but it’s just a house and can be replaced. Gabe,” Elio walks forward and lays his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “It’s no use, son. The fire trucks are on their way. Help me get all the guns out of the safe quickly. Someone needs to get Reaper from the backyard.”

I don’t know what else is said or how the shotgun disappears from my hand because all of my attention is on my phone and the new message that just came in.

Unknown number

Welcome back from the dead bitch. You should have stayed dead while you had the chance. Now, we have no choice but to finish what Dean and Ned couldn’t. We are coming, and the fucking Altobellis can’t save you from us.

The sound of approaching fire trucks pulls me from my small mental breakdown. Elio and Ava are standing off to my left with their arms around each other. Ava is holding a leash that is attached to Reaper, who is glaring at Gabe. Gabe is still standing in front of me, facing the driveway. A door slams somewhere, and the sound of someone running up behind me has Gabe turning around. Arms wrap around me, pulling me back away from Gabe. I would have screamed had I not smelled Vance’s cologne.

“Tara. What the fuck is going on? Are you okay?” Vance’s voice is full of worry. The last thing I see before I’m spun aroundis Gabe’s green eyes growing darker and his jaw working as if he is trying to grind his teeth into dust. Vance’s blue eyes scan me from head to toe, looking for any indication that I’m hurt.

“Vance. I’m?—”

Suddenly, I’m yanked back out of Vance’s arms, and Gabe is standing right where I was. All his muscles are locked up tight. I can’t see around him, so I step to the side, and my eyes widen as I see Gabe has a switchblade held up against Vance’s throat. Gabe’s other hand is balled up in Vance’s shirt, holding him in place.

“Don’t fucking put your hands on my girl again, or I will laugh as I watch the blood drain from your body.” I’ve never heard Gabe’s voice drop so low or sound so harsh as if he swallowed a handful of gravel.

“I’m—” Vance holds up his hands. I know that Vance always carries a blade and gun on him, but he isn’t reaching for it. Like Ava and Elio, Vance knows all about Gabe and who he is to me.

“I don’t fucking care. Don’t. Touch. Her. Again.”

I can’t stand around watching this. I have to get out of here to meet Lilly, and Vance needs to start finding out who did this. I step closer and put my hand over Gabe’s—the one holding the knife to Vance’s throat. “Marito. Let him go, baby. He means me no harm. He is the closest thing I have to a brother, minus Reed.”

Vance’s eyes snap to mine, and he smirks at me. He knows what that word means. “You might see him—” Gabe steps even closer to Vance.

“No, Gabe, listen, Vance has been married to his wife for five years, and they have two beautiful babies together. I promise you.” I reach out and turn his face toward me. “Hey, trust me. Trust our love. I love you and only you. Vance would give his life to protect me as a sister.”

Gabe takes a deep breath, pulls away, and wraps me up in his arms. “I’m sorry, Princess.”

I bury my face into his chest. “I get it. I really do,” I say, kissing his sternum. I turn around in his arms and find Vance smiling at us. “Shut it, Vance. I don’t have time to hear your shit. I need you to trace a number.” I hand over my phone.

Vance’s smile fades and is replaced with a scowl. “What the fuck! Have you shown Elio?”

“Not yet. I was kind of busy saving your life.”

“What is it?” Gabe asks, holding out his hand for my phone. Vance places it in his palm. “Shit. Yo Elio, get over here.”

Vance gasps at Gabe, commanding Elio to do anything. No one speaks to him that way, and lives to tell the story. Elio says nothing as he walks over and takes my phone from Gabe. “What the fuck was that?” Vance asks me. I shrug at him because I have no idea.

“We will handle this,” Elio says, looking directly at me. “I want you to stop?—”

I’m shaking my head before he finishes his sentence. “No, I can’t. I’m fucking close to finding out what is going on. I’m not scared of this, of them,” I say, pointing at my phone.

“You might not be scared, Figlia, but we don’t want to lose you,” Ava says with tears in her eyes. “Let Elio and the family find them. They will bring them to you, and you can still have what you deserve, but it is getting too dangerous for you to do this alone.”

The fire trucks have made it down the road and are trying to contain the fire, ignoring our little circle with me in the middle, hidden from view. “I can’t?—”

“She isn’t alone—not anymore. She has me and my guys. We might not be as badass as your family, but we can protect her,” Gabe says, looking directly at Elio. “You have my word that I will protect her with my life.”

“If anything happens to her?—”

“I know, Elio, you will kill me. You don’t have to worry about that. If something was to happen, I would take care of myself for you. But nothing will. I promise.” Gabe holds out his hand for Elio to shake. This feels like Gabe is asking Elio’s permission for my hand or something. I hold my breath, praying that Elio doesn’t fight us on this.

“I trust you with her, Figlio,” Elio says, shaking Gabe’s hand.

Son. Elio just called Gabe his son.Holy shit.

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