Page 15 of Finn
Bram studied me for a beat, his face expressionless.
“More babysitting,” he said dryly, though there was a glint of approval. “Let’s hope the cats play nice.”
"Let’s hope," I echoed, though we both knew that was unlikely.
The city streets were quiet as we set off, darkness clinging to every corner. I kept my senses sharp, my eyes scanning every shadow.
Even as I focused on the path ahead, that question gnawed at me, the one I’d pushed away earlier.
What was I holding onto? What was left of the old Gabriel that still kept me tethered to this existence?
Every once in a while, in moments like these, I let my guard slip just enough to remember.
I saw a flash of Finn's face, that boyish grin that had once been so full of trust.
I hadn’t seen him in years, hadn’t been that version of myself in years.
I wondered if Finn would even recognize me now. If he knew the things I had done in Beric’s name, the blood I’d spilled.
Beric had turned me into something Finn would never understand, and that thought haunted me more than the monsters around me ever could.
I forced myself to focus as we arrived at Gage's club, an upscale, glass-walled monstrosity on the edge of downtown.
Shifters crowded inside, the scent of their raw energy and barely suppressed aggression thick in the air.
A part of me bristled at the scent of blood and sweat, but I pushed it down, scanning the crowd for any sign of unrest.
Bram was silent beside me, a chilling presence that somehow settled my nerves. At least he was predictable.
Then I saw Gage himself, a towering figure with piercing amber eyes that fixed on us the moment we entered.
He moved through the crowd like a predator, his gaze zeroing in on us.
Despite the human guise, there was an unmistakable animal edge to him.
As he approached, his smirk was enough to tell me he was expecting us.
“Gabriel, Bram,” he said smoothly, eyes glinting with amusement. “I heard Beric was sending some of his favorites.”
“Just here to keep the peace,” I said coolly, meeting his gaze without a hint of the unease that had coiled in my stomach.
Gage’s eyes flicked between Bram and me, lingering just long enough to remind us we were in his territory.
“Is that so?” Gage’s voice was all feigned innocence, but his gaze was calculating, sharp as a blade. “Well, my boys are always peaceful.”
Gage chuckled, clearly enjoying himself.
His words sounded friendly, but the tension in the room spiked, the energy tightening around us like a noose.
When neither Bram nor I responded, Gage shrugged with a sly grin, hands slipping into the pockets of his tailored jacket.
“If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen,” he drawled, his tone mocking and almost lazy. “I have business to attend to.”
He looked between us one last time, a silent reminder of whose territory we stood in, before melting back into the crowd.
Bram and I exchanged a glance, silent communication passing between us.
He tilted his head toward the left side of the room, indicating he’d start there.
