Page 104 of Corrupted Empire

Dom nods.

Gabriel’s eyelids flutter. I can tell that he’s working hard to stay awake. When he speaks next, his words have taken on a slurred edge. “Alexis’ word is to be taken as law, especially given that I don’t know how long I will be laid up. She has my full trust, and if anyone has a problem with that, they must speak to me directly. Understood?”

All of the men chime their agreement. I can’t believe that Gabriel has all but crowned me in front of them. I’m glad, because there’s a much bigger mess to clean up here than Gabriel is currently capable of dealing with.

Gabriel dismisses his men, and I follow them out into the hall.

“Elia,” I call.

The older man turns to face me. He has a splint on his nose, and his lip is split on one side.

“Yes?” he says.

I suddenly grow nervous. I’ve never commanded one of Gabriel’s capos before, not like this. What if he tells me to fuck off?

No, I’m being stupid. It is my right to make demands of him, and it is his duty to follow them.

“I want you to start funeral arrangements for John, Piero, and Matteo,” I say. “Have men go around to tell their families personally. I also want the families of those in intensive care notified and brought to the hospital if they so desire.”

He nods.

“One more thing,” I say. “Have the nurses set up a cot for me in Gabriel’s room.”

“Of course,” Elia says. “It will be done.”

He disappears down the corridor, and I feel a rush of adrenaline. I get the feeling I could have asked him to do anything and, even though he barely knows me, Elia would have been only too happy to oblige. So this is what power feels like. I vow to use it responsibly.

Gabriel is asleep when I go back into his room, so I go find Clara and Harry. Angelo is in the private waiting room with them, and when I walk in, Clara is curled against him on the sofa with a sleeping Harry nestled between them. I almost don’t want to interrupt them.

“Hey,” I say.

Clara looks up, smiling. “Hey.”

“Gabriel’s asleep.” I walk over, squatting down until I’m level with Harry. He is drooling all over Angelo’s expensive suit jacket. I smile and stroke his head. “Will you take this one home for me? I’m staying here tonight.”

“Of course,” Clara replies. “I’ll bring him back in the morning.”

I thank her and then start ambling back to Gabriel’s room. Only then, once everything has been organized and sorted into neat little piles, do the day’s events truly hit me.

I killed two people. A man I didn’t know who wanted to hurt me, and a mother I never knew I had—who also wanted to hurt me. I know that I should feel remorse, that snuffing out another human life should weigh heavily on my conscience, but I don’t, and it doesn’t. I didn’t enjoy doing it, but I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

In one squeeze of my finger, I dove straight into the gray area that Gabriel operates his whole life within, and it’s not the wretched place I thought it was. In fact, I have an odd sense of clarity. The remaining misgivings I’d had about participating in the dark side of Gabriel’s business flutter away because I know that at the end of the day, I will always do what I feel is right. The darkness won’t turn me into someone unrecognizable. I might be more myself now than I ever have been.

Gabriel is still asleep when I get back to the room. A little bed has been made for me beside his, but for now, I go to the chair. I rest my hand over his and stare at him, sleeping peacefully, eyes flickering behind his closed lids. I hope he’s dreaming about something nice.

I’m suddenly exhausted. I know I should go to the cot, but I’m hesitant to take my eyes off him, like if I do, he will disappear in a puff of smoke. So I hold out a minute longer.

Just another minute…

* * *

I wake suddenly, shooting upright from where I’d been resting my forehead on the side of Gabriel’s bed. I whirl around and check the corners of the room, but there’s nobody there. With a sagging sigh, I turn back to Gabriel and notice him smiling at me in amusement.

“Good morning,” he says.

The sky is still black outside. I check the time on my phone and see it’s 3:30 a.m.

“Good morning to you too,” I say. “You should be asleep still. You need to rest.”

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