Chapter 8 - THE PRICE OF A CHILD
Gabriel doubled Eli’s security.
Nobody left the estate.
Nobody entered.
Claire hated every second of it.
“I’m bait.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Gabriel stood in the library.
“You’re not going anywhere near Vincent.”
“He wants me.”
“That’s exactly why.”
“He thinks I have the evidence.”
“You do.”
“We copied it.”
Gabriel stared at her.
Claire lifted another flash drive.
“He doesn’t know that.”
“You’re suggesting I hand you to a man who has already beaten you twice?”
“I’m suggesting we control the meeting.”
“No.”
“Gabriel—”
“No.”
She slammed the drive onto the table.
“Stop deciding for everyone!”
His expression darkened.
“That attitude is why you nearly got killed.”
“And your attitude is why everyone lies to you!”
Silence.
Gabriel moved closer.
“You think I enjoy this?”
“I think you’re terrified.”
His eyes changed.
Claire continued.
“You can order fifty men into the street without blinking. But if someone you care about might get hurt, you lock them behind a wall and call it protection.”
Gabriel stared at her.
“You don’t know what I care about.”
Claire’s voice softened.
“Then tell me.”
He almost did.
A crash sounded upstairs.
Gabriel spun.
Mason’s voice shouted over the radio.
“BREACH!”
Gabriel grabbed Claire.
“Stay behind me.”
They ran.
Eli’s nursery door was open.
The nanny lay unconscious in the hallway.
The crib was empty.
Gabriel’s face turned white.
“No.”
Claire ran to the window.
Still locked.
Mason checked the closet.
Nothing.
Then a sound came from beneath the bed.
A small cry.
Claire dropped to her knees.
The nanny had hidden Eli beneath the bed before she lost consciousness.
Claire pulled him out.
“He’s here!”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
Relief lasted two seconds.
Then Mason shouted from the hallway.
“Claire!”
She turned.
Peter Vale stepped from the service corridor behind her.
Gun pressed against her ribs.
Gabriel raised his weapon.
Peter smiled.
“Drop it.”
Gabriel didn’t.
Peter pushed the barrel harder into Claire’s side.
“I said drop it.”
Claire stared at Gabriel.
Slowly, he lowered the gun.
Peter pulled Claire backward.
“Sorry, boss.”
Gabriel’s voice was frighteningly calm.
“If you hurt her, there is nowhere on earth you can hide.”
Peter laughed.
“That’s what Vincent said you’d say.”
He slammed the service door.
Gabriel lunged.
Too late.
By the time they reached the basement garage, Claire was gone.
Twenty minutes later Gabriel’s phone rang.
Claire’s number.
He answered.
Vincent’s voice came through.
“Hello, nephew.”
Gabriel’s eyes became empty.
“Where is she?”
Vincent chuckled.
“You always did ask the wrong question.”
“Where is Claire?”
“The correct question is what are you willing to trade for her?”
“Anything.”
Mason looked at him sharply.
Vincent laughed.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
May you like
Then Claire screamed in the background.
The call ended.
