Chapter 5 - The Bellmont Trap
At 11:58 the next morning, Sadie entered the abandoned Bellmont Hotel.
Gabriel walked beside her.
“You stay behind me.”
“No.”
“Sadie.”
“If he sees me hiding, he'll know something's wrong.”
“You're remarkably difficult to protect.”
“You're remarkably controlling.”
“Focus.”
They reached the old ballroom.
Victor Salerno waited beside Dean.
Several men stood around them.
Dean's wrists were tied.
“Sadie!”
Victor smiled.
“There she is.”
Sadie held up the flash drive.
“Let him go.”
“First the drive.”
Gabriel spoke.
“You wanted me here, Victor. I'm here.”
Victor's smile widened.
“I wanted you both.”
Sadie looked around.
“Eleven million dollars.”
Victor's expression flickered.
Gabriel glanced at her.
Sadie continued.
“That's how much you stole.”
“You don't know what you're talking about.”
“I know the records were copied.”
Victor looked at Dean.
“You said there was one copy.”
Dean swallowed.
“I lied.”
Sadie almost smiled.
For once, her brother's dishonesty had become useful.
Victor's confidence vanished.
Gabriel said quietly, “The files were sent out this morning.”
“To who?”
“People who ask unpleasant questions about unexplained bank transfers.”
Victor's jaw clenched.
“You involved authorities?”
Gabriel shrugged.
“I'm becoming civic-minded.”
Sadie almost laughed.
Then sirens sounded outside.
Victor looked toward the windows.
Gabriel's men moved.
Victor grabbed Dean.
Everything happened at once.
Sadie ran forward.
Gabriel caught her waist.
“Stay down!”
The ballroom erupted in shouting.
No dramatic battle followed.
Victor's own men began backing away.
They had been promised money.
They had not been promised prison.
One dropped his weapon.
Then another.
Victor looked around.
“You cowards!”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“It's over.”
Victor shoved Dean aside.
“You think she changed you?”
Gabriel's eyes shifted briefly toward Sadie.
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“You're lying.”
Gabriel's expression remained calm.
“She reminded me I had choices.”
Police sirens grew louder.
Victor backed toward the exit.
Marco appeared there with two men.
“No exit.”
Victor froze.
Gabriel walked to Dean and cut his restraints.
Dean rubbed his wrists.
“Thank you.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“Don't make me regret it.”
“I won't.”
Sadie arrived.
“You said that last time.”
Dean grimaced.
“Fair.”
Within minutes, Victor's empire began collapsing.
His own records did what bullets never could.
They made everyone around him start talking.
Sadie stood beside Gabriel as Victor was taken away.
“You actually listened to me.”
Gabriel looked offended.
“Don't tell anyone.”
“Your reputation?”
“Destroyed.”
She smiled.
Then noticed blood on his shirt.
Her smile vanished.
“Gabriel.”
He looked down.
During the chaos, broken glass had cut his side.
It wasn't life-threatening.
But there was enough blood to bring back the alley.
Sadie caught his face between her hands.
“You're bleeding again.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“This feels familiar.”
“Don't joke.”
“You kissed me last time.”
“Gabriel.”
“Just mentioning precedent.”
She stared at him.
Then kissed him.
This time there was no weapon.
No rain.
No pretending.
And Gabriel didn't need her to hold him upright.
When they separated, Dean stared at them.
“Seriously?”
Sadie looked over.
“Not one word.”
Dean raised both hands.
Gabriel smiled.
May you like
“Smartest decision he's made all month.”
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