Chapter 4 - The Waitress Who Refused to Hide
Gabriel didn’t threaten Trent.
That frightened Trent more.
He simply placed the notebook on the kitchen counter.
“Who is G?”
Trent shook his head.
“You don’t understand.”
“Make me.”
“He’ll know.”
“Who?”
Trent looked toward Harper.
“You should’ve stayed out of this.”
Harper’s hands curled.
“You brought it into our apartment.”
“I was trying to make money.”
“You broke my face because you were trying to make money?”
Trent looked away.
Harper stepped closer.
“No. Look at me.”
He did.
“You told me I made you angry. You said if I listened better, you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Harper—”
“You threw an ashtray at me.”
“I missed.”
“It hit my face.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“You never mean anything until after you do it.”
Gabriel remained silent.
This was hers.
Harper understood that.
For once, a powerful man wasn’t speaking over her.
Trent rubbed his forehead.
“The money changed things.”
“No,” Harper said. “The money just gave you another excuse.”
Gabriel’s phone vibrated.
Marco.
“Boss, we have movement at Pier Fourteen.”
“How much?”
“Three containers being redirected tonight.”
Gabriel’s gaze moved toward Trent.
“Who authorized it?”
A pause.
Then Marco answered.
“Victor Salerno.”
Gabriel went completely still.
Harper noticed.
“Who is Victor?”
Gabriel ended the call.
“My godfather.”
Trent shut his eyes.
Gabriel looked at him.
“G isn’t Gabriel.”
Trent said nothing.
“It’s godfather.”
Silence.
Gabriel understood.
Victor had helped raise him after Gabriel’s father died.
He had sat beside Gabriel at family funerals.
He had advised him for fifteen years.
And he had apparently spent eighteen months stealing from him.
“How involved is Trent?” Harper asked.
Gabriel looked at her.
“Enough to know.”
“Not enough to organize it?”
“No.”
Trent laughed bitterly.
“You think Victor tells me anything? I move paperwork. Change container numbers. Deliver envelopes.”
“And beat women,” Gabriel said.
Trent’s face tightened.
Gabriel stepped closer.
“That part was your own initiative.”
“Gabriel,” Harper said.
He stopped immediately.
She walked around him.
“Trent.”
“What?”
“You’re going to tell us everything.”
“Us?”
“Yes.”
Trent stared.
“You think Costa cares about you?”
Harper’s expression tightened.
“He doesn’t need to care about me for you to be wrong.”
“He’ll use you.”
“Maybe.”
Gabriel glanced at her.
Harper continued.
“But that’s my decision to make.”
Trent shook his head.
“You always were stupid.”
Harper’s fear vanished.
“No.”
She pointed toward the door.
“I was scared.”
Then toward herself.
“There’s a difference.”
Gabriel quietly picked up the notebook.
“We’re leaving.”
Trent looked at him.
“What happens to me?”
Gabriel glanced at Harper.
She understood the question behind the question.
“Nothing,” she said.
Trent blinked.
Harper continued.
“Nothing from him.”
She took out her phone.
“I’m calling the police about what you did to me.”
Trent’s face changed.
“You wouldn’t.”
Harper dialed.
“I already am.”
Gabriel opened the apartment door.
Trent shouted after them.
“Victor will destroy you!”
Gabriel stopped.
He turned.
“No.”
His voice was almost gentle.
“He’s going to try.”
Outside, Harper leaned against the hallway wall.
Her hands suddenly began shaking.
Gabriel stood several feet away.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Do you want me closer?”
Harper looked at him.
That question almost undid her.
“Yes.”
Gabriel stepped beside her.
He didn’t touch her.
Harper slowly reached for his hand herself.
His fingers closed around hers.
“Gabriel?”
“Yes?”
“I’m terrified.”
“I know.”
“What happens now?”
He looked toward the elevator.
“Now Victor believes he still has the advantage.”
“Does he?”
Gabriel looked at the notebook.
“No.”
Harper followed his gaze.
“Because of that?”
May you like
“Because of you.”
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