Chapter 19 - Shadows of the Heart
By four o'clock in the morning,
the estate had finally returned to a quiet,
peaceful silence.
The red emergency lights were off,
the security reports were finalized,
and the syndicate board had officially confirmed Gabriel as the sole,
undisputed Capo of the entire region.
Inside Gabriel’s private master study,
a warm fire crackled in the stone fireplace,
casting soft orange light across the heavy leather armchairs and polished mahogany bookshelves.
I sat on the soft velvet sofa in front of the fire,
wearing a pair of Gabriel’s oversized grey cashmere sweatpants and a warm cotton t-shirt.
A warm mug of chamomile tea sat on the small table beside me.
Gabriel walked into the room.
Not in a wheelchair.
Not with a cane.
He walked with the natural,
powerful grace of a man who owned everything his eyes touched.
He carried a thick manila folder in his hand and set it on the table next to my tea.
"What's this?"
I asked,
looking up at him as he sat down beside me on the sofa,
his long legs stretching out toward the fire.
"That,"
Gabriel said,
his voice dropping into a soft,
intimate purr,
"is the complete payoff confirmation for your student loans."
"Along with the deed to a comfortable townhouse in town for your mother,"
"and a lifetime supply of prescription kidney food for Pickles the cat."
I stared at the papers inside the folder,
my mouth dropping open in absolute shock.
"Gabriel... this... this is hundreds of thousands of dollars!"
"I can't accept this!"
"You didn't accept it,"
he smiled,
reaching out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I already paid it."
"Consider it your severance pay as my primary care nurse."
My heart sank slightly into my chest at the word severance.
I looked down at my hands,
my fingers tracing the edge of the heavy gold signet ring he had given me.
"Severance pay..."
I murmured softly,
a sudden wave of sadness washing over me.
"So... my job here is finished then?"
"Your job as my nurse is over,"
Gabriel corrected,
his hand moving down to scoop under my chin,
lifting my face until my eyes met his dark,
burning gaze.
"You cured me,
Maya."
"Not just my spine."
"You cured the cold,
bitter monster I was becoming in that chair."
He leaned in close,
his warm breath fanning across my lips.
"Now,"
"I am offering you a permanent position."
"What position?"
I whispered,
my pulse hammering against my throat.
"The only one that matters,"
he growled gently,
pressing his lips against mine in a long,
intense,
and breathtaking kiss that made my entire body go melt into his chest.
"My partner."
May you like
"My queen."
"The woman who stays by my side forever."
