Chapter 5 - Dinner for a TraitorCarmine believed Norah was leaving.
That was the lie.
Leo leaked the information through exactly the channels Carmine monitored.
Norah would be transported to Canada.
Gabriel would remain behind.
The convoy would depart Friday at midnight.
None of it was true.
Friday evening, Norah cooked dinner.
Stracotto.
The same dish that had started everything.
Gabriel entered the kitchen.
“You're enjoying this.”
“Cooking?”
“Manipulating organized criminals.”
Norah tasted the gravy.
“I contain multitudes.”
Gabriel laughed.
His wound was healing.
He still moved carefully, but strength had returned.
“You're frightening.”
“You kidnapped a nursing student.”
“I offered employment.”
“You surrounded my apartment with armed men.”
“Competitive benefits package.”
She pointed the spoon at him.
“You are impossible.”
Gabriel approached.
Too close.
Norah became suddenly aware of the space between them.
Or lack of it.
His eyes dropped briefly to her mouth.
She noticed.
He noticed that she noticed.
Neither moved.
Then Leo entered.
“Am I interrupting something?”
“Yes,” Gabriel said.
“No,” Norah said simultaneously.
Leo smiled.
“Good. Carmine took the bait.”
The convoy left at midnight.
Three SUVs.
No Norah.
Carmine's men attacked it twelve minutes later.
Meanwhile Carmine himself arrived at Gabriel's penthouse.
He believed Gabriel was alone.
He was wrong.
Carmine entered the dining room.
Norah stood behind Gabriel.
Dominic stood beside Leo.
Elena Russo sat near the windows.
Carmine stopped.
His face revealed everything.
Gabriel gestured toward a chair.
“Sit.”
Carmine did not.
“You've been busy.”
Gabriel placed the financial records on the table.
“Arthur was stupid. You weren't.”
Carmine said nothing.
“You knew poison wouldn't necessarily kill me. That wasn't the point. Fear was.”
Gabriel stood.
“You wanted me weak enough for Chicago to move.”
Carmine finally smiled.
“You were never supposed to survive the first week.”
Norah felt Gabriel tense.
Carmine looked at her.
“Then the waitress happened.”
Gabriel moved between them.
Carmine laughed.
“There. That's exactly what I mean.”
“Careful.”
“You built an empire because you never cared about anyone. Then she fed you your mother's cooking and suddenly Gabriel Hayes discovered a heart.”
Gabriel's expression remained cold.
Carmine looked at Norah.
“Do you know what happens to women men like him love?”
Norah's stomach tightened.
“They become graves.”
Gabriel crossed the room.
Norah caught his arm.
“No.”
Carmine smiled.
“He'll kill me anyway.”
“Maybe,” Norah said.
Everyone looked at her.
“But not tonight.”
Gabriel frowned.
“Norah.”
“You said wars are expensive.”
She looked at Carmine.
“So are executions.”
Carmine's amusement disappeared.
Norah placed a phone on the table.
A recording played.
Carmine's own voice.
Discussing payments.
Routes.
Names.
Enough evidence to destroy him with both the underworld and federal investigators.
His face went white.
Norah had suggested recording his men after the convoy attack.
Gabriel had agreed.
Carmine stared at her.
“You little bitch.”
Gabriel hit him.
One punch.
Carmine crashed onto the table.
Gabriel grabbed his collar.
“You will never speak to her like that again.”
Norah approached.
“Gabriel.”
His fist remained raised.
“Gabriel.”
Slowly, he released Carmine.
Leo dragged the traitor away.
Not to the docks.
To federal custody.
Anonymous evidence would ensure Carmine spent decades behind bars.
It was Norah's condition.
Gabriel had accepted it.
After everyone left, Norah stood alone in the kitchen.
Gabriel entered.
“You changed the way I handle betrayal.”
“Temporarily.”
“No.”
He leaned against the counter.
“Permanently.”
Norah looked at him.
“That scares you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Rosa tried for twenty years.”
Norah smiled.
“I had better leverage.”
“Food?”
“Obviously.”
Gabriel approached.
“You know that isn't what I meant.”
Norah's smile faded.
The room became quiet.
He lifted one hand.
Stopped before touching her.
For once, he asked.
“May I?”
Norah looked at him.
At the man who had once declared she belonged to his house.
At the man who now waited for permission.
“Yes.”
Gabriel touched her cheek.
His thumb brushed gently beneath her eye.
Then he kissed her.
No violence.
No possession.
No command.
Just warmth.
Norah kissed him back.
For several seconds, the entire city disappeared.
Then she stepped away.
Gabriel did not chase her.
“My exam is Monday.”
He blinked.
“You're thinking about your nursing exam?”
“I've studied for years.”
“You're unbelievable.”
“You like me.”
May you like
Gabriel smiled.
“That appears to be the problem.”
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