The Mafia Boss Visited His Assistant Unannounced—And What He Saw Made Him Cancel His Wedding

Gabriel finally stepped directly out into the wide open.

He absolutely did not run or aggressively call out to them.

His heavy boots moved incredibly softly directly across the wet gravel.

Carlo was the very first to spot him in the gloom.

The silver flask instantly dropped from his hand and loudly struck the hard concrete.

Expensive brandy quickly mixed with the freezing rainwater.

"Gabriel."

The terrified word completely broke right inside Carlo’s tight throat.

The startled Kensington men quickly turned around and rapidly raised their heavy weapons.

They simply did not get the chance to fire.

Liam and the other guards aggressively opened fire directly from high above the tall container stacks.

The highly suppressed rifle shots simply sounded exactly like heavy industrial staples being fired.

The lead enforcer instantly fell backward with a fatal wound directly through his temple.

Two highly precise rounds violently struck the chest of the second armed man.

He completely folded right over the metal hood of the truck, and dark blood rapidly moved across the wet front grille.

The third panicked man fired a single, entirely uncontrolled round wildly into the dark sky.

Liam’s heavy shotgun blast entirely destroyed his kneecaps.

The screaming man violently struck the wet pavement.

A single, final pistol round instantly stopped his agonizing screaming.

The absolute, heavy silence immediately afterward rang loudly inside Gabriel’s ringing ears.

Carlo stood frozen flat against the warehouse wall with both of his empty hands fully raised.

They actively shook incredibly violently.

His terrified eyes darted rapidly between the bleeding bodies and his steadily approaching nephew.

"Gabriel, please wait."

Carlo’s panicked voice fully broke.

"They violently forced me into this."

He frantically began speaking incredibly rapidly.

"Sloan’s ruthless father actively threatened my beautiful daughters."

His previous smug confidence had entirely disappeared.

"He explicitly said he would ruthlessly murder your own cousins if I stubbornly refused to provide access to the warehouse."

Gabriel smoothly stopped exactly ten feet away from him.

He quietly looked right at the older man who had kindly bought his very first bicycle and later poured expensive whiskey onto his dead father’s grave.

"You absolutely do not have any daughters, Carlo."

His deep voice remained terrifyingly quiet.

"You only have two bitter former wives who completely hate you."

Gabriel slowly raised the lethal pistol just slightly.

"You also recklessly developed a massive three-million-dollar gambling debt at the Bellagio casino last Monday."

Carlo desperately opened his mouth to speak.

Absolutely no sound emerged from his throat.

"You selfishly sold my life and the loyal lives of my men simply because of a terrible losing streak at a fancy baccarat table."

Gabriel honestly felt absolutely no anger toward him anymore.

There was currently only a highly hollow, cold absence inside his chest.

"You deliberately used an armed Kensington courier just to conceal the damning evidence."

He took a step closer.

"You were incredibly careless."

Gabriel’s handsome expression became absolutely still.

"My highly intelligent assistant easily discovered you."

"A damn secretary?"

A highly desperate, ugly sneer twisted Carlo’s wet face as he fully realized pathetic begging had completely failed him.

"You will actually murder your own blood family over a glorified, cheap typist?"

"She is absolutely not a typist."

Gabriel fully raised the SIG Sauer and rigidly locked his elbow.

"She is exactly the brilliant woman who ultimately ended your pathetic life."

He coldly fired twice directly into Carlo’s chest.

His shocked uncle heavily struck the metal wall and slowly slid down toward the wet concrete.

Dark blood heavily marked the corrugated metal wall right behind him.

Carlo weakly produced exactly one wet, ragged breath.

Then his staring eyes simply became completely empty beneath the falling rain.

Gabriel smoothly lowered the smoking pistol.

Sharp gunpowder, cold salt water, and fresh blood heavily mixed in the night air.

He simply remained standing right over the fresh body while the freezing rain passed through his dark hair.

"All the enemy vehicles are fully secure."

Liam quietly stopped right beside him.

"There are absolutely no additional assault teams currently approaching the area."

"Place all of the bodies directly inside the back of the Kensington trucks."

Gabriel finally turned completely away from Carlo's corpse.

"Drive them straight out to the private airstrip."

He securely holstered the warm weapon.

"Park them directly in front of Richard Kensington’s private aircraft and clearly leave the keys inside the ignition."

Liam simply nodded his head.

"And what about Carlo?"

Gabriel looked down toward the polished silver flask currently lying in the puddle of mixed brandy and rain.

"Put him sitting upright in the driver’s seat."

His deep voice became unbelievably cold.

"Richard definitely should see exactly what actively happens to all his foolish investments."

Gabriel quietly returned to the waiting black SUV.

Profound exhaustion rapidly replaced his fading adrenaline.

He rapidly drove away from the bloody docks completely without ever looking back toward the warehouse.

The heavily flooded streets smoothly led him back toward the absolute only person in his entire organization who had selflessly protected him.

The quiet return drive to the private estate seemed entirely endless.

Gabriel tightly held the leather steering wheel until his large hands physically hurt.

His ruined suit smelled heavily of damp wool, sharp gunpowder, and drying blood.

The overly pristine, lemon-scented foyer actually sickened him when he finally entered the house.

The terrifyingly freezing bathroom back on Garrison Street actually felt infinitely more real than all the incredible luxury currently surrounding him.

Gabriel slowly walked directly to the closed study.

The heavy brass handle absolutely did not move.

Norah had successfully secured the heavy deadbolt from the inside.

He exhausted placed his forehead very briefly right against the solid wood.

A highly painful knot instantly formed deep inside his tight throat.

"Norah."

A wooden stool loudly scraped across the interior study floor.

The heavy metal lock smoothly disengaged.

The thick door opened just slightly, revealing exactly one completely exhausted dark eye.

Then it finally opened fully wide.

Norah leaned heavily against the wooden frame, still swimming inside Gabriel’s massively oversized black shirt.

The lethal SIG Sauer hung heavily from her pale right hand.

Her index finger safely rested completely outside the metal trigger guard, but her desperate grip was incredibly rigid.

Gabriel quickly entered the room and firmly closed the door behind him.

He gently placed his warm hand completely around the metal barrel and removed the loaded weapon incredibly carefully right from her shaking fingers.

After securely engaging the manual safety, he set it down on the leather sofa.

"You thankfully did not shoot me."

"You actually knocked."

Norah quietly examined the horrific blood stains completely ruining his shirt and expensive cuffs.

"Did you actually kill him?"

"Carlo is completely dead."

Gabriel looked softly toward her tired face.

"The Kensingtons will entirely leave the city by tomorrow."

Norah deeply closed her dark eyes.

The immense tension instantly left her fragile shoulders so completely that her one good leg entirely failed her.

Gabriel rapidly caught her long before she ever struck the hardwood floor.

He effortlessly lifted her entirely against his broad chest.

This specific time, she absolutely did not attempt to resist him at all.

Her heavily bruised cheek securely rested directly against his wet shoulder, and her frantic breathing remained highly shallow.

Gabriel carefully carried her right past the mahogany desk and the glowing computer displaying the damning evidence of Carlo’s betrayal.

He definitely did not return her to the lonely guest room.

The massive master bedroom was incredibly warm from the roaring stone fireplace.

Gabriel gently lowered Norah directly into the exact center of his own massive bed.

"I desperately need to wash."

He stared darkly at the dried blood and explosive residue completely covering across his large hands.

"Do not move an inch."

"I honestly cannot even feel the leg anymore."

Her exhausted eyes remained completely closed.

Gabriel quickly entered the master bathroom and fully turned the hot water on until it became absolutely scalding.

He aggressively washed away the filthy docks, the sharp gunpowder, and the horrific memory of executing his own uncle.

Light pink water rapidly disappeared directly into the expensive marble drain.

He completely removed the entirely ruined suit and quietly returned to the bedroom wearing absolutely only his dark trousers.

Norah was blankly staring right up at the high ceiling.

Gabriel slowly sat down right at the very edge of the soft mattress.

"Victor explicitly said you highly require deep sleep."

"My racing mind simply will not stop."

She slowly turned her head directly toward his bare chest, his dark syndicate tattoos, and his many old, faded scars.

"What exactly happens starting tomorrow?"

"I firmly establish the brand new operational conditions directly with Richard Kensington."

"Sloan was meant to be a highly strategic corporate alliance."

Her weak voice was incredibly thin but highly persistent.

"If the massive Kensington network is entirely removed, the overall gross margin unfortunately falls by approximately twenty percent."

Gabriel suddenly released a very harsh, genuine laugh.

He firmly placed both of his large hands flat on the mattress right beside her delicate shoulders and fully leaned over her.

Intense heat still strongly radiated directly from her pale skin.

"I just completely dismantled a massive hostile takeover tonight."

His dark eyes intensely held hers.

"I literally executed my own treacherous uncle and physically carried you directly from a rotting slum."

Gabriel significantly lowered his deep voice.

"And yet you are actively discussing corporate profit margins with me."

"Someone absolutely needs to properly maintain all the complex accounts."

"I honestly could not even see anything clearly without you."

The stunning correction came incredibly quietly from his lips.

The highly rigid professional distance flawlessly preserved for four long years entirely disappeared in that second.

Gabriel incredibly gently passed his warm thumb right along her severely bruised jaw.

"Your sick mother’s medical facility is as of right now fully funded directly through my own private trust."

Norah’s bruised lips parted in absolute shock.

"The horrible little apartment over on Garrison Street essentially no longer exists."

He smoothly continued speaking.

"Liam is currently out completely removing all of your personal belongings from the rooms."

Gabriel’s handsome expression became utterly, terrifyingly final.

"Then the entire rotting building will completely burn to the ground."

"You simply cannot unilaterally decide my entire life for me."

"I actually just did exactly that."

He smoothly moved his face even closer to hers.

The harsh smell of medical antiseptic strongly clung to her pale skin.

"You literally bled to protect me."

His deep voice became incredibly rough with emotion.

"You will absolutely never return to the small desk located right outside my office."

His dark eyes dangerously darkened with pure intent.

"You are permanently staying right here with me."

"I am only your professional assistant."

"No, you are not."

The profound need roaring inside Gabriel rapidly settled into absolute cold certainty.

"You are officially my equal partner."

He safely remained hovering protectively right over her.

"If absolutely anyone ever harms you again, I will personally remove their eyes from their skull."

Norah quietly looked right at the dangerous man who had just ordered a massive slaughter and now intensely watched her exactly as though she were the absolute only stable thing beneath him.

Her massive emotional defenses finally began to completely fall away.

"I honestly highly preferred the wild mushroom over the truffle risotto."

The ridiculous words quietly emerged exactly as her heavy eyelids finally lowered.

A highly genuine, warm laugh moved incredibly quietly right through Gabriel’s broad chest.

He gently placed the incredibly soft, dark linen sheets safely over her fragile shoulders.

Gabriel absolutely did not leave the bed.

He simply lay completely above the covers right beside her and quietly listened to each and every breath while the dancing shadows from the stone fire moved across the high ceiling.

Brilliant morning sunlight aggressively entered the massive master suite with entirely uncompromising brightness.

Gabriel was naturally already wide awake.

At exactly 8:00 a.m., he stood silently right near the window in a perfectly clean white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up above his elbows.

A steaming cup of black coffee comfortably rested in one hand.

A brand new, secure burner telephone fully occupied his other hand.

The plastic device suddenly vibrated.

A highly recognizable Boston area code brightly appeared on the screen.

Gabriel calmly drank from his coffee before finally accepting the incoming call.

"Gabriel."

Richard Kensington’s frantic voice completely no longer carried the arrogant confidence of a powerful man actively planning a hostile takeover.

It was incredibly tight and visibly frightened.

"What exactly have you done?"

"I simply returned all of your lost property to you."

Gabriel smoothly looked directly toward the massive bed.

"I sincerely hope your cowardly flight back to Boston was incredibly comfortable."

"You brutally murdered Carlo."

Richard’s panicked voice rapidly rose in pitch.

"You mercilessly slaughtered all of my best men."

He inhaled incredibly sharply over the line.

"This means total war between us."

"It is actually just a highly permanent eviction notice."

Gabriel quietly watched Norah peacefully sleep.

Her steady breathing had finally become incredibly deep and wonderfully even.

The raging fever thankfully completely broke sometime during the long night.

The severe facial bruising remained incredibly vivid against the pristine white pillows.

His dark eyes instantly became entirely cold again.

"Listen to me incredibly carefully, Richard."

Gabriel spoke directly with absolute, unquestionable authority.

"The corporate merger is permanently terminated."

His full attention entirely remained right on Norah.

"Sloan may freely pursue another strategic arrangement with someone else."

He smoothly continued speaking to the older man.

"If your failing organization ever attempts to use my shipping ports, if your commercial vehicles ever cross my city limits, or if even one of your hired enforcers enters my territory, I will definitely not bother to neatly return the dead bodies next time."

His dangerous voice lowered to a lethal whisper.

"I will personally deliver them directly to your front door."

"You incredibly arrogant little—"

Richard rapidly stopped himself from finishing the insult.

"You absolutely cannot successfully operate the massive shipping network without my injected capital."

His arrogant confidence weakly attempted to fully return.

"You will entirely collapse within exactly six months."

"I actually have significantly better accountants than you could possibly believe."

Gabriel’s cold gaze immediately softened completely toward Norah.

"Do not ever attempt to contact me again."

He abruptly ended the secure call and cleanly placed the telephone directly into his pocket.

Soft linen shifted quietly right behind him.

Norah slowly shifted and visibly winced when the slight movement painfully pulled against her tight stitches.

Her dark eyes slowly opened right against the bright sunlight.

She groggily examined the highly unfamiliar room long before finally finding Gabriel standing near the large window.

"Did you actually shoot the new telephone?"

Her raspy voice remained incredibly rough from the deep sleep.

"I successfully handled Richard for good."

Gabriel carefully placed the hot coffee directly onto the wooden nightstand.

Norah incredibly slowly pushed herself fully upright and tiredly rested right against the tall headboard.

She quietly looked down at the oversized black shirt and her rigid leg brace.

The horrific memories rapidly returned to her.

The bloody bathroom, the sharp needle, the frantic drive to the private estate, and Gabriel’s highly suffocating promise.

He intensely watched her entirely without the safe distance of a professional employer.

"So."

Norah awkwardly cleared her tight throat and desperately attempted to fully regain her professional control.

"The entire Kensington network is completely gone now."

She rapidly considered the massive financial implications.

"We absolutely need to restructure the complex offshore accounts by next Tuesday, or the various shell corporations may accidentally alert the Internal Revenue Service."

Gabriel immediately leaned forward and firmly placed his large hands on both sides of her blanketed hips.

He highly effectively trapped her securely right against the massive headboard.

"Stop right now."

"I am honestly only saying that if we do not quickly redirect—"

"Norah, look directly at me."

She instantly became entirely quiet.

His dark eyes absolutely no longer carried the cold corporate mask.

"The work laptop is fully locked inside the study down the hall."

His deep voice remained incredibly soft.

"You absolutely will not even touch a single spreadsheet for at least two weeks."

Gabriel pointedly looked down toward the thick leg bandage.

"Victor personally returns right at noon to completely examine the tight stitches and firmly establish a proper nutritional diet for you."

He smoothly brought his handsome face even closer to hers.

"You are going to completely rest."

"I am honestly not very good at resting."

Bright color rapidly entered her extremely pale cheeks.

"I will undoubtedly become incredibly bored."

"Then I will simply have to entertain you."

Gabriel’s voice dropped low enough to immediately send a highly sudden shiver completely through her body.

"You absolutely will not work."

His dark eyes firmly held hers captive.

"You will fully recover."

Norah quietly looked down at the heavy gold watch secured around his thick wrist and the bright silver scars completely across his scarred knuckles.

For exactly four years, she had meticulously organized his entire existence, flawlessly anticipated his many needs, and quietly repaired his massive errors.

She honestly believed she had always been completely invisible to him.

Only just another highly useful component running in his massive machinery.

Norah slowly raised a highly trembling hand and gently rested it right against the exact center of his broad chest.

His strong heart moved incredibly steadily directly beneath the crisp white shirt.

"You actually canceled a massive wedding easily worth millions of dollars just because of me."

It was definitely not a real question.

It was simply a massive fact she was rapidly learning to finally accept.

"I simply canceled a highly flawed commercial transaction."

Gabriel instantly covered her small hand with his own massive one and securely pressed her palm much more firmly directly against his beating heart.

"I ruthlessly destroyed an entire slum for you."

His handsome expression became entirely absolute and unwavering.

"I literally executed my own flesh and blood uncle for you."

He leaned in even closer.

"If I had unfortunately arrived too late to save you, I would have literally burned the entire city down."

Norah just stared wide-eyed at him.

The massive cynical walls fully surrounding her damaged heart finally fractured into pieces.

There was absolutely no childish fairy tale existing between them.

Gabriel was incredibly violent and highly dangerous.

Norah meticulously kept the hidden books of his massive criminal empire.

Both of them permanently carried dark blood on their guilty hands.

Inside their incredibly dark world, his terrifying promise was absolutely the most truthful form of complete devotion she had ever received in her life.

"Okay."

Her trembling fingers closed just slightly entirely around the fabric of his shirt.

"Okay, Gabriel."

He absolutely did not smile.

He certainly did not need to smile.

Gabriel slowly lowered his dark head and placed his warm lips incredibly gently against her pale forehead.

He perfectly remained there for a long, quiet moment.

It was an entirely silent and totally absolute vow between them.

The long, dangerous game had finally ended.

The massive wooden desk standing between them was completely gone forever.

Norah Quinn was absolutely no longer just the quiet assistant safely concealed deep in the shadows.