Chapter 114: Beneath Everything
Chapter 114: Beneath Everything
The house was silent when Diane woke up.
Diane thought it was a bit too silent.
She stretched, the silk sheets cool against her skin as she blinked away the heaviness of sleep.
Gabriel’s side of the bed was empty, but the faint scent of his cologne still lingered.
Diane exhaled, rolling onto her back.
Last night had been a ss.
Adrian being out, the eting with Kate, the realisation that soone powerful was backing him—it all left a sour taste in her mouth.
She sat up, running a hand through her hair.
The mont she stepped out of the bedroom, she could hear movent downstairs. Gabriel.
Diane followed the sound, padding barefoot into the kitchen.
Gabriel stood at the counter, pouring coffee. His back was to her, his broad shoulders tense.
He knew she was there, of course.
"Morning," he said without turning.
Diane leaned against the doorway, crossing her arms. "You didn’t co back to bed."
Gabriel finally looked at her, his dark eyes unreadable. "Couldn’t sleep."
Diane sighed, stepping forward. "Thinking about Adrian?"
Gabriel took a sip of his coffee before nodding. "And the fact that soone helped him. Soone important." He let out a long sigh.
"It doesn’t add up. Why now? Who benefits from him being free?"
Diane reached for a cup, pouring herself coffee. "Whoever it is, they’re careful."
Gabriel smirked slightly. "Careful doesn’t an untouchable."
Diane sipped her coffee, watching him. "You’re tense."
Gabriel arched a brow. "You just figuring that out?"
Diane set her cup down, stepping closer. "You need to relax."
Gabriel huffed a laugh. "Not exactly high on my priority list right now."
Diane placed a hand on his chest, feeling the slow, steady beat of his heart. "Maybe it should be."
Gabriel’s gaze darkened slightly. "Is that right?"
Diane smirked. "You’re no use to
if you’re too stressed to think."
Gabriel’s lips curled, but the tension in his body didn’t ease.
Diane moved her hand up, brushing her fingers along his jaw. "We’ll figure this out."
Gabriel exhaled, his hands settling on her waist. "You always sound so sure."
Diane leaned in slightly. "Because I am."
Gabriel tilted his head, his thumb brushing against her hip. "You’re trouble."
Diane grinned. "You love it."
Gabriel’s smirk deepened, but then—
His phone buzzed on the counter.
The mont was shattered imdiately .
Gabriel gritted his teeth, reaching for it. His expression darkened imdiately.
Diane frowned. "Who is it?"
Gabriel answered the call, stricting his tone imdiately. "What?"
Diane watched as his jaw tightened, his entire posture shifting.
Then—
"When?" Gabriel demanded.
Diane stepped closer, her pulse quickening. "Gabriel?"
Gabriel hung up, his eyes eting hers.
"That was Kate."
Diane’s stomach twisted. "And?"
Gabriel exhaled, his grip on the phone tightening even harder. "We have a na."
-One Hour Later – eting with Riot-
The warehouse was empty except...
Riot stood with his arms crossed, his usual smirk was gone from his face.
Kate leaned against the table, she had no emotion in her poker face.
Gabriel got straight to the point. "Who is it?"
Kate slid a folder across the table. "A senator."
Diane’s stomach dropped. "You’re kidding."
Kate shook her head. "Senator Malcolm Raines. Quiet. Calculated. Rich enough to make problems disappear."
Gabriel’s jaw clenched. "And he’s funding Adrian?"
Kate nodded. "Not just funding. Protecting."
Diane’s face turned red, she felt pressure coming into her forehead.
She started flipping through the docunts. "Why?"
Kate hesitated. "We don’t know yet."
Gabriel’s tone was cold. "Then we find out."
Riot finally spoke. "We need a new plan."
Diane closed the folder, her fingers tightening against the edge. "Then let’s make one."
-Later That Night – Back at the House-
Diane sat curled on the couch, staring at the flas, her mind still racing.
Gabriel walked in, two glasses of whiskey in hand. He set one beside her before sitting down.
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
"We need to be careful," Gabriel said quietly.
Diane was shaking her head...she thought if she’d give more evidence to the police, Adrian would no longer be able to bother her and her family.
"I know."
Gabriel studied her for a minute longer. "Are you okay?"
Diane let out a short laugh. "Not really."
Gabriel reached out, his fingers brushed against hers, touching every line of her skin.
Diane swallowed, her voice sounded softer, more relaxed. "He was here, Gabriel. And he got away."
Gabriel’s grip tightened. "That won’t happen again."
Diane looked at him. "Promise ."
Gabriel didn’t hesitate. "I promise."
Diane breathed out, leaning her head against his shoulder.
Gabriel kissed the top of her head, his voice was like a whisper.
"We’ll end this. One way or another."
And deep down, Diane knew he ant it.
Diane was awake long after Gabriel had fallen asleep beside her.
Everything felt so quiet, but her mind was loud—too loud...
She stared at the ceiling, thoughts spinned like a storm with no end.
Adrian was out. That alone was bad enough.
But now there was soone backing him. Soone with money, power, and the ability to manipulate the system.
Senator Malcolm Raines.
She barely knew anything about him, but the fact that a man of his stature was involved made her stomach twist.
’What was Adrian to him? A pawn? A weapon? A loose end that needed handling?’
And then there was Gabriel.
He was furious—more than furious. He was out for blood. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit.
She knew Gabriel. Knew the way his mind worked. If he had to burn the world down to protect her, he would.
And she wasn’t sure she could stop him this ti.
Then there was Riot.
Always reckless, always ready to fight, but beneath all that sarcasm was a man who cared.
And that worried her. Because if things escalated, if this turned into an all-out war...
How many of them would make it out alive?
Diane inhaled more air, rubbing her temples.
Everything was spiraling.
She needed to figure this out.
Before it was too late...before she dies again...
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