Chapter 116: The Pressure From Secrets
Chapter 116:: The Pressure from Secrets
The silence after Gabriel left was too upsetting.
Diane was standing in the middle of the room, she wrapped her arms around her chest, staring at the door like she could force him to co back with sheer willpower.
But he was gone, and he’d left without telling her a damn thing.
Her brain was forcing her mind to work harder, twisting through possibilities, trying to piece together what was so urgent that Gabriel had to rush off in the middle of the night—alone.
Her gut told her it had to do with another woman or Adrian...
Everything did.
Her hands clenched into fists. ’If he thought he could keep this from , he was out of his mind.’
-A Few Hours Later – Diane’s Office-
Diane was sitting at her desk, scrolling through the docunts they had on Senator Malcolm Raines, but she couldn’t focus.
Her thoughts kept circling back to Gabriel.
Where had he gone? Who had called him?
And most importantly—why didn’t he tell her?
Her phone beeped, pulling her out of her thoughts.
She snatched it up, hoping—stupidly—that it was Gabriel.
No...It wasn’t him...It was Riot...
She answered imdiately. "Tell
you have sothing."
Riot exhaled. "Not yet, but I do have a bad feeling."
Diane frowned. "About what?"
"I don’t know." Riot hesitated. "Gabriel’s not answering his phone."
Diane stiffened. "Wait—what?"
"I called him three tis," Riot muttered. "Nothing."
Diane’s heart pounded. Gabriel always answered. Always.
She shot up from her chair. "Where the hell did he go?"
Riot sighed. "If I knew, I’d be there already."
Diane gritted her teeth. "We need to find him."
"I’m already on it," Riot assured her. "I’m tracking his car."
Diane grabbed her jacket. "Send
the location."
"Diane—"
"I swear to God, Riot, if you tell
to wait—"
Riot sighed. "Fine. But I’m eting you there."
Diane hung up and bolted out the door.
-An Hour Later – Abandoned Dockyard-
Diane pulled up next to Riot’s car, the headlights cutting through the thick fog. The place was desolate, the scent of salt and rust heavy in the air.
Riot was already out of his car, scanning the area.
Diane slamd her door shut. "Tell
you found sothing."
Riot pointed to the far end of the dock. "That’s Gabriel’s car."
Diane’s stomach twisted. If he was here with another woman...if he was cheating on her, she didn’t know what she was ready to do.
She barely waited for Riot before storming toward it, her heels clicked loudly on purpose against the concrete.
The car was empty. The driver’s side door was open.
Diane’s breath hitchedm. "This isn’t good."
Riot peered inside. "Keys are still here. That ans he didn’t leave willingly."
Diane’s pulse spiked. Gabriel was taken.
She turned, scanning the darkened dockyard, heart racing. "Then where the hell is he?"
Riot pulled out his gun. "We’re about to find out."
Diane didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the weapon strapped to her thigh and cocked it. "Let’s go."
-Inside the Warehouse-
The warehouse was massive—dark, abandoned, the kind of place where no one would hear you scream.
Diane moved silently, Riot close behind.
The floor was littered with old shipping containers, crates stacked high, casting long, dark shadows.
Then—
A sound.
Diane froze imdiately, holding up a hand. Riot stilled.
There were so muffled voices...too close to them.
Diane crept forward, following the sound until she reached the far end of the warehouse.
And then she saw Gabriel.
He was on his knees, hands tied behind his back, blood dripping from his temple.
And standing over him—Adrian.
Diane’s blood ran cold. ’Well, he wasn’t cheating...at least...’
Adrian was smirking, his hand gripping Gabriel’s hair as he forced his head up.
Gabriel spat blood onto the floor, glaring up at him. "You’re still as pathetic as ever."
Adrian tsked. "And you still talk too much."
Diane’s fingers tightened on the trigger. One shot. Just one.
But she needed to be smart. Adrian wasn’t alone. Two n flanked him, both ard.
Riot shifted beside her, whispering, "We need a distraction."
Diane’s jaw clenched. "I’ll give you one."
Before Riot could stop her, she stepped out of the shadows.
!!! The Showdown !!!
Adrian’s smirk widened the mont he saw her. "There you are."
Diane leveled her gun at him. "Let him go."
Adrian sighed dramatically. "Diane, Diane, Diane. Always so demanding."
Gabriel’s eyes flew to hers. "You shouldn’t be here."
Diane didn’t look at him. "Neither should you."
Adrian chuckled. "Touché."
Diane took a slow step forward. "I won’t ask again."
Adrian tilted his head. "And if I say no?"
Diane’s lips curled. "Then I shoot you between the eyes."
Adrian grinned. "God, I missed you."
Diane’s finger tightened on the trigger. "I didn’t miss you at all."
Adrian’s eyes glead brightly like stars. "Liar."
Diane exhaled slowly. "I’m done playing gas, Adrian."
Adrian chuckled. "Oh, sweetheart, the ga hasn’t even started."
Then—
!! Gunfire!!!
Diane dove for cover as bullets ricochet off tal crates. Riot took down one of Adrian’s n, the second returning fire.
Adrian grabbed Gabriel, using him as a human shield.
Diane’s heart nearly stopped.
Adrian smirked. "Now what, Diane?"
Gabriel gritted his teeth. "Kill him."
"I plan to."
Adrian chuckled. "Not today."
He shoved Gabriel forward and ran. Diane cursed, sprinting after him.
But by the ti she reached the exit—
Adrian was gone.
Diane clenched her jaw. "Next ti, Adrian. Next ti, you won’t get away."
She turned back to Gabriel, who was wiping blood from his face.
"You okay?" she asked, breathless.
Gabriel smirked. "You should see the other guy."
Diane rolled her eyes. "You’re impossible."
Gabriel stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "And yet, you keep saving ."
"Soone has to."
Gabriel’s smirk softened. "Yeah."
Riot walked over, shaking his head. "Adrian’s going to be pissed when he realises we just took out his n."
Diane smirked. "Good."
Gabriel’s eyes darkened. "This isn’t over."
Diane nodded. "Not by a long shot."
Adrian had escaped.
But next ti?
He wouldn’t be so lucky.
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