Standing, I attempted to calm my heart down. It was pounding in my chest.
"Then I better make sure I get to her before she leaves."
"Hey, Nic. Can ask one favor of you."
"Anything," I said as I raced into my house.
"You didn't get any of this information from me. Right?"
With a grin, I put my side arm holster on. My mother stood there staring at me as I checked my gun and slipped it into the holster.
"What information?"
Jim chuckled. "If you ever want a job . . ."
"I'm actually pretty damn happy where I am."
"I thought so. Take care and please, don't try to be the hero. Dante De Luca isn't someone to mess around with."
I smiled. "Neither am I, Jim. Neither am I."
AFTER HANGING UP with Jim. I got a text from Cole.
Cole: Nic, I need you at Gabi's place. STAT
I could run to Gabi's place faster than I could drive, so that's what I was going to do.
"Mama, I need to get over to Gabi's."
The look on her face told me she knew something was wrong.
"What is happening, Nicholaus?"
Kissing her on the cheek, I grabbed my other phone for work. Just in case.
"I can't go into it right now, Mama. I'll call you later."
"Is Gabriella okay?"
Stopping, I turned back to look at her. "I really hope so."
She nodded. "Then go to her. Be careful, son. I love you."
"I love you too, Mama."
Racing down the street, I said a prayer I wasn't too late.
I hit reply on Cole's text and tried to type the best I could as I ran.
Me: I'm on my way.
Antonio had a guy on Gabi, so I knew the moment I got to her place he would alert her brother. Fine by me. I had no fucking intentions of letting the woman I loved leave me. Her days of running were over if I had anything to say about it.
A half a block away from her place, I dropped my jog down to a walk. I didn't want to bring attention to myself or alert Dante's people of anything.
Lifting my phone, I pretended to be on it, but what I was really doing was trying to look around. I saw a black car parked on a side road. It had a perfect view of Gabi's bakery. There was no way that was the FBI guy. He wouldn't be that obvious.
No. That was Dante's thugs probably. Lifting my phone from my ear, I called Liam.
"I need a favor."
"You're going to owe me a shit ton of them, do you know that?"
"I know. Listen there's a car parked on Twenty-fifth just up from Colorado Ave. I'm pretty sure it's the mob."
Liam chuckled, then grew quiet. "Wait, are you being serious right now?"
"Never been more serious."
"Does this have anything to do with Gabi?"
"Yes, and I'll tell you when I can."
He let out a groan. "Fuck. All right, I'm on it."
Crossing the street, I made my way around the building. I was going in the back, which I knew meant the guy Antonio had on Gabi would know I was there.
Rushing up the steps, I stopped when I saw Gabi coming out of her place with a suitcase.
"It's for the best that I leave now."
Cole was on her heels and they both stopped when they saw me.
Gabi gasped and dropped her things. Covering her hands with her mouth, I knew she was trying to hold back her emotions, just like I was. So many things had happened over the last few days. The last time we spoke I said things I regretted. The pain and confusion I had felt hours ago vanished looking at the fear in her eyes.
We stood there for a few moments staring into each other's eyes before I made my way over to her.
I pulled her into my arms. "You're not going anywhere, Gabi."
Her body instantly melted into mine as she buried her face in my chest and cried. I was practically shaking at the idea of her taking off all on her own.
Lifting my eyes to Cole, I said, "There was a black car parked on Twenty-fifth. See if a black and white is there with it."
He nodded and quickly made his way back inside Gabi and Charity's place.
"I'm so sorry," Gabi sobbed. "I wanted to tell you the truth, but I was so afraid."
Cupping her face in my hands, I kissed her lips and softly said, "It's okay, agapimé. I'm here now."
She shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You don't understand, Nic. I have someone after me. He's dangerous and I'm putting all of your lives at risk."
I kissed her again. Her arms wrapped around my neck as she held onto me as if her life depended on it.
"Let's go back inside, Gabi."
Drawing back, her eyes widened in horror. "Nic, I have to leave. I can't tell you why, but-"
"I know everything, Gabi. I know Antonio is your brother, I know about Dante. I know everything."
"W-what? How?"
"It doesn't matter, all that matters is keeping you safe, let's go back inside."