Chapter 12 - When the Devil Arrives—Gabriel Costa Unleashes Hell
The shockwave knocked Vane off his feet, and his guards were thrown across the concrete floor as shrapnel and smoke filled the warehouse.
Through the blazing breach in the wall, Gabriel Costa walked into the room.
He looked like an ancient god of vengeance. His tailored jacket was gone, his black tactical vest was strapped tight across his broad chest, and his dark eyes were burning with pure, unyielding death. Mateo and a dozen heavily armed Costa operatives followed him, sweeping through the warehouse with overwhelming tactical dominance.
“Gabriel!” I cried out.
Vane’s guards scrambled to return fire, but they were cut down instantly. Gabriel moved forward without breaking stride, firing his rifle with cold, terrifying precision. Every shot found its mark.
Vane scrambled to his feet, grabbing Spencer by the collar and using the trembling banker as a human shield while aiming his gold revolver toward me.
“Stay back, Costa!” Vane screamed over the ringing in his ears. “Take one more step and I blow her head off!”
Gabriel stopped twenty feet away. He lowered his rifle, letting it hang by its tactical sling.
His gaze moved from Vane to me. When he saw that I was alive, a terrifyingly calm smile appeared on his lips.
“You made a mistake, Viktor,” Gabriel said, his voice carrying effortlessly over the hum of the warehouse generators.
“What mistake?” Vane spat, his hands shaking as he kept his gun aimed at me.
“You thought you were negotiating for money,” Gabriel said softly, pulling a heavy sidearm from his hip. “I don't care about the painting. I don't care about the eighty million. I came for my wife.”
Before Vane could process the words, a laser sight snapped onto Vane’s right shoulder from the high catwalks above—Mateo had flanked him.
A single suppressed shot rang out.
The bullet shattered Vane’s shoulder, sending the gold revolver flying from his grip as he screamed in agony.
Spencer shrieked, dropping to the floor and covering his head.
Gabriel moved like lightning. He crossed the distance in three strides, kicking Vane squarely in the chest, sending the crime boss crashing into a stack of wooden shipping pallets.
Gabriel didn't even look at Vane. He immediately turned to me, dropping to his knees, pulling his tactical knife to slice through the zip ties binding my wrists.
The moment my hands were free, I threw my arms around his neck, burying my face into his shoulder.
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“You came,” I sobbed, the adrenaline finally giving way to overwhelming relief. “You came for me.”
Gabriel wrapped his powerful arms around my waist, lifting me against his chest, pressing his face into my hair. “I told you, Shantel. Nowhere in this world is safe from me if someone takes what is mine.”
