Chapter 5 - The Offer
Claire stared at Gabriel, her hazel eyes wide with shock. “Work for you?”
“Vale Logistics controls sixty percent of the commercial shipping lanes between New York and Chicago,” Gabriel said calmly, leaning back in his chair. “We handle legal freight, agricultural distribution, and high-value security transports. I need a head of internal auditing. Someone who cannot be bought, who catches every penny, and who knows how to spot corruption before it sprouts.”
“Gabriel… I’m the daughter of a man who just tried to steal from you,” she said, her voice shaking with disbelief. “How could you trust me?”
“Because when you were sitting on a freezing concrete floor, bleeding and terrified for your life, you didn’t care about saving your own skin,” Gabriel answered, his eyes locking onto hers. “You cared about the truth of the numbers. You have absolute integrity, Claire. That is something money cannot buy.”
Before Claire could digest his words, the double doors of the library opened. Marcus stepped inside, his expression grim.
“Boss,” Marcus said, acknowledging Claire with a respectful nod before turning to Gabriel. “We have a problem. Richard Mercer didn't act alone on the debt transfer.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”
“Richard owed money to the Moretti family in South Chicago,” Marcus reported. “Antonio Moretti found out we seized Mercer Freight’s physical assets this morning. He considers Mercer’s territory his property. He just sent four vehicles to Mercer’s central depot. They’ve locked down the yard and are threatening to burn the fleet if we don't turn over Claire.”
Claire gasped, her hand flying to her throat. “Me? Why me?”
“Because Richard told Moretti that you hold the private encryption keys to Mercer’s local real estate deeds,” Marcus explained anger flaring in his eyes. “Richard sold you out a second time from his holding cell to buy his way out of Moretti’s debt.”
Terror seized Claire’s chest. She pushed her chair back, her breathing growing shallow. “He’ll never stop. My father will keep selling me to whoever holds a knife to his neck!”
Gabriel stood up slowly. The quiet, refined gentleman vanished in an instant, replaced by the terrifying, dominant force that commanded the Chicago underworld.
He walked around the desk, standing directly in front of Claire. He placed his hands on her shoulders, anchoring her to the ground.
“Listen to me, Claire,” Gabriel commanded, his voice ringing with absolute authority. “Look at me.”
Claire forced her eyes up to meet his.
“No one is taking you,” Gabriel said, his dark eyes burning with an intense, unyielding promise. “Antonio Moretti is about to learn a very painful lesson about touching what belongs under my protection.”
He looked over at Marcus. “Prepare the escort. We are going to the central depot.”
“Gabriel, no!” Claire cried out, grabbing the sleeve of his shirt. “Moretti is dangerous! He has dozens of men!”
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Gabriel looked down at her small hand gripping his arm, a dark, dangerous smile touching his lips.
“Let him bring everyone he has,” Gabriel whispered gently, patting her hand. “It will save me the drive.”
