Chapter 5 - The Wrath of Costello
The heavy wooden door smashed against the hallway wall, splinters flying everywhere.
Marco strode into the apartment first, a silenced pistol raised in his right hand. Before Donati’s two henchmen could even draw their weapons, Marco fired three rapid shots.
THWIP. THWIP. THWIP.
Both henchmen dropped to the floor like sacks of flour, screaming in agony as bullets shattered their kneecaps.
Silas Donati scrambled backward across the linoleum floor, his face covered in blood, his eyes wide with sudden, panting terror. He reached for a gun inside his trench coat, but a heavy leather boot came down on his wrist with bone-crushing force.
CRACK.
Silas shrieked in pain as his wrist snapped beneath the boot.
Gabriel Costello stood over him.
Gabriel looked like an executioner. He wore a dark wool coat over his charcoal suit, his face pale, his eyes burning with an absolute, terrifying rage that made the temperature in the small apartment drop to freezing.
He didn't even look at Silas. He looked at Chloe.
"Are you hurt?" Gabriel demanded, his voice low, gravelly, and shaking with suppressed fury.
Chloe stood against the kitchen counter, the rolling pin still held in her trembling hands. Her chest rose and fell in rapid gasps, but she shook her head. "I'm... I'm okay. He didn't hurt me."
Gabriel let out a slow, heavy breath. He turned his gaze down toward Silas Donati, who was whimpering on the floor, clutching his broken wrist.
Gabriel grabbed Silas by his hair, dragging him up until the man was kneeling on the floor before him.
"You came into her house," Gabriel said softly, his tone so quiet it was far more terrifying than if he had been shouting. "You laid a hand on her. You threatened her."
"Gabriel... please!" Silas begged, his smooth arrogance completely destroyed. "It was just business! My father... my father sent me!"
"Your father made a mistake," Gabriel whispered, pressing the cold barrel of his gun against Silas’s forehead. "And so did you."
"Gabriel, wait!" Chloe blurted out, taking a step forward.
Gabriel paused, his finger resting on the trigger. He didn't look away from Silas, but he listened. "Why should I wait, Chloe? This scum came here to hurt you."
"If you kill him in my apartment," Chloe said, her voice shaking but clear, "the police will come. The news will be here. It will destroy everything you've built, and it will hurt your mother. Don't ruin your life for a rat like him."
Gabriel remained still for three long, agonizing seconds. The air in the room was so taut it felt as if a single spark would set it ablaze.
Finally, Gabriel lowered his weapon. He looked at Marco.
"Take him to the warehouse," Gabriel commanded coldly. "Call his father. Tell Donati that if I see another one of his men in Queens, I will personally burn his docks to the ground."
"Understood, Boss," Marco said, dragging the bleeding, sobbing Silas out of the apartment along with his two wounded men.
The apartment fell completely silent, save for the hum of the old refrigerator and the sound of Chloe’s ragged breathing.
Gabriel turned to Chloe. He stepped closer, taking the heavy wooden rolling pin gently from her trembling fingers and setting it down on the counter.
He reached out, his warm, calloused fingers gently touching her chin where Silas had grabbed her moments before. A red thumbprint was beginning to bruise against her pale skin.
Gabriel’s eyes darkened with painful intensity as he smoothed his thumb over her skin.
"I shouldn't have let you come back here alone," Gabriel said, his voice thick with guilt. "I thought you were safe in Queens. I was wrong."
"I hit him," Chloe said, a tiny, nervous laugh escaping her lips despite the terror. "I hit him with a rolling pin."
A faint, genuine smile touched Gabriel’s lips. "I saw. Your swing was impressive."
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He took her hand in his, his grip strong, warm, and protective.
"Pack your things, Chloe," Gabriel said softly, looking deep into her eyes. "You aren't staying in Queens anymore. You're moving into the estate."
