Chapter 9 - The Getaway
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The cold November rain hit Madeline like a shockwave. She gasped for air, her bare feet hitting the wet asphalt as Gabriel pulled her toward a waiting black sedan.
"Get in!" Gabriel shoved her into the passenger seat before diving into the driver’s side.
Tires squealed as he slammed the gas pedal. A barrage of bullets shattered the back windshield, raining safety glass over the leather seats. Madeline screamed, covering her head as Gabriel yanked the steering wheel hard, drifting the heavy car around a sharp corner and plunging them into the maze of Chicago’s industrial backstreets.
"Are you hit?" Gabriel demanded, checking his rearview mirror.
"No! No, I'm fine!" Madeline gasped, shaking violently. "What happened? I thought we were just setting a trap!"
"Victor panicked. He recognized the ring and realized I knew the truth," Gabriel growled, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. "He didn’t just kill my mother, Madeline. He realized the ring proves he was there."
The car tore down the highway, leaving the flashing police sirens far behind. Madeline wrapped her arms around herself. The expensive silk dress was soaked and ruined. The adrenaline crash hit her hard, and a sob tore from her throat.
Gabriel glanced at her. The cold fury in his eyes softened for a fraction of a second. He reached over and turned the heater up full blast.
"We can't go back to the penthouse. It’s compromised," Gabriel said, his voice dropping to a calmer, grounding tone. "Dominic has a safehouse in Wisconsin. We're going there."
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"What about Nathan?" Madeline asked, her voice cracking. "What if Victor goes after my brother?"
"Nathan is the least of your worries right now," Gabriel said, his jaw tightening. "You’re with me now. And I protect what’s mine."
