Chapter 107 -
Nia's body moved before her brain caught up. Before one could say “Jack Robinson”, she had bolted out of the room, running like a lunatic down the hallway. Her bare feet slapped against the marble. The coldness of the floor didn't even register against them.
She heard Matteo call out to her. "Miss Wallace—"
But she didn't stop. She ran around the corner, up the stairs, and anywhere her brain could lead her to. Her lungs burned as she kept on running around. She spotted the east wing corridor which stretched ahead and went for it.
Two guards stood outside Gabriel's door. They saw her coming and straightened their posture.
"Miss, you can't be here, please…" one of them spoke to her.
It felt like she didn't even realize someone was speaking to her, because no sooner had he finish speaking than she shoved past him, grabbed the handle, pulled, and swung the door open.
Rosa looked up from the bed, startled. Gabriel lay beside her, curled under a blanket, his small chest rising and falling in sleep. Nia's knees gave out.
Rosa caught her before she hit the floor. "Child? Child, Nia dear, what happened?"
Nia couldn't speak. She just stared at Gabriel as his dark hair fell against the pillow, his hand clutching a stuffed dragon.
"He's fine," Rosa whispered, lowering them both to the floor. "He's fine. Look at him sleeping like he doesn't care about the world around him."
Nia's breath came in stiff gasps. "But the photo… Santiago, he had a photo…"
Rosa's face tightened. "What photo, dear?"
Micheal appeared in the doorway, his phone still pressed to his ear. He took in the scene: Nia on the floor, Rosa holding her, Gabriel asleep, and his shoulders dropped.
"That was an old photo." he said. "We had security review the footage. That photo was taken three days ago, before we moved him to this room."
Nia stared at him. "Three days?"
"Santiago's been planning this. The message at the warehouse, the note, the photo… he set all of it up before we even knew Valdez was involved."
Rosa's arms tightened around Nia. "He's safe. The boy is safe. You hear me?"
Nia nodded. She couldn't speak.
Micheal's phone buzzed. He looked at the screen. "It's Leo."
He answered and listened. Looking at Nia while speaking over the phone, he said:
"... She's here with Gabriel. Yes, yes, he's fine.. The photo was an old one."
After a while, Micheal extended the phone to Nia.
"Leo wants to talk to you."
Nia took it with shaking hands. "Leo."
"I'm coming home." His voice was rough and tired. "Don't leave Gabriel's room until I'm there."
"I won't."
"Nia, you did good."
The line went dead.
Leo arrived forty minutes later. Nia was still on the floor, back against the wall now, watching Gabriel sleep. Rosa had brought some juice and a plate of pasta. Micheal had left to coordinate with Christian.
The door opened and Leo stepped in. He crossed the room slowly and lowered himself to the floor beside her. His arm came around her shoulders and pulled her against him. Nia leaned into him and breathed heavily.
"You're okay," he said quietly.
"I'm not the one who got shot."
"You're the one who ran toward danger instead of away from it." His voice was tired but steady. "That's worse."
They sat like that for a long time. The room was quiet except for Gabriel's soft breathing.
"He wanted us to panic," Nia said finally. "That's why he showed the photo."
"Yes."
"He wanted to see who would run where."
"Yes."
"So now he knows."
Leo's arm tightened. "He knows you care about the boy. That's all he knows."
"That's enough."
"It's not." He turned his head to look at her. "Caring about someone isn't a weakness, Nia. It's the opposite."
She looked up at him. "In your world?"
"In every world." He paused. "The people who don't care about anything? They're the ones who lose. They have nothing to fight for."
"So, what do we do now?" she asked.
"We wait and watch. We don't let him get in our heads."
"He's already in your head. He grew up here. He knows—"
"I know what he knows." Leo's voice hardened. "And I know how he thinks. He wants us reactive. Jumping at shadows and making mistakes."
"Oh, are we?"
"Not anymore." He looked at her. "You're staying in my room from now on. Not because you're a prisoner, but because I need to know you're safe."
"And Gabriel?"
"He'll have round-the-clock guards. People I trust absolutely."
Nia absorbed this. "Rosa stays with him."
"Rosa stays."
"She's not a guard."
"She's more important than any guard." Leo's voice softened. "She's family."
Nia nodded, because that was true. Rosa was the closest thing to a mother this house had.
The door opened again. It was Christian.
"Don wants an update."
"Then, give him one."
"He wants it from you."
Leo's jaw tightened, but he nodded. He looked at Nia. "Stay here, please."
"I will."
He kissed her forehead briefly and gently before leaving, Christian falling into step beside him. Nia watched them go, before turning back to Gabriel. He was awake now, blinking at her with sleepy eyes.
"Miss Nia?"
"Hey, Gaby."
"Did I have a bad dream? I dreamed someone was running."
She reached out and smoothed his hair. "No bad dream, baby. It was just me being silly."
He considered this. Then: "Can you stay, please?"
"I can stay."
"Good." He closed his eyes. "You're warm."
Nia sat there in the dim room, Gabriel's small hand finding hers under the blanket, and let herself feel the thing she'd been avoiding.
She loved this boy, and that meant Santiago could use him.
The thought settled in her chest like a stone.
But when she looked at Gabriel's peaceful face, she knew one thing for certain.
She would burn the world down before she let anyone touch him.
Hours later, Leo returned. Nia was still there holding Gabriel's hand. He stood in the doorway and watched her for a long moment, then he crossed the room and held out his hand.
"Come on. You need to sleep."
"I'm fine."
"You're not." His voice was gentle but firm. "And I need you all sharp and bubbly."
She looked at Gabriel before looking at Rosa who'd returned and settled into the chair by the window.
"Go," Rosa said. "I have him."
Nia took Leo's hand, and let him pull her up. They walked to his room in silence. When the door closed behind them, she turned to him.
"What did the Don say?"
"He wants Valdez handled soon."
"And Santiago?"
Leo's eyes went cold. "Santiago's mine."
She nodded. That made sense. That was right.
He moved toward her, stopping close enough that she could feel his heat.
"Tonight was close," he said quietly.
"Too close."
"I won't let it happen again."
"You can't promise that."
No." He touched her face. "But I can promise I'll die trying."