Chapter 106 -
The monitors flickered silently, casting pale light across Leo's face.
"How long do we have?" she asked quietly.
Leo did not look at her. "Could be days, maybe even weeks. Valdez will not move until he is sure he can win."
"So he is waiting for us to slip."
"You could say that," Leo supported.
Micheal tucked his phone away and stepped closer to the desk. "The Don is already meeting with the other families. Calling in favours and locking down routes. If Valdez wants a war, he will get one."
"A war that leaves us exposed?" Leo said. "You know Santiago knows our routines, our security gaps, and most importantly, our people."
Nia felt the weight of those words settle in her stomach. Santiago had grown up in this house. He knew the guards by name. He knew which cameras glitched when it rained. He knew where Gabriel slept.
"Gabriel," she said suddenly. "Where is he now?"
Leo's eyes snapped to her. "He's with Rosa in the secure wing."
"For how long?"
"Until this is over."
"And when is that?"
Leo held her gaze. "When Santiago stops breathing."
Micheal shifted uncomfortably. "We should move the kid somewhere Santiago does not know about."
Leo nodded slowly. "Agreed, but at least not yet. Moving him now could draw attention. We wait for nightfall, then we relocate him quietly."
Nia shook her head. "You think Santiago is waiting for nightfall too?"
"He is not reckless."
"He shot you in broad daylight, remember?" she shot back.
Silence stretched. Leo exhaled.
"I want to see him," she said.
"Why?" His tone was careful now.
"Because he is five. He hears the whispers, and guards do not explain things. They just stand there with guns..." She swallowed. "Because I care about my little Gaby."
Micheal glanced between them. Leo studied Nia’s face longer than necessary. Something softened in his expression.
"Ten minutes," he said. "Micheal, take her. I need to coordinate with Christian."
Micheal nodded. "Come on."
They found Gabriel in a small room on the third floor. Two guards stood outside, straight-backed and silent. Inside, Rosa sat on the edge of the bed, reading from a picture book. Her voice was calm, steady, like nothing in the world was wrong.
Gabriel looked up the second Nia stepped in. His whole face changed.
"Miss Nia!"
He jumped off the bed and ran to her, nearly tripping over his own feet. She crouched just in time to catch him as he crashed into her.
"Hey, Gaby. You being brave?"
He nodded into her shoulder. "Rosa says I am the bravest boy in the whole house."
"Yes, you're right. Rosa is very smart."
He leaned back and searched her face. "Is Uncle Nardo okay? Uncle Mikey said he got hurt."
Nia glanced at Micheal. He gave a small nod.
"Your Uncle Nardo is fine," she said gently. "He is stubborn. That helps."
Gabriel frowned. "Does stubborn mean strong?"
"It means he does not listen when he should."
Gabriel giggled. "That is true."
He grabbed her hand. "Will you read to me? Rosa's book is boring. It is about bunnies."
"Hey boy? I like bunnies," Rosa protested.
"Bunnies are for babies," Gabriel said with serious authority. "I am almost six. I need dragon stories."
Nia laughed softly. "Dragon stories it is then."
She sat on the bed and Gabriel climbed into her lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. Rosa handed her a book with a red dragon on the cover.
As she read, Gabriel reacted to every turn of the page. He gasped at the dragon's roar. He laughed when it tripped over its own tail. He gripped her fingers during the scary parts.
For a little while, the estate did not feel like a fortress. It felt like a home. When she finished, Gabriel's eyelids were drooping.
"Same time tomorrow?" he mumbled.
"Same time tomorrow," she promised.
Rosa tucked him in carefully.
At the door, Rosa caught Nia's arm. "You are good with him. A total natural."
"You're not bad yourself, I mean you take care of the entire household. You know what? Gaby reminds me of kids I grew up with," Nia said quietly. "They just needed someone to see them."
“And who's that someone that sees you?”
“I don't know.”
➣➣➣
Meanwhile, Micheal was waiting in the hallway. His face had changed.
"What happened?" Nia asked immediately.
"Christian found something. One of Santiago's safe houses."
"And?"
"Leo is suiting up."
Her heart jumped. "Already?"
"He does not waste time."
"Did he find Santiago there?"
"Not yet." Micheal looked uncomfortable. "He told me to keep you here."
"Like hell."
"Nia."
"I am not staying behind while he walks into another trap."
She was already moving. Micheal swore under his breath and followed. They reached Leo's room. He was strapping on a shoulder holster.
He looked up as she entered. "No."
"I have not even spoken."
"You don't need to."
"You are not going like this." She gestured at his bandaged arm.
"I am going because I have to."
"Send someone else."
"I am someone else."
She stepped closer. "Santiago wants me. Use me. Draw him out."
Leo went completely still.
"No."
"It makes sense."
"It does not." His voice dropped. "You are not bait."
"You just said I am not leverage."
"And I meant it."
"Then what am I?"
The question landed between them.
"You are mine," he said quietly. "I do not gamble with what is mine."
Her breath caught. "I am not your property."
"No, you're not" he replied immediately. "You are my priority."
Before she could respond, Christian appeared. "The car is ready. We need to move."
Leo grabbed his jacket, hiding the sling beneath it. He paused at the door.
"Stay with Micheal. Do not leave this floor."
"And if you do not come back?"
"Then you survive," he said. Then he was gone.
➣➣➣
Nia paced around. Micheal stood by the monitors. Rosa brought some pasta, waffles, and tea.
"No updates? It's been three hours since they left." Nia asked for the tenth time.
"They are sweeping the house," Micheal said. “It's empty so far."
"That’s even worse."
"I know."
The monitors flickered suddenly. Micheal leaned forward. "What the hell?"
A figure moved through the east garden. It wasn't one of their guards.
Nia stepped closer. "Zoom in."
Micheal adjusted the feed.
The man stopped beneath a tree. He looked directly at the camera and smiled.
Santiago.
Nia's stomach dropped. "The fuck? How is he inside the perimeter?"
"That is impossible," Micheal muttered.
Santiago lifted his hand. In it was a phone. He angled the screen toward the camera.
"That is Gabriel's room," Nia whispered.
The image on the phone showed the bed. The toys. The window.
Empty.
Nia's blood turned to ice.
"No," she breathed. "No, no."
Micheal grabbed his own phone. "Get the security team to secure the wing now. Lock everything down."
Santiago's smile widened. He tapped something on his phone and held it up again.
A new image appeared.
It was Gabriel.