Chapter 116
Isabella's POV
The door swung open while I stood at the window, my gaze fixed on the newly deployed patrol routes circling the estate's perimeter. Gabriel stripped off his coat—still carrying the scent of gunpowder—and those green eyes retained the cold edge from the war room he'd just left.
"How did it go?" I turned to ask, fingers unconsciously tightening around the curtain's edge.
He crossed to the desk and poured whiskey, downing half the glass before answering. "Confirmed. Russell moves in three days. Montague's throwing everything at us—simultaneous assault on the main gate and northwest defensive line."
My heart clenched violently. Everything. This wasn't a small-scale conflict anymore—this was a fight for survival.
"What about Marcus?"
"Token support. Won't commit real force." Gabriel's tone dripped with contempt. "He's waiting for us to bleed each other dry."
I drew a deep breath and closed the distance between us, meeting his gaze directly. "You're planning to send me away, aren't you? Somewhere safe, far from the estate."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. He didn't answer immediately.
I spoke before he could. "I'm not leaving. I'm staying here to fight alongside you. I didn't choose to stand beside you just to run when it matters most."
Silence stretched between us for several seconds.
Then Gabriel smiled—not the cold smirk he wore for enemies, but the kind of warm smile that could melt ice. He set down his glass, fingers lightly catching my chin. "I never planned to make you leave. No need to be so nervous."
I froze. "You were testing me?"
"Just wanted to hear what you'd say. Last ambush, you took down three attackers without hesitation. You've already proven yourself. This time, I need you coordinating intelligence from the west study—Quincy will feed you real-time updates from all defensive positions."
I hadn't expected him to assign me such a critical task. "The west study's close to the front line," I said, rapidly mapping the estate's layout in my mind. "If they breach the main gate, that room will be first in the crossfire."
"Which is why I'm deploying our heaviest firepower nearby." Gabriel moved to the tactical map on the wall, fingers tapping several key positions. "Russell will attack from both the main gate and northwest simultaneously, but his real breakthrough point will be northwest—lower elevation, easier to approach covertly. We'll make a show of force at the main entrance while turning the northwest into a killing field."
I stared at the map, mind racing. "Then the west study becomes the intelligence hub. If the northwest line falters, I'll be first to know and can redirect reinforcements."
"Exactly." He turned, a flash of approval in his eyes. "You learn fast."
"I have a good teacher." The words came out half-joking, but my heart held a complex tangle of emotions. Months ago, I'd been a bookshop owner repairing old novels. Now I was discussing how to survive a gang war.
I continued analyzing. "Russell's lost his mind after losing his son. He'll attack regardless of casualties. But Marcus won't—he'll wait until we're exhausted before making his move. So we can't just defend against Russell, we need contingencies for Marcus too."
I moved to the map, pointing at several locations. "Here, here, and here—all possible positions for Marcus to stage ambushes. If he really wants to reap the benefits, he'll definitely strike when we're most vulnerable. We should position observers at these points. Any suspicious movement from Marcus's people, immediate warning."
Gabriel's gaze locked onto me, the green in his eyes growing increasingly intense.
"And Russell's people will definitely try to cut our communications," I continued, fully absorbed in tactical analysis. "So besides radio, we need backup signals—flares, or maybe..."
"Isabella." Gabriel's voice came out low and hoarse, tinged with restraint.
I looked up to meet his gaze, only then noticing that beyond admiration and pride, his eyes held something deeper.
"What?" I asked, my heartbeat inexplicably quickening.
He didn't answer, just advanced step by step. I retreated instinctively until my back hit the wall.
"The way you look right now..." he said quietly, stopping inches away, hand rising to cup my face gently, thumb brushing the corner of my mouth. "Eyes bright when analyzing tactics, completely focused..."
His voice dropped lower, laden with barely suppressed emotion. "It's fucking intoxicating."
My breath caught. Before I could react, he leaned in, forehead pressing against mine, our breaths mingling.
"Gabriel..." I called his name tremulously.
"Mm?" His nose brushed mine, as if restraining something.
"We're still discussing tactics..." I struggled to find rationality.
"I know." His hand slid to the nape of my neck, pressing gently. "But right now, I want to do something else."
His other hand settled on my waist, pulling me close until we were pressed tightly together. I could feel his chest rising and falling, hear his breathing growing rougher.
"What?" I asked, though I already knew.
"This." He eliminated the last distance, his kiss falling hard.
His kiss carried the violence he'd suppressed in the war room, tongue forcefully prying open my lips to plunder at will. I gasped in his embrace, hands gripping his shoulders tightly.
His kiss carried the aggression suppressed in the war room, tongue forcing past my lips to claim mine—licking, sucking, tangling with a possessiveness that felt like he wanted to devour me whole. I gasped into his mouth, hands flying up to grip his shoulders, fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt.
"Mm..." A broken sound escaped between our tangled breaths.
He didn't stop. Instead he pressed harder, pinning me completely against the wall, one hand locked around my waist while the other slipped beneath my shirt. His palm burned hot, rough fingertips tracing the curve of my waist, making me shiver.
His hand traveled upward, cupping my breast through my bra, kneading the soft flesh with deliberate rhythm. His thumb found my nipple through the lace, circling and pressing until it peaked.
"Ah..." I couldn't suppress the whimper, body trembling from the sudden assault of sensation.
"Sensitive?" he murmured against my ear, breath ghosting over the shell and sending sparks down my spine.
I bit my lip, refusing to answer, but his response was to increase pressure, five fingers closing to grip my breast, molding it in his palm while thumb and forefinger pinched my nipple through the lace, tugging and twisting.
"Mm... Gabriel..." My voice nearly dissolved into a sob, legs going weak, only his support keeping me upright.
"Answer me." The command came low and firm as he yanked my shirt open, buttons scattering across the floor. He shoved my bra aside, palm covering my bare breast.
The direct contact made me jolt, but he seemed to savor my reaction, growing bolder, more shameless.
"Do you like this?" he asked again, mouth descending to catch my earlobe between his teeth, tongue tracing its shape.
"I... I like it..." I finally surrendered, voice trembling with shame.
He made a satisfied sound, the low rumble vibrating against my ear and raising goosebumps across my scalp. Then his mouth continued downward, tongue sliding over my collarbone, traveling down to my chest where he paused.
He took one hardened peak into his mouth, tongue swirling and flicking before his teeth grazed it lightly. The mix of pain and pleasure nearly buckled my knees. His other hand worked the neglected side, the dual assault overwhelming my senses.
"Too much... it's too much..." I panted, trying to push him away, but my hands had no strength left.
He pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, green irises burning with naked desire. "Not enough. I want you to remember me completely."
His kisses continued their descent from my chest to my stomach, every inch of skin receiving thorough attention. Where his tongue traced left trails of fire, wet marks cooling in the air. When he knelt before me, fingers hooking into my waistband, shame made me try to press my thighs together.
"Don't move." His eyes locked on mine, voice brooking no argument.
I bit my lip as he slowly peeled away my pants, fabric sliding down my thighs, calves, until he tossed them aside. Cold air hit my exposed skin, and I instinctively tried to cover myself, but he forcefully parted my legs.
"Gabriel..." My voice came out pleading.
"Let me see how much you want this." His fingers stroked over my underwear, finding the dampness there. "Already soaked through."
"No... it's not..." I denied, face burning.
"Still lying?" He smirked, hooking the fabric and dragging it down with agonizing slowness. "Then I'll make you honest."