Forty-six

Forty-six
Isabela

The atmosphere in the house was tense, as if the walls themselves had absorbed the anxiety coursing through our lives. Gabriel paced the length of his office, his phone pressed to his ear as he exchanged terse words with Laura. I sat at the edge of the couch, trying to focus on the cup of tea in my hands, but my thoughts were miles away.

“It’s confirmed,” Gabriel said as he ended the call, his tone clipped. “The meeting with André’s associate is set for tonight. But there’s a catch.”

I looked up, bracing myself. “What is it?”

“They want to meet you,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine. “Apparently, André’s man won’t talk unless you’re there. He thinks you’re the only one who can convince him to come forward.”

My stomach tightened. “Why me?”

Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his movements. “Because you’re the one who disrupted their operation by exposing Miguel’s connection. You’ve become the wildcard they didn’t anticipate.”

I swallowed hard. The thought of stepping into a situation where André’s influence loomed so heavily sent chills down my spine. “Is it safe?”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened. “It will be. I’ll make sure of it.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the car pulled up to a discreet building on the outskirts of the city. Gabriel’s security team had already swept the area, but the tension in the air was palpable. Gabriel sat beside me, his hand resting protectively on my knee.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said, his voice low. “If you’re not comfortable, we’ll find another way.”

I met his gaze, drawing strength from the intensity in his eyes. “We’re too close to back down now. If this is what it takes, I’ll do it.”

He nodded, his expression a mix of pride and concern. “Stay close to me. Don’t leave my side.”

The inside of the building was stark and dimly lit, the hum of fluorescent lights echoing through the empty hallways. Gabriel’s men flanked us as we entered a small conference room, where a nervous-looking man sat at the table. His fingers drummed against a briefcase in front of him, his eyes darting between Gabriel and me.

“Mr. Alves?” Gabriel said, his tone calm but firm.

The man nodded, swallowing hard. “You brought her?” he asked, his gaze landing on me.

“She’s here,” Gabriel confirmed. “But if this is a trap, it won’t end well for you.”

“It’s not a trap,” Alves said quickly, his voice trembling. “I just needed to be sure. André’s reach is everywhere, and I can’t risk making a mistake.”

“What do you have for us?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Alves hesitated before opening the briefcase. Inside were stacks of documents, their edges worn and marked with hastily written notes.

“These are the original contracts André used to funnel money through shell companies. It ties directly to Victor’s operations,” Alves explained. “I’ve kept these hidden for years, but I can’t hold onto them anymore. André is cleaning house. Anyone who knows too much is a target.”

Gabriel leaned forward, his eyes scanning the papers. “This could be enough to bury him.”

“That’s what I’m hoping,” Alves said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But you need to promise me something. If André finds out I’ve turned on him, he won’t just come for me. He’ll come for my family.”

“We’ll protect you,” Gabriel said without hesitation. “You’ll be moved to a secure location until this is over.”

Alves nodded, relief flickering across his face. “Then I’ll do whatever it takes to help.”

As we left the building, I felt the weight of Alves’s words pressing down on me. Gabriel’s hand rested lightly on my back as we walked to the car, his presence a constant reassurance.

“Do you think he’s telling the truth?” I asked once we were inside.

“He’s terrified,” Gabriel said. “And fear makes people honest. But we’ll verify everything before we act.”

I nodded, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past. Despite Alves’s cooperation, the danger felt closer than ever.

Back at the house, the mood was subdued. Clara had put Miguel to bed, and the quiet seemed to amplify the tension lingering between Gabriel and me. I sat at the kitchen counter, nursing a glass of water as Gabriel reviewed the documents Alves had provided.

“This is it,” he said after a long silence. “If these documents hold up, it’ll force André’s hand. He won’t be able to deny his involvement.”

“And what happens then?” I asked, my voice heavy with exhaustion.

Gabriel looked up, his expression resolute. “Then we end this. Once and for all.”

The certainty in his tone was both comforting and terrifying. I wanted to believe that we were nearing the end of this fight, but a part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that André had more cards to play.

Later that night, as we lay in bed, Gabriel’s arm wrapped protectively around me, I found myself unable to sleep. The events of the day replayed in my mind, each moment sharper than the last.

“Gabriel?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“Hmm?” he murmured, his grip tightening slightly.

“Do you think we’ll ever have a normal life?”

He shifted to look at me, his eyes soft in the dim light. “We will. I promise you, Isabela. This won’t be our forever.”

I nodded, leaning into him as his words settled over me. For now, I would hold onto that promise, even if the path to it remained uncertain.