CHAPTER 8

Chapter 8: Beneath the Skin

1

Elena sat on the worn-out couch in the safe house, staring at the floor, lost in thought. The adrenaline was wearing off, replaced by exhaustion and something more unsettling—doubt.

Luca sat across from her, cleaning a gun with slow, practiced movements. The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken words.

"You should rest," he finally said, glancing at her.

She scoffed, running a hand through her tangled hair. "Rest? After that?"

Luca sighed, setting the gun down. "You're thinking about him."

She didn't answer.

Because she was.

Gabriel had let her go.

He had the chance to kill her, or worse, drag her deeper into his world. But instead, he had just… watched her leave.

It didn't make sense.

"Elena." Luca's voice was sharp, pulling her from her thoughts.

She looked up.

"You need to decide what happens next," he said. "Because I guarantee you, Gabriel already has."

Her stomach twisted. She knew Luca was right. Gabriel never acted without a plan. And if she thought she was free, she was a fool.

She leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "Then we take the fight to him."

Luca's brows lifted. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Elena's jaw tightened. "By hitting him where it hurts."

Luca watched her for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. Let's burn his empire to the ground."

2

Across the city, Gabriel sat in his office, his injured arm resting on the desk. The bandage was tight, but the sting didn't bother him.

What did bother him was the emptiness beside him.

Elena.

She had been so close. He had felt the heat of her rage, the defiance in her eyes. He had given her a chance to kill him, and yet, she had hesitated.

That meant something.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in."

Nico, one of his most trusted men, stepped inside. "We found them."

Gabriel's gaze sharpened. "Where?"

Nico slid a file onto the desk. "Safe house, outskirts of the city. Luca's with her."

Gabriel exhaled slowly. Of course, Luca was. That man was like a dog that refused to let go.

He picked up the file, flipping through the photos. Elena, slipping through the shadows. Luca, always at her side.

"She's planning something," Nico said. "Want me to handle it?"

Gabriel smirked, closing the file. "No."

Nico frowned. "Boss—"

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the desk. "She'll come to me."

He had no doubt about that.

And when she did, he would be ready.

3

Elena gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing as they neared their target—a shipment hub where Gabriel's men stored weapons, money, and information.

Luca sat beside her, loading his gun. "We hit this, and he'll feel it."

Elena nodded, but her grip tightened.

This wasn't just about hurting Gabriel's business.

This was about sending him a message.

That she wasn't running anymore.

The car rolled to a stop a few blocks away, shrouded by the night.

Luca gave her a look. "Last chance to back out."

She met his gaze, fire in her eyes. "I'm not backing out."

A small smirk tugged at his lips. "Didn't think so."

They stepped out of the car, moving through the darkness toward the hub.

The warehouse loomed ahead, lights glowing faintly from within. Gabriel's men were stationed at the entrance, unaware of what was coming.

Luca nodded toward the side. "We go in quiet, plant the charges, and get out before they know what hit them."

Elena pulled her knife from her belt. "Let's do this."

They moved like shadows.

The first guard barely had time to react before Elena slit his throat.

Luca took out the second with a silent shot to the head.

One by one, they moved through the warehouse, planting explosives at key points.

It was almost too easy.

Elena knelt by a stack of crates, setting the last charge when—

A gun cocked behind her.

"Drop it."

Her blood ran cold.

Slowly, she turned.

Gabriel.

He stood there, gun pointed at her, his expression unreadable.

"Elena." His voice was calm, too calm.

She forced a smirk. "Took you long enough."

His lips curved slightly. "Did you really think I wouldn't see this coming?"

Her heart pounded, but she refused to show weakness. "You should've killed me when you had the chance."

Gabriel tilted his head. "You're assuming I ever wanted you dead."

That threw her off, just for a second.

A second too long.

In a blur, he moved, knocking the detonator from her hand and grabbing her wrist, twisting her against him.

His breath was warm against her ear. "You're predictable, Elena."

She gritted her teeth, trying to wrench free. "So are you."

She stomped down on his foot, elbowing him in the ribs.

Gabriel grunted, but his grip didn't loosen.

Instead, he yanked her closer.

"Enough games," he murmured.

She felt the press of a cold blade against her side.

A warning.

"Elena." His voice was softer now. "Walk away."

She stiffened. "What?"

"Leave this war behind." His grip on her wrist tightened just slightly. "And come back to me."

Her breath hitched.

She twisted, meeting his gaze, searching for the lie.

But she saw none.

Only something raw. Dangerous.

Real.

Her heart pounded against her ribs.

She could still feel the blade against her skin.

One wrong move, and this could end badly.

But the worst part?

She wasn't sure if she wanted to run—

Or if she wanted to stay.

4

Elena's pulse pounded as Gabriel held her close, his blade pressing just enough against her skin to remind her who was in control.

But he wasn't. Not really.

If he was, he wouldn't be standing this close. Wouldn't be letting her feel the heat of his breath. Wouldn't be giving her the chance to strike.

"Elena," he murmured again, voice softer now, almost… pleading.

It threw her off balance.

Gabriel didn't plead. Gabriel didn't ask. He took. He owned.

Yet here he was, offering her a choice.

Walk away.

Come back to him.

Her fingers twitched, itching for her knife, but her mind was at war with itself.

Because for all her hatred, for all her rage, part of her wanted to believe him.

But that part of her was dead.

And she had killed it herself.

Elena let her body go slack for half a second, feigning surrender. Gabriel's grip eased—just slightly.

It was enough.

She moved fast, twisting out of his grasp, grabbing his wrist, and redirecting the knife away from her.

Gabriel smirked, but his amusement was cut short when she slammed her knee into his ribs.

He staggered back, but before she could grab her gun, he was on her again.

They crashed against a stack of crates, the impact sending a metal toolbox clattering to the ground. Gabriel grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head, his body pressing against hers.

She struggled, gritting her teeth. "Let. Me. Go."

His smirk returned. "Not a chance."

Elena twisted, fighting against his grip, but he was stronger. More controlled.

"You want to kill me?" he murmured, his face inches from hers. "Do it."

Her breath hitched.

Gabriel leaned in, his voice a whisper. "But you won't."

Elena's rage exploded. "Watch me."

She jerked her knee upward, aiming for his gut, but Gabriel shifted at the last second, deflecting the blow.

Then, suddenly—

Gunfire.

Luca.

Elena turned her head just in time to see him taking down one of Gabriel's men. More of them were flooding into the warehouse, weapons raised.

Gabriel cursed under his breath.

Elena took advantage of the distraction, shoving him off her. She scrambled for her gun, raising it in one swift motion.

Gabriel stood there, watching her, his expression unreadable.

"Elena," he said, voice quieter now.

She didn't hesitate.

She pulled the trigger.

But Gabriel was faster.

He dodged just in time, the bullet grazing his arm instead of hitting his chest.

His men closed in, and Luca shouted, "We need to go, now!"

Elena didn't argue.

She turned and ran, following Luca toward the exit. Bullets flew past them, striking crates and shattering glass.

They reached the car, diving inside.

"Go!" Luca barked at the driver.

The tires screeched as the car sped off into the night.

Elena turned, looking back through the window.

Gabriel stood in the warehouse doorway, blood dripping from his arm, his eyes locked on her.

This time, there was no smirk.

Just something dark.

Something dangerous.

Something that told her—

This war had only just begun.

5

Back at the safe house, Elena paced the room, adrenaline still coursing through her veins.

Luca slammed his gun onto the table. "That was too close."

Elena ignored him, lost in her thoughts.

Gabriel had hesitated.

Again.

That wasn't like him. Gabriel never hesitated. Never let emotions cloud his judgment.

Unless…

"Elena."

Luca's voice snapped her back to the present.

She turned to face him.

He studied her carefully. "You had the shot."

She crossed her arms. "I took it."

He exhaled sharply. "Yeah. And you missed."

Her jaw clenched. "Not on purpose."

Luca's gaze was piercing. "Didn't say it was."

But the unspoken words hung heavy between them.

Elena didn't want to admit it, not even to herself, but something had held her back.

A hesitation.

A flicker of doubt.

Gabriel had given her an out. Given her the chance to walk away.

And part of her had considered it.

Luca leaned against the wall, watching her. "You need to figure out what the hell is going on in your head, Elena. Because next time? Gabriel won't hesitate."

Elena turned away, her mind a whirlwind of chaos.

She needed to end this.

Before it destroyed her.

6

Across the city, Gabriel sat in his office, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

His arm throbbed from the bullet wound, but he barely felt it.

All he could think about was Elena.

She had pulled the trigger.

She had meant to kill him.

And yet—

She hadn't.

Gabriel smirked to himself, taking a slow sip of whiskey.

She wasn't ready to admit it yet.

But she would.

Soon.

Because this wasn't just a war.

This was a game.

And in the end—

She would always come back to him.