Chapter 6 - The Reaper's Last War
Gabriel forgot how to breathe.
Sofia was thirty-four now.
Alive.
She crossed the church slowly.
He didn't move until she touched his face.
Then fifteen years of grief broke at once.
Gabriel pulled her into his arms.
His hands shook.
"You died."
"No."
"I looked for you."
"I know."
"I buried—"
"I know."
He stepped back.
"Why?"
Sofia looked at Evelyn.
"Mom saved me."
The truth came quickly.
Matteo Vale's enemies had taken Sofia, but Evelyn discovered the plan early enough to intercept the exchange.
She rescued her daughter.
Then Cross offered protection.
At the time, Evelyn believed him.
By the time she discovered Cross had orchestrated the kidnapping to control Matteo, it was too late.
Cross threatened both girls.
So Evelyn staged Sofia's death.
Gabriel had spent fifteen years believing he failed her.
"You could've told me."
Sofia cried.
"I wanted to."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because every time I tried, Cross showed me photographs of you."
Gabriel went still.
"He watched you for years."
Evelyn said, "He was waiting for Matteo to die."
Gabriel looked at the ledger.
"And now?"
"Now he wants everything destroyed."
Gabriel thought of Eli.
"Where is the boy?"
Sofia pulled out a map.
"Cross owns an old mountain lodge through a shell company."
Gabriel recognized the location.
Twenty-six miles north.
They moved immediately.
This time Gabriel didn't go alone.
Dominic joined them despite his wound.
Evelyn contacted federal prosecutor Helen Ward, one of the few names not compromised in Matteo's ledger.
Sofia provided recordings she'd secretly collected from Cross.
Together, the evidence could destroy him.
But first they needed Eli.
Cross's lodge sat above a frozen valley.
Gabriel approached from the east.
Dominic circled west.
Sofia remained with Evelyn and federal agents waiting miles away.
Gabriel entered through a service tunnel.
Two guards.
Then three.
He avoided killing them when possible.
That surprised even him.
He reached the main floor.
Scout barked.
Gabriel followed the sound.
The dog was locked in a storage room.
Gabriel opened it.
Scout launched himself at him.
"Easy."
The retriever immediately ran down the hall.
Gabriel followed.
"Eli!"
"Gabriel!"
The boy's voice came from upstairs.
Gabriel took the stairs two at a time.
Eli stood inside a bedroom behind a locked glass door.
Cross stood beside him.
Gun in hand.
"Stop."
Gabriel stopped.
Eli looked frightened but unharmed.
"You came."
"I promised."
Cross smiled.
"Touching."
Gabriel held up the ledger.
"Open the door."
"Slide it across."
"Boy first."
Cross sighed.
"You really have changed."
"No."
Gabriel looked at Eli.
"I finally figured out what matters."
Cross's smile disappeared.
He unlocked the door and pulled Eli in front of him.
Gun against the boy's shoulder.
Gabriel's entire body became still.
"Ledger."
Gabriel placed it on the floor.
Cross kicked it toward himself.
Eli looked at Gabriel.
Gabriel gave the smallest nod.
Scout appeared behind Cross.
Eli understood.
He dropped.
Scout lunged.
Cross fired.
The shot went into the ceiling.
Gabriel crossed the room.
He hit Cross once.
The gun fell.
Cross reached for another weapon.
Gabriel slammed him against the wall.
Years of rage demanded an ending.
Sofia.
His father.
Dominic.
Eli.
All of it.
Gabriel could kill him.
Cross knew it.
"Do it," Cross whispered.
Gabriel's hand tightened around his throat.
Then Eli spoke.
"Gabriel."
Just his name.
Gabriel looked back.
The boy was watching.
Gabriel released Cross.
"No."
Cross laughed weakly.
"Mercy?"
"No."
Gabriel stepped away.
"Consequences."
Federal agents stormed the lodge seconds later.
Cross was arrested.
His phones, computers and financial records were seized.
For the first time, the invisible man behind the empire was visible.
Sarah reached Eli outside.
She ran through the snow and pulled him into her arms.
Walter hugged them both.
Scout jumped around everyone.
Gabriel stood apart.
Eli escaped his mother's embrace and ran toward him.
"You came back."
"I said I would."
"You always look mad."
Gabriel almost smiled.
"Occupational hazard."
Eli hugged him.
Gabriel froze.
Then slowly placed one hand on the boy's back.
Sarah watched.
Her expression softened.
But the moment ended when Helen Ward approached.
"Mr. Vale."
Gabriel turned.
"We need to talk."
He knew what came next.
Cross's arrest did not erase Gabriel's past.
"I know."
Eli looked worried.
"Are they arresting you?"
Gabriel didn't answer immediately.
Then he crouched.
"I've done things I have to answer for."
"But you saved us."
"That doesn't erase the other things."
Eli frowned.
"Are you going away?"
"Maybe."
"How long?"
"I don't know."
Eli's eyes filled.
Gabriel removed something from his pocket.
The broken silver card.
REAPER.
He placed it in Eli's glove.
"I don't want this anymore."
"What do I do with it?"
"Throw it away."
Eli looked at the card.
Then at Gabriel.
"What's your name now?"
Gabriel smiled faintly.
"Gabriel."
Federal agents escorted him away.
Three months later, the Cross investigation became one of the largest organized-crime cases on the East Coast.
Judges resigned.
Police officials were arrested.
Businesses were seized.
Silas agreed to testify.
Dominic surrendered voluntarily.
Gabriel gave prosecutors everything.
Names.
Accounts.
Routes.
Crimes.
Including his own.
He refused immunity.
But Helen Ward offered a cooperation agreement because his testimony dismantled Cross's network and prevented further violence.
Sarah brought Eli to see him once.
Through thick glass, Eli held up a drawing.
Gabriel, Eli and Scout stood in snow.
Above them, Eli had written:
THE DAY WE DIDN'T LET SOMEBODY DIE.
Gabriel stared at it longer than he wanted to admit.
His hearing was scheduled for spring.
Then one evening, Helen Ward entered the interview room carrying a sealed folder.
"Something happened."
Gabriel looked up.
"What?"
"Cross has been talking."
"So?"
"He named someone."
Gabriel waited.
Helen placed the folder on the table.
"Someone who ordered the original hit on you."
"I thought Cross ordered it."
"He financed it."
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
Helen pushed the folder toward him.
"The order came from inside your own family."
Gabriel opened it.
The first page contained a photograph.
He stared at the face.
Then the interview-room door opened behind him.
May you like
A familiar voice said his name.
Gabriel slowly turned.
