Chapter 1 - The Night the Billionaire Heard Her ScreamBradley Jenkins had one hand around Nora Higgins’s arm and the other braced against the concrete pillar beside her head when he smiled and said the sentence that finally killed every illusion she had ever had about him.
“Nobody is coming, Nora.”
The fluorescent lights above them buzzed through the empty underground garage.
It was 11:47 on a freezing Friday night in downtown Chicago, four levels beneath Kensington Tower, and the nearest elevator doors were nearly a hundred feet away.
Nora could smell bourbon beneath the peppermint on Bradley’s breath.
She could feel his fingers tightening through the sleeve of her wool coat.
And somewhere behind him, beyond the rows of expensive cars and thick concrete columns, darkness swallowed the far end of Level P4.
Bradley leaned closer.
“You embarrassed me. You blocked me. You filed a restraining order like I’m some kind of animal.”
His mouth twisted.
“After everything I did for you.”
Nora’s pulse hammered.
“You followed me to work.”
“I missed you.”
“You broke my car window.”
“You ignored my calls.”
“You stood outside my apartment at three in the morning.”
“Because you wouldn’t talk to me.”
“That isn’t love.”
His face changed.
The charming corporate recruiter who once brought roses to her office disappeared.
What remained was the man she had spent the past seven months learning to fear.
Bradley squeezed harder.
“You think you can decide what love is now?”
Nora swallowed against the terror closing around her throat.
Then Bradley sneered.
“You should remember who gave you a chance in the first place. Women like you don’t exactly have men lining up.”
For years, that sentence would have destroyed her.
Once, she had believed him.
Tonight, terrified as she was, something inside Nora finally refused.
She looked directly into his bloodshot eyes.
“I would rather be alone for the rest of my life than belong to you for another minute.”
Bradley’s expression went blank.
Then his hand rose.
Fifty feet away, inside a dark SUV parked where the garage lights did not quite reach, Gabriel Moretti slowly set down the unsigned contract he had been reading.
He had heard every word.
And Bradley Jenkins had absolutely no idea whose building he had chosen for his little private conversation.
Gabriel opened the SUV door.
The soft click was enough.
Bradley turned.
Gabriel stepped into the light.
He wore a black overcoat over a charcoal suit.
No visible weapon.
No bodyguard beside him.
No dramatic expression.
He simply looked at Bradley.
And something in Bradley’s face collapsed.
“You.”
Gabriel stopped six feet away.
“This building belongs to me.”
Bradley released Nora.
“She’s my girlfriend.”
Nora's voice came immediately.
“No, I’m not.”
Gabriel looked at Nora.
“Are you in immediate danger?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
Gabriel's eyes returned to Bradley.
“Leave.”
Bradley laughed nervously.
“This is a private matter.”
“Not on my property.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
Bradley stepped forward.
“Stay out of this.”
Gabriel did not move.
“I'll ask once more.”
His voice remained calm.
“Leave.”
Bradley stared.
For a moment, Nora thought he might actually listen.
Then his eyes hardened.
“This isn't over.”
Gabriel spoke into his phone.
“Security.”
Bradley looked toward the elevator.
Two guards appeared within seconds.
Bradley cursed.
He backed away.
“You're going to regret this.”
Gabriel didn't answer.
The guards escorted Bradley toward the exit.
Only when the elevator doors closed did Nora realize her knees were shaking.
Gabriel looked at her.
“You're hurt.”
“My arm.”
He glanced at the red marks around her wrist.
“Do you need an ambulance?”
“No.”
“Medical care?”
“No.”
“Police?”
She hesitated.
“I already filed a report.”
“Good.”
He looked toward the elevator.
“Did he follow you here?”
“I think so.”
“Why did you come down here?”
“I was working late.”
Gabriel's expression changed.
“You work in Whitmore Lane.”
“Yes.”
“I know.”
Nora stared.
“You know me?”
“I own the building.”
“That doesn't mean you know me.”
“No.”
He looked at her carefully.
“But I know what your firm does.”
A strange silence followed.
Nora realized something.
Gabriel hadn't asked if she was exaggerating.
He hadn't asked why she hadn't blocked Bradley sooner.
He hadn't asked what she had done to provoke him.
He had simply believed her.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You don't have to thank me.”
“I do.”
“No.”
He glanced at the parking level.
“Get in my car.”
She froze.
“What?”
“I'll have security escort you to your vehicle.”
“Oh.”
She felt embarrassed.
“I thought…”
Gabriel almost smiled.
“I wasn't offering a kidnapping.”
She laughed unexpectedly.
It was the first time that night she had done so.
“I know.”
He opened the passenger door.
“I'll have someone drive you home.”
“I can take my car.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows where it is.”
She stared.
Gabriel was right.
She didn't know whether to trust him.
But she knew she didn't trust the garage.
She climbed into the SUV.
The driver waited.
Gabriel sat across from her.
“Where do you live?”
“Lincoln Park.”
He told the driver.
The ride was silent.
Nora stared through the window.
After ten minutes, Gabriel said:
“You should change your routines.”
“I know.”
“Work remotely when possible.”
“I can't.”
“Then arrive and leave with other people.”
She looked at him.
“You sound like security.”
“I employ security.”
“Same thing.”
He smiled slightly.
For the first time, she noticed how young he looked compared with the intimidating image carried by newspapers.
Forty-two.
Dark hair.
Gray eyes.
A scar near his left eyebrow.
Something about him felt familiar.
Not personally.
Emotionally.
He was a man accustomed to keeping every reaction under control.
“So why were you there?” Nora asked.
“Where?”
“P4.”
“Meeting.”
“At midnight?”
“Some business requires privacy.”
She nodded.
She didn't ask.
When they reached her building, two security vehicles were already waiting.
Gabriel looked at her.
“Don't park alone.”
“Okay.”
“If he contacts you, keep everything.”
“I do.”
“Messages. Voicemails. Photos.”
“I know.”
He looked at her wrist.
“Have that documented.”
“I will.”
She opened the door.
Then stopped.
“Mr. Moretti.”
“Gabriel.”
“Gabriel.”
He waited.
“Why did you help me?”
His answer came after a pause.
“Because I heard you say you were afraid.”
Nora blinked.
“That was enough?”
“Yes.”
She stepped out.
She watched the SUV disappear.
She didn't know then that Gabriel Moretti had not simply been passing through the garage.
He had been waiting for a different person.
A man connected to a company Nora had been auditing.
A man whose name appeared in the financial records she had been quietly investigating.
Bradley Jenkins.
The next morning, Gabriel would discover something even more disturbing.
Bradley wasn't stalking Nora because he was obsessed with her.
He was using her.
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And someone had paid him to get close to her.
Someone inside Gabriel's own company.
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