Chapter 2 - The Woman His Father ChoseGabriel had spent twelve years learning how to distrust kindness.
Kindness was useful to people who wanted access.
A smile could be a weapon.
A favor could be a debt.
A compliment could be a negotiation.
In his world, nobody gave without expecting something later.
That was why Mara bothered him.
She kept giving without asking.
The following week, Patrick's recovery accelerated.
Not dramatically.
Not enough to satisfy the neurologists.
But enough for Gabriel to notice.
Patrick started eating at the table.
He tolerated therapy.
He slept.
He laughed once when Mara scolded him for trying to cheat at a card game.
“You cheated,” Mara said.
Patrick pointed indignantly at Gabriel.
“Don't involve me,” Gabriel said.
Mara looked at him.
“You’re his son.”
“That makes me biased.”
Patrick smiled.
Mara laughed.
Gabriel watched them.
Something inside his chest hurt.
He hadn't heard that sound in his father's room in years.
One evening, Mara brought Patrick a small puzzle book.
“He likes word games.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow.
“How do you know?”
“He complains whenever there's a spelling mistake.”
Patrick glared.
“You see?”
Mara pointed at him.
“Exactly.”
Gabriel smiled despite himself.
Mara caught him.
“You smiled.”
“No.”
“You did.”
“Prove it.”
“I saw it.”
“That isn't evidence.”
“It is when I'm the witness.”
He looked at her.
She smiled.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Then Patrick knocked his water cup over.
Mara moved immediately.
Gabriel moved at the same time.
Their hands touched.
Neither pulled away immediately.
Mara looked up.
Gabriel looked down.
For several seconds, everything disappeared.
Then Patrick deliberately cleared his throat.
They separated.
Gabriel looked at his father.
Patrick looked extremely pleased with himself.
“You're enjoying this.”
Patrick smiled.
Mara laughed.
That night, Gabriel's lieutenant, Victor D'Angelo, confronted him.
“You're distracted.”
“I'm working.”
“Not like usual.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“What do you want?”
“There's a problem with the Vale shipment.”
“Handle it.”
“We need your approval.”
“Then handle it.”
Victor hesitated.
“It's the nurse.”
Gabriel's expression changed.
“What about her?”
“People are asking why she's here so much.”
“She works here.”
“She works for your father.”
“Exactly.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“She's not as simple as she looks.”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“You have ten seconds to explain.”
Victor pulled out a file.
“Former paralegal.”
Gabriel looked at the folder.
“Criminal justice student.”
He turned another page.
“Father disappeared when she was sixteen.”
Another.
“Mother has no public employment record for fourteen years.”
Gabriel looked up.
“You investigated her?”
“Standard security.”
“No.”
Victor hesitated.
“It wasn't standard.”
Gabriel closed the file.
“Do it again.”
“Why?”
“Because if you ever investigate her without my permission again, you won't have a security department.”
Victor nodded.
Gabriel watched him leave.
He didn't like the fact that Mara's history bothered him.
Not because he suspected her.
Because it mattered to him.
That was more dangerous.
Meanwhile, Mara was helping Patrick prepare for sleep.
He looked at her.
Then toward the door.
Then back.
Mara understood.
“Your son is working late.”
Patrick frowned.
She smiled.
“He'll come.”
Patrick shook his head.
He touched her hand.
Then pointed toward the hallway.
“You want me to get him?”
Patrick nodded.
She stood.
Gabriel entered before she reached the door.
“Where are you going?”
Mara stopped.
“Your father wants you.”
Gabriel looked at him.
Patrick lifted a hand.
The message was obvious.
Stay.
Gabriel sat.
Mara smiled.
“I'll finish his medication chart.”
She turned.
“Wait.”
She looked back.
“Thank you.”
The words sounded unfamiliar from him.
She nodded.
“You're welcome.”
She left.
Patrick looked at Gabriel.
Then slowly touched the empty chair beside him.
Gabriel stared.
“You want her here?”
Patrick nodded.
Gabriel laughed softly.
“Dad.”
Patrick smiled.
“You're impossible.”
His father pointed toward the door.
Then at Gabriel's chest.
Then at Mara's room.
Gabriel's smile disappeared.
“You think I care about her.”
Patrick's expression answered.
Gabriel looked down.
He did.
More than he wanted to admit.
Before he could say anything, the bedroom door opened.
Mara returned.
“Your father forgot his medicine.”
Patrick looked offended.
“You're becoming dangerous,” Gabriel told her.
“I work nights with your father. I'm allowed.”
She handed Patrick his medication.
He swallowed.
Then looked at Gabriel.
Mara followed his gaze.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She smiled.
“You two are very strange.”
Gabriel stared at her.
“You haven't seen strange yet.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Threat?”
“Warning.”
She smiled.
“Good night, Mr. Ror.”
“Gabriel.”
She stopped.
He hadn't asked her to call him that before.
“Good night, Gabriel.”
The sound of his name in her voice stayed with him long after she left.
Three days later, Mara was attacked.
She was leaving a pharmacy when someone grabbed her arm.
She fought.
The man shoved her against a wall.
“You're going to stop asking questions.”
She struggled.
“What questions?”
“About Samuel Ellis.”
Her father.
Mara froze.
The man released her and disappeared into the crowd.
She stood there trembling.
Then she called Gabriel.
He answered immediately.
“What happened?”
She hesitated.
“I think somebody followed me.”
His voice changed.
“Where are you?”
She gave the address.
He arrived in seven minutes.
Too fast.
He got out of the car.
His eyes scanned the street.
Then found her.
He approached.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
She did.
When she finished, Gabriel was silent.
“Who's Samuel Ellis?”
“My father.”
“You never told me his name.”
“You never asked.”
His jaw tightened.
“From now on, you tell me everything.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because someone just threatened you.”
“And?”
“And because I won't let them do it again.”
Mara stared at him.
“Gabriel.”
“What?”
“Don't protect me because you feel guilty about your father.”
His expression sharpened.
“This isn't about guilt.”
“Then what is it about?”
He stepped closer.
“I don't know yet.”
She believed him.
That frightened her more than if he'd lied.
Because she was beginning to realize something dangerous.
May you like
Gabriel Ror was falling for her.
And Mara Ellis was doing the same.
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