Chapter 7 - The Betrayal Inside the House
Moretti's arrest did not end the danger.
It exposed the people who had been hidden behind him.
Three days later, Elena discovered unauthorized transfers from one of Rossi's private accounts.
Someone inside the organization had been moving money.
Gabriel called everyone into the conference room.
Eight men entered.
Norah stood at the far end.
One by one, Gabriel reviewed the financial records.
Then he stopped.
A transfer had been authorized using his personal code.
Only three people knew that code.
Gabriel.
Frankie.
Norah.
Everyone looked at her.
Norah's face went cold.
“I didn't do it.”
Gabriel did not answer immediately.
That hesitation hurt.
She stepped back.
“You think it was me.”
“I think evidence is evidence.”
“That's not an answer.”
Frankie spoke.
“She has been under surveillance.”
“That doesn't clear her.”
Norah looked at Gabriel.
“After everything we've survived?”
Gabriel’s face tightened.
“I need to know the truth.”
She took off the ring she always wore on her right hand.
Inside was a tiny etched symbol.
“That's not mine.”
Gabriel stared.
“Where did you get that?”
“My mother's locket.”
Elena examined it.
“It's a Bell cipher.”
Norah's expression changed.
“What does it open?”
Elena looked at the financial records.
Then at the symbol.
“The archive.”
Gabriel understood.
Someone had framed Norah because they needed access to the hidden ledger.
He turned to the security system.
“Who has been near her apartment?”
The answer came quickly.
One person.
Frankie.
Silence.
Gabriel looked at his oldest friend.
Frankie lowered his eyes.
“I can explain.”
Norah stepped back.
“You?”
Frankie shook his head.
“I never betrayed Gabriel.”
“Then why were you there?”
“Because someone asked me to watch her.”
Gabriel's face darkened.
“Who?”
Frankie didn't answer.
Gabriel grabbed his collar.
“Who?”
Frankie finally spoke.
“Your mother.”
Gabriel froze.
His mother had been secretly monitoring Norah.
Why?
Because she knew Marco had arranged the protection plan.
And because someone had threatened Gabriel through Norah.
Frankie explained everything.
He had been following Norah to protect her, not betray her.
But one detail remained.
Someone had used his security credentials.
Someone had copied his access.
Norah suddenly understood.
“The person who entered the records room.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“The limp.”
“Yes.”
“It wasn't Daniel.”
“No.”
“It was someone else.”
Elena pulled the old footage.
The man had entered with a slight limp.
But when he left, the limp disappeared.
He had been acting.
Norah stared.
“I know who.”
“Who?”
She pointed at a photograph on the wall.
“Your chief accountant.”
Gabriel went still.
“Thomas Reed.”
“He always walks with a limp around you.”
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because he wants you to underestimate him.”
Thomas was summoned.
He never arrived.
His office was empty.
A hidden compartment inside his desk contained passports, cash, and photographs of Norah.
There was one final photograph.
Norah asleep.
Taken inside the penthouse.
Gabriel's expression became terrifying.
Someone had been inside.
While they slept.
Norah looked at the photograph.
“I want him found.”
Gabriel nodded.
“We will.”
They traced Thomas to an abandoned church outside the city.
He was waiting beside Daniel Bell.
Norah and Gabriel arrived.
Thomas smiled.
“You should have left the past alone.”
Gabriel pointed his weapon.
“You used my company.”
“I used your name.”
Thomas laughed.
“Your family was always useful.”
Norah stepped forward.
“Why me?”
“Because Daniel needed the Bell key.”
“And you?”
“I needed Rossi money.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Your father stored evidence that could destroy everyone.”
“Who does everyone mean?”
Daniel answered.
“Moretti.”
“Thomas.”
“Your father's remaining allies.”
“Even people in law enforcement.”
Norah stared.
“You've been manipulating everything.”
“Yes.”
“And the arrest at the station?”
Daniel smiled.
“That was the first test.”
Gabriel's eyes sharpened.
“You wanted me to come.”
“Of course.”
“You knew she'd ask for me.”
“I knew she'd trust you.”
Thomas added:
“And that was useful.”
Gabriel understood.
The station wasn't just an accident.
It was a trap designed to bring Norah and Gabriel together.
To activate old protections.
To expose the hidden archive.
Thomas raised his weapon.
Daniel grabbed Norah.
Gabriel fired.
The bullet struck the gun from Thomas's hand.
Frankie and the others moved in.
Thomas was arrested.
Daniel ran.
Norah chased him.
Gabriel shouted her name.
She didn't stop.
She cornered Daniel in the church basement.
He looked at her.
“You don't understand.”
She stared.
“I understand enough.”
“You have no idea how many people will die if that archive opens.”
Norah's voice was calm.
“Maybe they should answer for what they did.”
Daniel looked defeated.
Then he pulled a knife.
Gabriel entered.
He blocked the strike.
The blade cut his shoulder.
Norah screamed.
Gabriel stumbled.
Daniel was disarmed.
The police arrived.
For the first time, the entire conspiracy began to collapse.
Gabriel was bleeding.
Norah pressed a cloth against his shoulder.
“You could have died.”
“I've had worse.”
“Don't joke.”
“I'm not joking.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Gabriel touched her face.
“You asked me to come that night.”
“Yes.”
“You asked again.”
“Yes.”
“Then keep asking.”
She stared.
“What?”
“Ask me to stay.”
Norah's breath caught.
“I want you to stay.”
May you like
Gabriel looked into her eyes.
“I will.”
