Chapter 4 - The Woman in the Warehouse
Naomi woke on a concrete floor.
Her head hurt.
The air smelled of oil and damp metal.
She tried to move.
Her wrists were tied.
Her stomach tightened.
She immediately touched her belly.
The baby moved.
Relief nearly made her cry.
Then she heard footsteps.
A man entered.
Victor Kovalenko.
He smiled.
“You're awake.”
Naomi stared.
“You're not the one behind this.”
Victor laughed.
“Good.”
“I know your reputation.”
“Then you know I would rather kill a traitor than kidnap a pregnant woman.”
“Who hired you?”
He crouched.
“That's the right question.”
“Who?”
“Adrian Blake.”
Naomi's heart dropped.
“Gabriel's godfather.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Victor pulled out a chair.
“Because Adrian needs Gabriel to believe you betrayed him.”
“I know.”
Victor looked surprised.
“You do?”
Naomi smiled bitterly.
“I've been investigating him for months.”
He leaned back.
“Then you know more than I was told.”
Naomi looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“Adrian isn't the architect.”
“What?”
Victor shook his head.
“He works for someone else.”
“Who?”
He smiled.
“That is what we're going to find out.”
Naomi stared.
“You kidnapped me to question me?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“To protect you.”
She almost laughed.
“From whom?”
Victor became serious.
“Your husband.”
Her expression hardened.
“Gabriel would never hurt me.”
“Not intentionally.”
Victor leaned forward.
“He is surrounded by people who know how to manipulate him.”
Naomi's eyes narrowed.
“You sound like you're warning me.”
“I am.”
He untied her wrists.
She stared.
“Why?”
“Because you were never supposed to be kidnapped.”
“What?”
“The original order was to kill you.”
Her blood turned cold.
“Who changed it?”
Victor looked toward the door.
“Your mother.”
Naomi froze.
“My mother died.”
Victor nodded.
“That's what you've been told.”
The door opened.
An older woman entered.
Naomi stopped breathing.
“Mom?”
The woman burst into tears.
“Yes.”
Naomi stood slowly.
Her mother crossed the room.
“I tried to contact you.”
“Why did you let me believe you were dead?”
“Because they were watching you.”
“Who?”
“Adrian.”
Naomi's mother sat.
“I knew what he was doing.”
“What did he want?”
“Your father's records.”
Naomi's heart pounded.
“My father kept records?”
“Everything.”
Payments.
Names.
Deals.
Adrian had spent years trying to find them.
“Where are they?”
Her mother looked toward her.
“With you.”
Naomi stared.
“What?”
“The necklace your father gave you.”
Naomi touched the small pendant around her neck.
“He said it was sentimental.”
“It has a key inside.”
Naomi pulled it open.
A tiny metal key fell into her palm.
Victor stared.
“So it's true.”
“What does it open?”
Her mother answered.
“An old Mercer archive.”
Naomi suddenly understood why someone had been willing to destroy her marriage.
The evidence wasn't about shipping.
It wasn't about money.
It was about the archive.
“Gabriel doesn't know.”
“He mustn't.”
“Why?”
“Because if Gabriel knows the archive exists, Adrian will use him to get it.”
Naomi shook her head.
“Gabriel is not like Adrian.”
“I know.”
Her mother looked at her.
“But Adrian knows how Gabriel thinks.”
“And Serena?”
Naomi's mother closed her eyes.
“She was compromised.”
Naomi's heart broke.
“Serena betrayed him?”
“Not exactly.”
“She edited the recording.”
Her mother nodded.
“She was threatened.”
“By Adrian.”
“Yes.”
Naomi was silent.
“That doesn't excuse her.”
“No.”
Her mother took her hand.
“But she is afraid.”
Naomi thought of Gabriel.
The way he had looked at Serena.
The way he had looked at her.
“He chose her over me.”
“He chose what he thought was truth.”
“He should have trusted me.”
“He will.”
Naomi looked up.
“Will he find me?”
Victor answered.
“He is already coming.”
Gunfire sounded outside.
Victor stood.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
Naomi grabbed her coat.
“I’m going with you.”
“You're pregnant.”
“I know.”
“That makes you a liability.”
Naomi looked at him.
“I spent months being treated like a liability.”
She picked up the metal key.
“I'm done.”
Victor smiled.
“I understand why Gabriel loves you.”
Naomi stared.
“He hasn't said he does.”
Victor opened the door.
“He doesn't have to.”
Outside, Gabriel and Rafael stormed the warehouse.
The men guarding it opened fire.
Gabriel moved through them with terrifying speed.
He found Victor first.
“Where is she?”
Victor pointed.
“Second room.”
Gabriel ran.
He opened the door.
Naomi stood there.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Gabriel crossed the room.
He stopped in front of her.
His eyes moved over her face.
Her wrists.
Her stomach.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He touched her cheek.
She flinched.
His hand dropped.
“I deserve that.”
Naomi's eyes filled.
“You came.”
“Of course.”
“You believed me.”
“I should have from the beginning.”
She looked away.
“I don't know if I can forgive you yet.”
“I know.”
He glanced at her stomach.
“Can I?”
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
Gabriel placed his hand gently over the curve.
The baby moved.
His eyes filled instantly.
“Our child.”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“I almost lost both of you.”
Naomi whispered:
“You almost did.”
He looked at her.
“I know.”
Then an explosion shook the building.
Victor shouted.
“They're here.”
Gabriel turned.
“Who?”
Victor answered.
May you like
“Adrian.”
And this time, Gabriel believed him.
