Chapter 7 - Blood in the Crosshairs"Get down!"
Gabriel moved with terrifying speed. Before Emma could even scream, he lunged across the kitchen, tackling her to the floor as a second and third bullet pierced the exterior wall, showering them in splinters and broken glass.
"Marcus!" Gabriel roared into the comm-link clipped to his collar. "Sniper on the rooftop across the street! Northwest angle! Move!"
Sirens began to wail in the distance, but inside the apartment, chaos reigned. Margaret began to cry out in terror, huddling near the window until Gabriel, ignoring the danger, scrambled on his knees to pull the elderly woman behind the heavy sofa.
"Stay down!" Gabriel ordered Emma, his body shielding hers from the line of fire. His face was inches from hers, hard and focused, breathing heavily. "Do you believe me now?"
Emma’s mind spun. The quiet, ordinary life she had fought so hard to maintain was shattered in a single second. The underworld had not just knocked on her door; it had kicked it off its hinges.
"Who are they?" Emma whispered, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"My rivals," Gabriel grinding his teeth. "They found out faster than I expected."
The front door burst open with a crash as Marcus and two other armed guards rushed into the apartment, weapons drawn. "Area secured, boss! The shooter cleared the roof before we could cross, but we found the rig. Professional grade."
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Gabriel slowly rose to his feet, pulling Emma up with him. He brushed a piece of broken glass from her sleeve, his expression completely transformed from the cold syndicate boss into something raw, fierce, and entirely protective.
"Pack a bag," Gabriel said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Both of you. You're coming with me."
