Chapter 6 - THE WRATH OF GABRIEL MERCER
Gabriel was not supposed to be home for another six hours. But he had returned. His dark suit was immaculate, his expression completely unreadable. Behind him stood four of his most loyal, heavily armed enforcers.
Dean lowered the gun slightly, his mind racing for an excuse. “Boss. You’re back early. We caught the maid trying to poison Abigail. She was stealing her medication. I was just handling it.”
Gabriel looked at the trashed room. He looked at Claire, bleeding from her lip on the floor. He looked at little Lucy, sobbing violently in the corner.
Then, Gabriel looked at Dean.
“Is that so?” Gabriel walked slowly into the room.
“Yes, Gabriel,” Madeline said, rushing in from the hallway, playing the terrified fiancée perfectly. “I saw her acting suspiciously with the medicine today. Dean found the proof in her daughter's bag!”
Gabriel held out his hand. “Give me the bottle, Dean.”
Dean hesitated, then handed it over.
Gabriel unscrewed the cap and smelled it. His eyes, already cold, turned pitch black. He knew the smell of almonds. He knew it was cyanide.
“You caught her stealing it,” Gabriel repeated softly.
“Yes,” Dean said.
Gabriel turned to Claire. She was on her knees, pulling Lucy into her arms, shielding the toddler with her own body.
“Claire,” Gabriel said. “Is this true?”
“No,” Claire cried, holding her daughter tight. “I heard them in the library two nights ago. Dean and Madeline. They are working together. Madeline poisoned Abigail’s bottle to kill her before the wedding, so she could inherit everything when Dean killed you. I hid the bottle in Lucy’s backpack to save Abigail. Please, Gabriel. I would never hurt your daughter. Lucy loves her.”
“Lies!” Madeline shrieked. “Gabriel, she’s a desperate, poor woman trying to frame us to save herself!”
Gabriel looked at Madeline. Then he looked at Dean.
“There is just one problem with your story, Dean,” Gabriel said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“What’s that, boss?” Dean asked, sweating now.
Gabriel reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black audio recorder.
“I had my security team bug the library three years ago,” Gabriel stated. “After Rebecca died. I wanted to ensure no one was plotting in the heart of my home. I rarely listen to the tapes. But today, I received a call from my head of security. He reviewed the tapes from two nights ago. He heard the entire conversation.”
Dean’s face drained of all color.
Madeline let out a choked gasp.
“You were going to kill my daughter,” Gabriel said, the words heavy with impending violence. “And you tried to frame the only person in this house who protected her.”
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Gabriel snapped his fingers. His men surged forward.
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