Corrupted Angel

Chapter 161 Episode 161

“I just want us to live a full, happy life together,” I say. “I want to raise our kids and have movienights and go camping. I want to teach them right from wrong and feed them healthy snacks.” I lookover at him, smiling. “I want to have romantic dinners with you. And I want to eat chips in bedwithout you getting annoyed about the crumbs.”

He squeezes my hand. “You can have everything except that last one.”

I stick my tongue out.

“We’ve got a couple of hours before Harry’s back,” Gabriel says. “I think I know how best to fillthem.”

He starts to get up, and I c**k an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

My mind starts to twist around the various potential interpretations of his words. It’s been a long day,and I’m exhausted, but I’m never too tired for him.

Gabriel goes inside and comes out a minute later, holding my laptop. He hands it over to me, and Icock my head in confusion. How are we going to make this sexy? Are we going to send racy messagesto each other from separate rooms?

Gabriel laughs. “You have a filthy mind, Ms. Wright.” He taps the laptop. “I think it’s time for you tofinish your story.”

With everything that has gone on in the past few weeks, I completely forgot about the article I waswriting. I didn’t want to finish it until there was a satisfactory conclusion to the drug war, and nowthere is. No more purple heroin. No more Cartel. Excitement bubbles through me when I realize thatthis is what I have been waiting for.

“Yes!” I exclaim. “That’s a great idea.”

I open the laptop and start typing away before Gabriel has even sat back down. He settles into thechair with a light sigh, and then stares off into the distance.

And that’s how we spend our afternoon—in silence, with a chilly breeze fluttering through the windchimes. Me, writing about the past. Gabriel, dreaming of the future.

“Gabriel, I would like to remind you that it’s highly unusual to kidnap the bride after the ceremony,” Isay, holding the long train of my gown in one hand and his hand in the other.

Gabriel laughs. I have not seen him without a smile once today, and it’s positively infectious. It’salmost unfair how handsome he looks. I nearly tripped over myself when I saw him waiting for me atthe altar. His tuxedo fits perfectly, and there’s a sprig of baby’s breath tucked in the breast pocket.

I, on the other hand, am very pregnant, and it shows. I felt self-conscious when I stepped into theaisle, until Gabriel looked at me and grinned like I was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen in hislife.

Part of me likes the idea of us both just disappearing now that we’re married, skipping the receptionentirely and going somewhere private to get lost in each other’s bodies.

The other part of me wants to eat the Wagyu steak I ordered for dinner and to hear all the lovely thingseveryone is going to say about me in the speeches.

“You’ll be back before anyone even knows you’re gone,” he says.

“I highly doubt that.”

People tend to notice a missing bride. I’m sure our photographer is in pieces, but he can wait.

We head out the side door of the church and down the stone path toward a black car idling at the curb.

“I have a wedding present for you, and I don’t want to wait.” Gabriel opens the door and brushes hishand over my cheek. “Do you trust me?”

I rest a hand over my belly and smile. “Always.”

It isn’t a long drive, and when we arrive, I’m disappointed to look out the window and see theBellucci Inc. building.

“For the love of God, Gabriel.” I swing a glare toward him. “We’re not going to work, are we? Onour wedding day? Which is also a Saturday?”

His grin stays in place despite my best effort. “What was that about trust?”

I grumble but get out of the car and follow him inside. I feel ridiculous walking through the foyer inmy wedding dress, silk swishing by my feet. This surprise better be good.

In the elevator, Gabriel pushes the button for the floor above the one I operate the charities from,which is strange. It has been under construction for the past month, which Gabriel told me was so hecould expand his financial division. What does that have to do with me?

The doors open, and I see it’s not under construction anymore. There is a whiff of fresh paint in theair, as well as the faintly plasticky smell of new furnishings. The large space is populated withclusters of desks, all outfitted with top-of-the-line computers and ergonomic chairs. There are somebreakaway areas with sofas in bold colors too. It all looks a little too hip to be an extension of thefinancial division.

“What is this?” I ask.

Gabriel doesn’t answer. He guides me through the space, and we head toward the front of thebuilding, where a row of office doors are. He stops in front of the middle one, and I read the nameinscribed on the door.

Alexis Bellucci, it says. Editor in Chief.

“Gabriel…” I look up at him. He’s grinning from ear to ear.

“Bellucci Inc. is ready to launch its first-ever publication,” he says. “If you’re up for it, that is?”

I fling my arms around him and squeeze. I’m overwhelmed with emotion. Tears well in my eyes, and Ihave to blink them back because I am wearing way too much makeup to start crying. In lieu of tears, Isqueeze harder.

“Thank you,” I say, voice muffled against his shirt.

He hugs me back. The feel of his strong arms around me is the best feeling in the world, and I can’tbelieve that this gorgeous, amazing, electric man is now my husband. I’m the luckiest girl in thehistory of lucky girls.

I back away, sniffing. “I’m going to do such good with it, Gabriel,” I vow. “I’m going to make adifference in this city. I can help you too. Keep the business running smoothly, help find alternateroutes to violence.”

I think about how I was already able to avoid violence with Ruby and Debbie by using myinvestigative connections. There’s no saying how much more I’ll be able to accomplish now that I’meditor in chief of my own newspaper.

“Thank you, Gabriel,” I say finally. “I love you so much.”

He gathers my face in his hands. “I love you too.” Pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, he adds, “Now,let’s get this reception done with so I can get you out of this dress.”

I grin. “That sounds like a plan.”

It’s quiet in the office. My door is open, and beyond it, all I can see are empty desks. An hour ago,almost every single one had someone sitting at it, and a chorus of chatter and laughter filled the room.They’re a lively bunch, my new team, but they work damn hard. Not as hard as their editor,apparently, who was supposed to have gone home around an hour ago like the rest of them.

I’ve just caught my first big fish, though.

I click through the documents on my screen again. Pedro, one of my top street reporters, hasforwarded a shipping manifest and a series of transcripts from conversations he has recorded. He’sbeen keeping an eye on the dregs of the Irish mob for me since the newspaper first launched a weekago.

There is no organization anymore. No finesse. Those who remained split into a dozen or so factions,but without any leadership, they’ve been crashing around the city like a herd of bulls in a very largechina ship. And now Pedro reports that one of these factions is expecting a shipment of weaponstomorrow, and they’re planning to use these to hold up a series of storefronts.

Well, I simply can’t let that happen.

Gabriel has been away on business for the past couple of days, so I consider which of his men to givethe command to. I settle on Angelo. He was promoted to capo about a week ago, and he hasn’t had achance to put his leadership skills to the test yet. I doubt these thugs will provide much of a challenge,so it’s the perfect opportunity to hone his skills.

I am just about to call Angelo when I hear the elevator door ding. I consider getting up to check who itis, but moving around has started to become a bit of a pain in the ass due to my belly, and I’m notworried. I’m well protected at all times.

Footsteps approach my office, and a second later, Gabriel appears in the doorway. I shoot out of myseat.

“Baby!” I exclaim. “I didn’t think you’d be back until tomorrow.”

Gabriel comes over and kisses me. His hand rubs over my back, and I relax into his familiar scent.

“I finished up early and changed my flight,” he says. “I couldn’t wait to see you.” He rubs a hand overmy belly. “How are we doing?”

I grin up at him. “Fantastic. I was just about to assign the interception of a weapons sale tomorrow toone of the capos.”