The Competition

Chapter 8: The 'Gabriel Blackwood

Gabriel's POV:

I sat in that stifling, shadow-filled room, keeping my face as unreadable as possible. My grandfather was seated across from me, his expression as cold and unyielding as the Blackwood legacy itself. Lucas, beside me, leaned back in his chair with his usual calm, but I could tell he was just as aware of the tension hanging over us. There was no room for mistakes here, no space for doubt.

“So, Gabriel,” my grandfather began, his tone sharp and scrutinizing. “Is everything in place? The Shinryus won’t be getting any wind of this, will they?”

“Everything’s on track,” I replied, keeping my voice steady, controlled. “No leaks, no loose ends.” I met his gaze directly, making sure he saw the conviction there. “They won’t know a thing until we’re ready to make our move.”

A rare flicker of satisfaction crossed his face, a hint of approval that was as rare as it was unsettling. “Good. Los Angeles will be ours soon enough.” He leaned back, eyes narrowing. “And I expect you to keep it that way.”

The meeting dissolved after that, and I rose, keeping my mask in place until Lucas and I had slipped out and left the others behind. We made our way to my room in silence, and only when the door clicked shut did Lucas’s easy grin return, if only briefly.

“That was quite the show,” he muttered, glancing at me. But we both knew the game we were playing here wasn’t one to take lightly.

Then his tone shifted, and his eyes locked on mine, serious now. “I got word right before the meeting,” he said. “The Shinryus sent someone to L.A.—their fourth daughter.”

Alynna Shinryu. The name hit harder than I let show. They’d sent her here, the one person I’d hoped wouldn’t be dragged into this mess. I felt a tightening in my chest, a frustration that simmered at the thought of her walking into the crossfire between our families.

Lucas was watching me closely. “They’ll kill her if they figure out who she is.”

“Or they’ll try to.” The words came out low, almost a growl. I already knew what they’d do if they got even a hint that she was Shinryu, a threat to their precious Blackwood plan.

Lucas’s expression softened, a knowing look in his eyes. “I know you, Gabriel. You’re not going to let that happen.”

I turned, looking out at the night through the window. “If protecting her means going against them,” I said quietly, “then that’s what I’ll do.”

I knew he understood, maybe better than anyone else could. I wasn’t about to let her become another casualty in this power struggle, another life chewed up in my family’s ambitions. Not when I’d seen the person she was—the freedom she was chasing, the life she was fighting to live on her own terms.

“Do what you have to,” Lucas said finally, his voice steady, a silent promise between us. We both knew it was only going to get more dangerous from here, but I wasn’t turning back.

****

I was on my bike, weaving through L.A. traffic like I always did. And then, as I rounded a corner, I noticed a café with a figure crouched on the sidewalk beside it. I slowed down instinctively, something about her catching my eye.

She was kneeling beside a small cardboard box near the bushes, stroking the ears of a puppy that looked like it had been abandoned there. Her face was soft, almost unguarded—a side of Alynna Shinryu that I’d only ever guessed at. Up until then, she’d been nothing more than a face in photos, someone I knew only through dossiers and the whispered warnings of my family. But seeing her here, with that little pup, she wasn’t some rival, some enemy. She was… human. Almost vulnerable.

I parked my bike at a distance, far enough to watch her without risking exposure. The last thing I wanted was for her to recognize me. Did she even know who I was? Or was I just some anonymous face in the Blackwood family to her? I hadn’t a clue, but I wasn’t going to wait around to find out. Part of me knew I shouldn’t—if she recognized me, it could put my whole cover at risk. But something compelled me forward.

As I slowly striding infront of her, I watched as she smiled down at the puppy, her hand lingering for just a moment before she stood up. She looked ready to walk away, leaving the pup behind, and something twisted inside me. I reached her before I could even think of what to say. And because I had no other excuse, I went with the first thing that came to mind.

“Hey, you!” I called out, my voice sharper than I’d intended. “How dare you!”

She looked up, startled, and in that moment, I had her attention. Her butler, who was hovering nearby, moved closer, but she stopped him with a small gesture. Her eyes were piercing, like she was sizing me up, and for a second, I forgot what I was going to say.

“Are you just going to abandon this puppy?” I pressed, ignoring the odd feeling rising in my chest at the same time keeping my cool. This wasn’t my business, but I’d come too far to turn back now.

“I’m sorry?” she asked, looking as confused as I probably felt.

“The puppy!” I shot back, “Are you leaving it here? How dare you! You think you can just walk away from a lowly life because you don’t want it anymore?” I met her eyes, but my focus slipped just a little, taking in the curve of her jaw, the way her hair fell just past her cheek.

The moment I said it, I could see I’d pushed her buttons. She tensed, her jaw setting. Her butler, sensing it too, intervened calmly. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?” I echoed, not really thinking at this point. “I saw her leaving this puppy here the moment I parked my motorbike,” I lied, keeping my voice level. But the truth was, I was stalling, anything to keep her attention a bit longer. I couldn’t help it—she was different from what I’d imagined. Sharper. Stronger.

Her eyes narrowed, challenging me back. “Look, this puppy isn’t ours. I was just admiring it, but I can’t take it home, alright? So spare me your accusations and focus on your own life!”

Her words hit harder than I expected, and for a split second, I was genuinely taken aback. “What the hell?” I muttered, half to myself.

She didn’t wait for an answer. She just turned on her heel, her butler following her toward their car, leaving me standing there like an i***t. But I didn’t regret it—not entirely. Because as much as she’d brushed me off, I’d caught something in her eyes.Curiosity. For a moment, I stood there, feeling the heat of her words linger. I couldn’t understand why it had even bothered me. With a sigh, I looked down at the puppy still in the box.

Reaching in, I lifted it into my arms, and it blinked up at me with wide, innocent eyes. There was something in its gaze that reminded me of her—guarded but quietly searching. I held it close. In that instant, I understood something about Alynna I hadn’t seen before. And as just as I sense it right now, she may have turned away, but her gaze had lingered just as long as mine.

After that scene outside the café, I went back to my bike, the small puppy tucked inside my leather jacket, carefully nestled against me. He was a little wiggly at first, paws pressing against my chest, but as soon as I revved the engine, he settled down, burying himself further into the warmth. I kept my hand steady, riding just slow enough to keep him from shifting too much, the quiet ride back through L.A. surprisingly… calm.

As we headed toward the cabin, I couldn’t help but feel the strangeness of the moment—me, Gabriel Blackwood, with a stray pup in my jacket. But he seemed content, and I didn’t mind the company, especially with everything going on.

The cabin finally came into view, hidden away in the woods, shielded from the noise and chaos of the city. It was my own piece of solitude, the one place untouched by my family’s schemes and endless plans. I set the puppy down on the floor, where he immediately took to sniffing around and exploring, finding every corner and crevice like he was meant to be there.

Once he settled, I called Lucas, telling him to come over, and to bring dog food. He didn’t miss a beat with the teasing.

“Oh, so the cold Gabriel Blackwood has gone soft over a puppy?” His laugh crackled over the line.

“Just bring the damn food,” I replied, rolling my eyes but unable to hide a faint grin. “And maybe bring something for dinner, unless you plan on eating dog kibble.”

Lucas showed up around sunset, the sky a hazy blue against the woods, casting long shadows across the ground. He didn’t just bring dog food, of course; he came loaded down with bags of vegetables, fresh salmon, and other things I hadn’t even thought to ask for.

“Thought I’d keep you from starving,” he said, kicking off his boots as he walked in, setting everything down on the kitchen counter. “I bet you didn’t have anything decent in your fridge.”

I gave him a nod, grateful as usual. We fell into our usual rhythm, talking about everything and nothing, letting the comfortable quiet settle between us. But eventually, I brought up the topic that had been circling my mind since that encounter at the café: Alynna.

Lucas leaned back on the couch, crossing his arms with a smirk. “So, you saw her in person, huh?”

“Yeah,” I replied, staring out the window before continuing. “I don’t think she recognized me, but I knew her right away. She’s not what I expected… there’s something different about her.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, still grinning. “Different how?”

“Just… different.” I kept my voice flat, but Lucas knows me too well. “All I know is, I don’t want her dragged into whatever mess the family has planned. She deserves a chance to walk away from all this.”

He just gave me that knowing smile but didn’t press further. He understands when to leave things alone. We’d been chatting a while when his phone rang. From the change in his expression, I knew it wasn’t good news.

“Blackwoods know there’s a Shinryu in L.A.,” he said, voice low as he met my eyes. “Some of the others are already planning to go after her. They’re saying she’s a threat.”

The room fell silent. I’d known the family would catch on eventually, but hearing it confirmed felt like a punch to the gut.

“Then we need to move fast,” I replied, my mind already running through the possibilities. “Let them think they’re on to her. We can use it. Draw them out and take them down before they even get close.”

Lucas’s smirk returned, eyes flashing with determination. “I’ll set things up. We’ll lead them on a wild goose chase. They won’t know what hit them.”

As we planned our next steps, the cabin filled with the quiet weight of our resolve. The puppy curled up by my feet, warm and content as he drifted off to sleep. It grounded me in a way I hadn’t expected, a small reminder of why this fight mattered.

When we finally wrapped up, the firelight cast long shadows on the walls, the quiet of the cabin settling around us. We were taking a risk, but it was one I’d gladly take. Alynna wasn’t going to be another pawn in the Blackwoods’ game. Not if I could help it.

I sped through the streets of L.A., the city lights streaking past as I pushed the bike harder and the engine rumbling beneath me. Every second mattered. Lucas had gone back to the Blackwoods' headquarters to throw them off, pretending he was all in on the family’s mission to capture Alynna. But I couldn’t shake the urgency pulsing through me. They’d be coming for her soon—my own family, ready to hunt her down.

I have to find her first.

The streets grew quieter as the night wore on, and the shadows felt like they were closing in. Each corner I rounded, each alley I passed, I expected to see her or, worse, to hear the rumble of the other Blackwoods troops catching up. I tried to keep a clear head, tracking every darkened sidewalk and narrow alleyway. Finally, far ahead, I spotted her—a small, solitary figure moving under the streetlights wandering at her own thought. Relief shot through me, but it was short-lived.

A group of riders was only a couple of blocks behind her, their headlights bouncing along the cracked pavement. I could feel the seconds ticking down.

I weighed my options and remembered a side alley that could cut ahead of them. Without hesitations, I veered sharply to the left, the tires gripping the road as I tore down the narrow path. I kept my eyes focused on the end of the alley, praying it would give me the lead I needed. But as I broke out onto the street, I was jolted by how close I was to her—too close to make a smooth stop.

With no time to plan, I twisted the bike hard, skidding it sideways, bringing myself right in her path. The tires screeched against the pavement, and I felt the bike skid under me, barely holding control as I veered toward her. The impact brought me too close, forcing her to stumble back and land hard on the ground. I cursed under my breath, catching my balance just as the bike finally toppled onto its side. But there was no time to worry about the wreck; I was off the bike in an instant, rushing toward her, every second counting.

“Are you alright?” I asked, my voice strained, urgent. She hadn’t even fully registered what happened, but I could already feel the threat closing in on us, every instinct in me warning we needed to move. “Listen, there’s no time—get up! You need to move. Now!”

Her glare could’ve cut through steel as she pushed herself up, defiance in every movement. “Excuse me?”

Part of me almost admired her resistance, but I couldn’t let her stubbornness cost us both. “Trust me,” I said, grabbing her arm—enough to pull her up, but not enough to hurt. The way she stared me down made me wonder if this was how she’d been raised, to question every outstretched hand. But the footsteps were getting louder, and I knew what was at stake. “They’re coming, and they’ll kill you too if they think you’re involved. Get on the bike with me.”

She yanked her arm back, her expression unyielding. “Why should I trust you?”

I glanced toward the shadows, heart pounding as I calculated how much longer we had. The figures were advancing, their silhouettes dark and deliberate. “If you want to live, trust me.” I nodded toward the bike, pleading with her, though I never pleaded with anyone. “It’s now or never.”

She hesitated, her gaze darting behind me, where the threat loomed, but only for a second. I saw her resolve solidify, and then she took my hand, letting me pull her onto the bike behind me.

“Hold on tight,” I muttered, feeling her grip tighten around my waist. I revved the engine, the machine shuddering back to life as we sped off, kicking up a cloud of dust. I looked over my shoulder at her, her eyes meeting mine with a fire I hadn’t expected. For just a moment, I felt something I couldn’t quite name—a need to protect her beyond the orders I’d been given, to shield her from the world she was born into.

“I promise I’ll explain,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I could explain it all, not yet. “Just… hang on.”

With that, I turned my attention back to the road, tearing through the night. The city blurred around us, the sound of the bike drowning out any pursuit, and the night swallowed us whole.

The city slips into a blur of neon and shadow as we fly through narrow alleyways and deserted streets. I can feel her grip tightening around me with each turn, every lean, every pulse of the engine. She’s close—closer than I’d expected. The wind cuts between us, almost masking the rhythm of her breathing and the thud of her heart in sync with the roar of the bike.

I take another glance over my shoulder. They’re closing in, a line of dark shapes against the slick street lights. Their helmets are reflective, eyes without faces, locked onto us as they cut through the city night. I press the throttle, pushing the bike harder, aware of her slight shift against me, probably wondering who they are and why we're running.

"Who are they?" she shouts, her voice edged with frustration and fear, nearly swallowed by the wind. But there’s no easy answer. I keep my eyes on the road, jaw clenched. We’re running out of time, and each breath counts.

Finally, I lean in close enough that my words reach her ear through the rush of the wind. “The kind of people who don’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” I manage, feeling her recoil just a fraction, her grip shifting as she processes it.

“That doesn't exactly help!” she throws back, irritation seeping into her tone.

She’s right. There’s no room for anything but blunt truth now, and yet... I hesitate, biting back a response as we swerve hard around a corner, nearly throwing her off balance.

“They won’t stop,” I say, pushing my voice louder as I feel her tense against me. “Not until…” I break off, unwilling to go into detail here. "Not until they get what they want." I’m in this mess because of who I am and what I possess. Explaining won’t help—not when every second counts.

“And what do they want?”

Silence stretches between us, more deliberate than before. How much do I tell her? How much will make things worse? I navigate another hard turn, feeling the city lights fading behind us as we reach an open stretch, darkness settling in.

“They’re not just after me.” The words come out low, grudgingly. “They’re after what I have… and who I am.”

She doesn’t respond, but I feel the weight of her question hang in the silence, lingering like a whispered demand for answers I can’t give. She’s deeper in this than she realizes—deeper than I ever wanted anyone to be.

“Hold on,” I say finally, my voice carrying both a warning and a promise. We ride into the shadows, two figures bound by the darkness, the road stretching out before us like an uncertain path into something neither of us can fully see.