Meera’s POV
Gabriel snorted. “They look like they’d taste like old money and cruelty.”
I laughed—sharp and sudden—and it startled both of us. I hadn’t realized how close I was to shattering until the sound escaped.
Gabriel reached across the gearshift and laced his fingers with mine. “We’ll figure it out. I’ve got some cash. I mean, not mansion-cash. But enough.”
“I don’t care about the money,” I whispered.
“I know. That’s what scares him.” He glanced over. “You’re the only thing in his world that doesn’t have a price tag.”
I stared at him, at the curve of his jaw, the tiny scar near his eyebrow from when he fell off his skateboard last year, the way he looked at me like I was human—messy, complicated, and still worth choosing.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He smiled. “Anywhere bu
