Chapter 2 - THE MAN AT THE GATE

Harper wanted to lie.

Lying had kept her alive for three years.

I fell down the stairs. I walked into a cabinet. Derek gets angry, but he's under pressure. He didn't mean it.

But Gabriel had already seen too much.

"He's my ex-husband," she said.

"Ex?"

"The divorce isn't final."

Gabriel's jaw tightened. "And the bruises?"

Harper looked away.

That was answer enough.

Derek's voice came over the intercom, smooth and official.

"Boston Police. I need to speak with my wife. Welfare matter."

"Welfare. That's good."

Gabriel nodded to the guard. "Bring him to the front room. No weapon past the door."

"You can't do that," Harper whispered. "He's a cop."

Gabriel looked at her. "In this house, I can."

Derek entered five minutes later without his service pistol and with fury tucked behind a polite smile. He was broad-shouldered, clean-cut, and handsome in the kind of way that made strangers trust him.

His eyes found Harper.

"There you are, sweetheart."

Harper's skin crawled.

"Don't call me that."

Derek glanced at Gabriel. "Mr. Ashford. Didn't expect my personal business to end up in your living room."

"Neither did I."

Derek held up a folded paper. "I'm taking Harper and her brother home."

"No," Harper said.

Derek's smile disappeared.

"Noah needs stability. You need help."

"You don't know where Noah is."

Derek took one step closer.

"Sure I do. Apartment 3B on Wellesley Street. Mrs. Alvarez checks on him at night. Broken lock on the back entrance."

Harper went cold.

Gabriel moved between them.

Derek held up his paper. "Emergency custody request."

Gabriel took it, read half a page, and handed it to a gray-haired man who had entered silently behind them.

"Mr. Bell," Gabriel said. "Call Judge Harrington."

Derek's eyes sharpened. "You have a judge on speed dial?"

"I have lawyers who do."

Harper barely heard them. Noah was alone, and Derek had been watching the apartment.

Gabriel answered his ringing phone.

"My people reached your building."

Her knees weakened with relief.

Then Gabriel's expression hardened.

"The apartment door is open."

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Harper stared at him.

"And Noah isn't inside."