That a father can love his kids so much was both enlightening and envy-inducing.
He reminds me of Gabriel in some ways, that no-nonsense ride-or-die mentality that extends to everyone. He’d accepted me without question, though in all fairness, it would be hard to hide the family resemblance since I look like a cross between his young daughter and his mom.
But even so, how many people would just pick up the torch and pave the way for someone they’d just met? He acts like we’ve known each other our whole lives, even going so far as to tell his younger kids they had to respect me while telling the older ones to accept me into their inner circle.
That's something I could see Gabriel doing, the kind of man I imagine he’d be. I tried to put a smile on my face, but he must’ve seen the nerves in my eyes still because he grinned and rubbed my head. “Sorry, it’s a habit. I do it to my little sisters all the time.”
Oh geez, I started to tear up, but he had no idea that the tears stemmed from a mixture of my genuine anxiety over how this whole thing would turn out and from being touched by the casual way in which he’d just dropped that statement. “It’s okay; I like it.” He gave me an odd look, maybe because of my wistful tone, and then changed the subject to my childhood of all things.
I didn’t feel the need to be guarded with him, and so I told him maybe more than I should have. He didn’t interrupt, just listened attentively, only butting in to ask a question here or there. There were a few times when I thought I heard him swear under his breath, but when I looked at him, there was no change in his facial expression.
I had no idea that the others were listening until they, too, started asking questions. One of the SEALs, Tyler, called dad a bitch made motherfucker, I have no idea what that means, but it didn’t sound good. Then they grumbled when I shared that he was behind bars when they asked, and they pretty much acted as if that was too good for him.
Mancini and Lyon were quiet most of the time this was going on, but I didn’t miss the looks that passed between them, especially when I told them all what Gabriel had done to get me out of the situation. Colton seemed to relax after that, even though I admit to not realizing he wasn’t always relaxed. I don’t know how to put it into words, but it went from feeling like there was a tiger in the room to a big old pussycat.
GABRIEL
“We’re here!” Pop’s voice broke through the fog of my inner musings. “What are you thinking?” He was asking this because I hadn’t moved.
“I’m trying to figure out if we’re walking into a trap.”
“It’s not a trap; I met this Mancini guy; he’s on the up and up.”
“Mancini, thanks.”
“Dammit, Gabe.” I just smiled and grabbed my stuff before following him off the plane.
I pretended to forget something, but what I was really doing was getting info from the pilot. Now I had two names to look into. Mancini and Andros, I’m betting that Memnon knew one or both of them at this point. While Pop was taking his eight-hour nap earlier, I was busy thinking in between watching over him. He looked tired. I only now realize how much stress he’s been under because of me.
I caught up to him in the car, where he was already on the phone with someone though it’s only a five-minute drive from the private airstrip to the house. “Let’s go by Gianna’s house.” I was sure she wouldn’t be there; I get the feeling this person, whoever he is, wouldn’t make things that easy for me. I realize that this is part of his bid to save me, and getting me back here is only the beginning.
But how does he intend to get me to stay? I can always take her and go back unless he knows why I sent her away in the first place. Or I can see her and satisfy myself with the fact that she’s still alive and then go finish what I started in Sicily. My gut tells me that this guy is not so easily fooled. He has to have something up his sleeve, but what?
The greatest victory is that which requires no battle. No battle! “Hmm!”
“What are you smirking about now, Gabe?”
“The hacker, I think he just played me. He quoted Sun Tzu to me before claiming he was just testing my mettle. I think he was being facetious, goading me. But he’s already won.”
"How so? I don't follow."
“He already has Gianna! I’ll let him win any war just to get her back.” But how does he know?