"Do you normally make-out with the people you're hired to kill? It doesn't strike me as very professional."
"Put the gun down," Gabriel panted, not answering her.
"Why on earth would I do that?"
"Because you're not going to shoot me," Gabriel rep...
This chapter contains violent imagery. Reader discretion is advised.
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Gabriel's eyes snapped open. He glanced at his phone. 5:30. Quickly realizing that he wasn't going to be able to fall back asleep, he got up from the couch and walked to Levi's living room. It had been a few days since he had worked out, so he decided to do some basic, quiet exercises - push ups, crunches, jump squats.
He was about to end the workout and shower when he felt it - something wasn't right. He had always possessed a good instinct for sensing danger, and it had only been enhanced by his years in the military and with the company. He walked over to the window and peered out.
Outside, barely illuminated by the dim, pre-dawn glow, was a group of five men, including his boss. He glanced at the clock. 6:15. Gabriel didn't know why they were here or what they wanted, but it was definitely nothing good. Were they here for Ash? How would they have known she was here?
It didn't matter. They didn't have much time. He needed to focus.
He ran to Levi's computer room to grab the handgun Levi had pulled out yesterday, which he put in his back pocket. Then he heard the doorbell. That was good news - they wouldn't have announced their presence if they were just trying to kill them.
As Gabriel left the study, he ran into Levi descending the stairs.
"It's six in the morning," Levi said, confused. "Who the hell is it?"
"Ross," Gabriel responded grimly. "And four others."
"What? How? Why?"
Ash joined them in the living room, her face lined with concern.
"What's going on?" she asked.
The doorbell rang again - twice this time.
"Ash, hide," Gabriel commanded.
To her credit, she didn't ask any questions. She obeyed immediately, running in the direction of the den.
Gabriel turned to Levi. "Answer the door."
"They're going to kill me," Levi began to panic.
"If they came here just to kill us, they wouldn't be ringing the doorbell," Gabriel replied calmly.
"What am I supposed to tell him?"
"Tell him that I'm here visiting you. He probably already knows that so there's no point in hiding it. Just try to stall him. And stay calm. I'm going to go hide Ash's things."
Gabriel ran to the guest bedroom and threw Ash's backpack in the closet. He scanned the room to make sure there was nothing that would give her presence away.
"Gabriel, Ross is here," Levi called from the kitchen. "He wants to say hi."
Satisfied he had hidden anything that might reveal a third person was staying with them, Gabriel walked to the kitchen.
