Sinful Flames

Chapter 37

It had been a week since the revelation that Adam was actually Gio, my brother, the ghost from my past who had resurfaced with a vengeance. The moment Chiara described him and I realized who she had encountered, everything shifted. The hunt began immediately. The FBI, though discreet, was now involved, and my men were working twice as hard to find him before he could do more damage. Gio had no idea I was working with the Feds, and I planned to keep it that way.

Despite the chaos swirling around us—the constant strategizing, the sleepless nights, and the mounting danger—I found an unexpected calmness every time I returned home. Chiara had been staying with me for the past week, and she was the anchor in this storm. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so at peace amidst such a dangerous game.

She was more than just a distraction. Every kiss, every embrace, and every moment we spent together reminded me of what was truly important. She wasn’t just someone to pass the time with; she was someone I wanted to protect, fiercely, even if it meant walking through hell to ensure her safety.

As I sat in the backyard, Chiara nestled in my arms, the warm evening breeze blew gently through the trees. She had fallen asleep after a long day at work, her breathing soft and even. My arms held her close, feeling her heartbeat sync with mine. My gaze wandered over her peaceful face, and the word *love* crossed my mind again.

But *love* wasn’t enough to describe what I felt for her. It was something more. It was like every part of me, every fiber, every nerve, belonged to her now. I wasn’t just in love with her—I was utterly, madly, completely consumed by her. She had become my everything.

Nonna Ava shuffled into the backyard, her sharp eyes falling on Chiara and me. She smiled softly, a knowing look in her gaze. She walked closer and patted my shoulder, her touch as gentle as always.

"Keep her close, Gabriel. She’s what you need in your life," Nonna said in Italian, her voice full of warmth and certainty.

I looked down at Chiara and nodded, my heart full. Nonna was right. Chiara wasn’t just what I wanted—she was what I *needed*. "I will, Nonna. I’m not letting her go," I replied quietly, the words heavy with promise.

Nonna gave me a small smile, one that said she understood more than I ever gave her credit for, and left us to our quiet moment. I stayed still for a few more minutes, watching as the stars began to twinkle in the sky, my arms wrapped protectively around the woman who had become the most important part of my life.

Eventually, I stood, carefully lifting Chiara in my arms. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake up as I carried her inside and up to our room. Her soft breathing continued, and I smiled to myself, knowing that no matter what happened with Gio, I would fight with everything I had to protect her. My *tuono*. My thunder.

The next morning came too quickly, and Saturday brought a bit of respite for Chiara. Fiona arrived mid-morning, and the two women, along with Nonna, decided to spend their time in the garden, tending to the plants and chatting away. I watched from a distance as they laughed and worked together, a moment of peace amidst the chaos that was my life.

But I didn’t have the luxury of peace. Matteo, Antonio, and I gathered in my office, waiting for the FBI chief, Denver Field, to arrive. The door creaked open, and Denver walked in, his face grim.

"We’ve got an update," Denver said, taking a seat at the large wooden table in the center of the room. He didn’t waste any time, getting straight to the point. "One of our informants is dead."

I felt a cold weight settle in my chest. Another death. Gio was leaving a trail of bodies behind him, and we still had nothing solid on him. "How?" I asked, my voice low and sharp.

"He was found with a G symbol carved into his heart," Denver explained. "It’s Gio’s signature, and it was meant to send a message. He’s taunting us."

I cursed under my breath, clenching my fists. This wasn’t just about revenge anymore. Gio was playing a twisted game, and he was making it personal.

"What about CCTV footage? Anything?" I asked, knowing it was a long shot.

Denver shook his head, his expression grim. "The footage was destroyed. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing."

I slammed my fist on the table in frustration, the sound echoing through the room. "Damn it!"

But Matteo, ever the calm presence in the room, leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "I might be able to recover the footage," he said.

Both Denver and I turned to him, a flicker of hope igniting in my chest. "How?"

"I’ve been working on a program that can piece together corrupted files from digital systems," Matteo explained. "It’s not foolproof, but it might be able to recover fragments of the destroyed footage. I’ll need access to the system."

I nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Do whatever you need. We need to know who did this, and if we can find Gio, we can stop him before he kills anyone else."

Denver stood, giving Matteo a nod of approval. "I’ll get you access to the system. Just make it quick."

As Denver left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. Every day that passed without finding Gio meant more lives at risk. But Matteo’s plan gave me hope, and I trusted him to pull through.

Just as the tension in the room seemed to lift, Chiara entered with her usual cheerful smile. But the moment she saw my face, her smile faltered, and her brows furrowed in concern.

"What’s wrong?" she asked softly, walking over to me.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Gio left another body. One of the FBI informants is dead, and we don’t have any footage. The system was wiped."

Chiara frowned, clearly deep in thought. She bit her lip, pacing for a moment before looking up at me with a spark of an idea in her eyes. "What if you trace the destruction itself?"

I blinked, not understanding immediately. "What do you mean?"

"The CCTV footage was destroyed, right? But whoever did it had to access the system to wipe it clean. There might be traces of their digital footprint—something left behind when they hacked into the system."

Matteo’s eyes widened slightly, and he turned to me. "She’s right. Even if the footage is gone, the process of wiping it might leave a digital trail. I can track it."

I stared at Chiara for a moment, amazement washing over me. I hadn’t expected her to come up with something like that, but she always managed to surprise me. A grin spread across my face as I pulled her close, kissing her deeply. "You’re brilliant, you know that?"

She laughed, blushing slightly. "I just thought it might help."

"It does," I said, pulling back with a grin. "I’m going to tell Matteo to get started right away."

As I headed toward Matteo, my heart felt lighter. Chiara’s idea had given us a new lead, and with Matteo’s skills, we might just be able to track Gio down before he made his next move.