I Definitely Don't

Chapter 12

Gabriel

The city glittered beneath me as I stood on the balcony of our penthouse, the cool evening air whispering across my face. It should have felt calming, but the weight of everything happening left me restless. Jason's threats, the pressure of holding the business together, and the growing danger surrounding Shayla—it all churned inside me like a storm, refusing to settle.

I turned away from the skyline, my eyes drifting inside where Shayla sat at the dining table. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders as she typed furiously on her laptop, determined and focused. Watching her like this, it was hard to reconcile the woman who was thrust into my life with the one now sitting just a few feet away, completely entwined in it. Every time I looked at her, I was reminded of why I had wanted her from the start—her strength, her defiance, her heart. But now, that desire came with a new, almost suffocating need to protect her from the chaos I'd brought into her life.

The memory of Jason's threat lingered like a dark cloud. Every time I replayed his words in my head, a fire ignited inside me. I clenched my fists just thinking about it. He wasn't just coming for me—he was coming for us. For her. And that was something I couldn't allow.

I needed to think. I needed a plan.

Turning back to the city, I ran a hand through my hair and pulled out my phone. I scrolled through my contacts, searching for a name I hadn't touched in a long time—Vincent. I hesitated for a moment. Involving him meant crossing a line I'd promised myself I wouldn't, but desperate times called for desperate measures. And I'd be damned if I let Jason hurt Shayla.

I hit the dial, and the phone rang only once before a deep voice answered.

"Gabriel Meyer. I thought you'd forgotten all about me."

"Vincent," I said, keeping my voice steady, though the tension in my chest tightened. "I need a favor."

There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by a low chuckle. "Of course you do. What kind of favor?"

"Information. And... protection," I said, choosing my words carefully. "I've got a situation."

"You've always got a situation," Vincent replied. "But this sounds more personal. What's going on?"

I glanced back at Shayla, who was still engrossed in her work, oblivious to the call. "It's personal. A man named Jason, an ex-business partner, is making threats. He's dangerous, and I can't take any chances."

There was another pause, but this time, I could hear the shift in Vincent's tone. "You need me to take care of him?"

"No," I said quickly. "I don't want anything like that. I just need eyes on him. I need to know where he is, what he's doing, and how close he's getting to us. If he's planning something, I need to know before it happens."

Vincent sighed, and I could hear the clicking of his computer keys on the other end. "Alright, I'll see what I can find. But you know how this works, Gabriel. Once I'm in, I'm all the way in."

"I understand," I replied. "Just... keep it clean. I don't want this getting out of hand."

"No promises," Vincent said, though I could sense a grin in his voice. "But I'll keep you updated. You'll have what you need soon."

The call ended, and I slipped my phone back into my pocket, exhaling the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Reaching out to Vincent meant stepping into dangerous territory, but I didn't have a choice anymore. Jason was unhinged, and we had to be ready for whatever was coming.

I walked back inside, the tension in my shoulders lessened only slightly now that I had a plan in motion. Shayla looked up as I approached, her blue eyes sharp but warm as they met mine.