Sinful Flames

Chapter 57

The moment I felt myself being dragged into the shadows, my heart raced, but it wasn’t with fear—it was something else entirely. The touch, the grip on my wrist, was firm but familiar, the kind that sent a jolt through my body, awakening something in me that I hadn’t felt in months. And then, it hit me. His scent. That intoxicating mix of sandalwood and something distinctly Gabriel. I knew it before I even turned to see him, before I even dared to hope.

He spun me around, and my breath caught in my throat. The ballroom, the noise, everything around me faded into nothingness as I looked into those beautiful, piercing blue eyes. The eyes I had dreamed of, the eyes I had longed to see again. My Gabriel. For a moment, it felt like my world had shifted back into place, like all the broken pieces of my life had finally clicked together. I could breathe again. Really breathe. After feeling like I’d been choking for months, I could finally let the air fill my lungs.

Without thinking, my body gave in to the overwhelming relief that washed over me, and I slumped into his arms, my fingers gripping the fabric of his suit as if holding him tighter would somehow stop him from disappearing again. I couldn’t stop the tears that rushed to my eyes, and I didn’t care. I cried into his chest, letting the floodgates open after so long. But then, I felt his body trembling against mine, his arms wrapping around me just as tightly, and I realized—he was crying too.

I pulled back just enough to look at him, still teary-eyed but feeling a laugh bubble up despite everything. "Are you crying?" I teased, my voice shaky with emotion but laced with a bit of the old me that I thought had been lost.

Gabriel gave me a look that was so earnest, so full of love, it made my chest ache. "How could I not cry, tuono?" he whispered, brushing a tear from my cheek. "I thought I lost you. I thought I'd never see you again. And then… here you are."

That was all it took. I let out a sob, something between a laugh and a cry, and buried my face in his chest again. We stood there like that, in the shadows, just holding each other, letting the world fall away. It was like no time had passed, like all the pain and heartache of the past two months had disappeared, and it was just us again.

He pulled back slightly, and without another word, he kissed me. It wasn’t a soft kiss, but a desperate one, full of all the things we hadn’t said, all the feelings we’d buried. His lips moved against mine, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt whole.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against mine, his breath ragged. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice thick with guilt. "I should have fought harder. I should have protected you better. I—"

I stopped him, shaking my head. "No, Gabriel. I should’ve listened. I jumped to conclusions, and I didn’t trust you like I should have. I’m sorry."

His eyes softened, and he cupped my face in his hands. "We both made mistakes, but we’re here now. That’s what matters."

I nodded, but then reality came crashing back. "Gabriel, we can’t just leave. It’s too dangerous and reckless. My family, the guards—if they find out, they’ll kill you."

He frowned, but I could see the wheels turning in his mind. "I know. That’s why we have to be careful." He glanced around, then lowered his voice. "I’ve got a plan, but we need to move slowly. Matteo and Antonio are with me, and we’ve found a maid here who’s willing to help us. She’s been feeding us information, keeping us in the loop."

I blinked in surprise. "A maid?"

"Sofia," he said. "She’s the one who told me about the ball and how to get in. She said you saved her from one of the guards."

I smiled a little at the memory. "He was a creep. I couldn’t stand by and let him treat her like that."

Gabriel’s expression softened again, that proud look crossing his face that always made my heart flutter. "You’re incredible, you know that?"

I rolled my eyes, but my heart swelled at his words. "So what’s the plan?"

He explained everything—how they were staying in a cottage nearby, how they were watching the mansion every day, waiting for the right moment. He handed me a small burner phone. "This is how we stay in touch. Keep it hidden. If anything goes wrong, call me."

I took the phone, slipping it into the folds of my dress. "And Antonio? Matteo? Are they… are they okay?"

Gabriel nodded. "They’re fine. Antonio’s kids are with Fiona and Nonna. Everyone’s safe. But they miss you."

I swallowed hard, my heart aching for the people I cared about. "I miss them too."

He kissed me one last time before stepping back into the shadows. "Stay strong, amore. I’ll get you out of here. I promise."

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. And just like that, he was gone.

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself before slipping back into the ballroom. My so-called fiancé was keeping his distance now, probably still terrified after our last encounter. I couldn’t help but smirk, feeling a small sense of satisfaction as I saw him shrink away.

But my moment of triumph didn’t last long. My mother, always too observant for her own good, noticed the change in my demeanor. She approached me, her eyes narrowing. "What’s making you so happy?" she asked, her voice clipped.

I smiled sweetly, a sarcastic edge to my tone. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and before she could say more, my father stepped in, giving her a warning look. He didn’t say anything, just studied me carefully before leading my mother away. I could feel his suspicion, but I didn’t care. Not anymore.

Even Gio noticed something off. He sidled up to me, his expression smug. "You’re acting strange. What are you up to?"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Please, Gio. If you knew half of what I was up to, you’d be running scared."

His eyes narrowed at the jab, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. He muttered something under his breath and stalked away.

Finally, the ball ended, and I retreated to my room. Sofia came to see me, bringing my favorite chocolates with her, along with a small note from Gabriel. I smiled at her, my heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Sofia. For everything."

She smiled back, her eyes soft. "You saved me once, Miss Chiara. I’m just repaying the favor. But please… be careful."

I nodded, squeezing her hand before she left. Later that night, I lay in bed, reading Gabriel’s note, my heart lighter than it had been in months. We exchanged a few texts on the burner phone, nothing too serious, just small reassurances that we were both still here, still fighting.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I fell asleep with a smile on my face. And for the first time in months, I slept peacefully.