Chapter 16 - A Shadow's Echo
Three weeks after the launch of the foundation, the crisp spring breeze over Beacon Hill turned unusually chilly.
Harper sat in the sunroom, resting on a velvet chaise lounge with a warm cup of chamomile tea. Her pregnancy was in its final days, and every movement of the baby brought a quiet mixture of joy and restless anticipation.
Gabriel spent most of his time working directly from his home study, refusing to leave the estate grounds unless absolutely necessary. The former crime boss had transformed into an impossibly attentive husband, constantly monitoring her pulse, her comfort, and her schedule.
At 2:00 PM, a muted buzz sounded from Gabriel’s desk phone. Marcus stepped inside the study, his expression carrying a faint, guarded tension.
"Boss," Marcus said quietly. "We just received a priority notification from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Georgia."
Gabriel looked up instantly, his pen freezing over a stack of legal documents. "Derek Lawson?"
"He's dead," Marcus reported smoothly. "Inmate altercation in the dining hall early this morning. Two rival cartel members cornered him. The guards couldn't reach him in time."
Gabriel remained silent for a long moment. He didn't feel triumph, nor did he feel regret. To Gabriel, Derek Lawson had died the moment he put a hand on Harper two years ago; this was simply the universe tidying up its loose ends.
"Does Harper know?" Gabriel asked.
"Not yet," Marcus replied. "I came straight to you."
Gabriel stood up, walking out of his study and down the quiet, carpeted hallway toward the sunroom. When he walked in, Harper looked up from her book, noticing the subtle shift in his aura immediately.
"What happened?" she asked gently.
Gabriel sat on the edge of her lounge, taking her hand in both of his. "Derek Lawson died in prison this morning. It's officially over, Harper. The last person who ever caused you pain is gone."
Harper stared out the tall arched windows at the blooming magnolia trees. She expected to feel a surge of emotion, but instead, an overwhelming sense of quiet peace settled over her chest. The dark shadow that had haunted her youth was entirely erased.
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"I don't hate him anymore," Harper said softly, turning her eyes back to Gabriel. "He was a bitter memory. But you... you gave me my life back."
Gabriel leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "You gave yourself a life back, my love. I just built the walls to protect it."
