Gael didn't want to leave Angela by herself, but his father had summoned him. He ensured her safety before leaving, keeping one man on the floor while the others were scattered around the area.

Giovanni called him earlier about the meeting and also told him that Mariano was in town. The recent call was from one of their soldiers telling him that Mariano picked up Gabriella from a cafe, and the two were currently in a car driving around Brooklyn. This was the first time that Marino's son actively reached out to Gabriella. How fucking bold of him to take Gabby out for a ride?

Rick floored the gas pedal when Gael demanded him to hurry up. His boss was definitely not in a good mood, and he sure didn't want to be at the receiving end of his fury. Rick's body might be bigger than Gael's, but the latter's power didn't come from body size alone. In no way would he test his boss's patience.

The car slowed down as they approached the street of Nonna's brownstone. Several meters ahead of them, a Town Car stopped, and Gabriella got out of it. She looked at someone from the backseat but didn't say anything, then her brows furrowed just before the car pulled away from the curb, leaving her on the sidewalk.

"Gabby," Gael called as he got out of the car. His sister flinched, seemingly surprised by his presence. "What was that all about? What did he want from you?"

"Nothing," Gabriella answered in Italian, and then she turned around and headed towards the steps.

"Sorellina." (Baby sister)

She halted in her steps just as Gael caught up to her. Taking a deep breath, she turned her body towards him but looked to the side, unwilling to meet his gaze. "He said if I go with him now, everything will be over… The war ends, and you won't have to go through with your wedding."

Anger bubbled from the pit of his stomach. "The hell you are. You're not going to him. He's just manipulating you."

Gabriella lifted her stare and met her brother's. There were too many emotions in them—anger, sadness, frustration. "You think I want to?"

"You better not, Gabby."

A tear rolled down her cheek, and she wiped it right away as her eyes became fierce. "Can't you see it, Gael?"

"See what?"

"You're a love child, and I'm not."

Gael narrowed his eyes on her. Where was this coming from all of a sudden? "Don't say that. Dad loves your mother. You know that."

She chuckled softly, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah. But I doubt he loved Mom like he loved your mom. Open your eyes. Dad married Mom even though he loved someone else. That's what's happening to me and you right now. History is repeating itself!"

His jaw clicked at the reminder that his father and mother weren't together even though, apparently, they loved each other. He let out a sigh and closed the gap between them, wiping her cheek with his thumb. "It's not the same, Gabby."

"It might not exactly be the same, but still… I don't want to marry someone I don't love. Can you? Can you imagine your future without Angela in it? You're lucky you're together. You're lucky she's still with you despite being in this mess right now. I'm not even…" She trailed off as though realizing she couldn't say what she wanted to say.

But even if she didn't say it, Gael had a feeling she was referring to J.

Wrapping his arms around her frame, he brushed her hair and thought about her question. He couldn't imagine life without Angela. Hell—he couldn't even remember what it was like before she came into his life. "It's going to be okay."

"Give me your word."

"Hm?"

Gabriella pulled back and looked up at him, her hands clenched on her sides and her eyes still watery. "Promise me. Give me your word. You always do what you promise."

Gael hesitated as he lowered his arms. They became inert by his sides. "I don't know about that. I seem to be breaking my promises lately."

She knitted her brows together. "What do you mean?"

He shook his head, harshly chuckling. "I hurt Angela because I failed her. My word is no longer as credible as before."

"And yet she still stayed… Can't a promise not only be a one-time thing? Even if you failed, if the person continues to trust you and you continue to fulfill your promise, isn't that you keeping your word still?"

Gael tilted his head to the side, a small smile forming on his face. He understood what his little sister said and believed it up to a point. That somehow relieved the heaviness in his chest. "When did you get all so smart?" He ruffled her hair.

Gabriella swatted his hand away. "Give me your word."

Taking a deep breath, Gael placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed to reassure her. "I'm doing the best I can, Gabby. You're going to marry someone you love… After I beat him up."

"You're an ass."

"And you're still that snotty little girl."

She glared at him, but a smile broke on her face before she walked up the steps and entered Nonna's house, leaving Gael outside.

***

It was already quarter to twelve when Gael came home from the Bunk. The meeting with his father, the consigliere, and Giovanni lasted longer than he thought it would. He told them about what Mariano told Gabriella. His father was pissed at the audacity of Marino's spawn for manipulating his daughter to go to his side. They suspected that Mariano was probably doing things behind his father's back—or whatever they did in the Morelli house—and they certainly didn't like that he was trying to use Gabriella.

Today was a total pain in the ass.

The entryway of Gael's apartment was dark when he entered inside. He peeled off his trench coat as he sauntered deeper into his apartment. A paper bag with the name of the restaurant he was supposed to go to tonight with Angela was set on the dining table. He had sent it to her at half past seven, and a quick peek showed that the food inside was untouched. She didn't eat anything since lunch, and so did he.

The rest of the apartment was dark except for a lamp, glowing a soft yellow on the side table next to the couch. He went to turn it off, thinking that Angela had forgotten it. But he slowed down when he got near, noticing a gentle movement on the couch. Angela was sleeping on her side, clutching her phone against her chest. She hadn't changed out of her dress yet and the fleece that covered her legs was now on the floor.

Gael hated how things were left earlier. He was probably in the wrong, but he couldn't help how he felt. It's not like he could control his feelings. Well, he could mask his emotions when he faced other people, but actually feeling something was involuntary. It was why he didn't want to talk then. He had to process things first before they could talk calmly. Though even after a few hours later, he still hadn't fully processed his thoughts. Gael was still pissed at McHandsy.

Picking up the fleece, he carefully laid it on her, covering her legs as he sat down on the small space by her thighs.

Angela's eyes fluttered open. She blinked twice, trying to register her surroundings before her gaze fell on him. "You're back," she said, her voice groggy as she sat up on the couch and pulled her knees against her chest.

"Why didn't you eat?" he probed.

"I wasn't hungry."

There was silence for a few beats as they looked at each other, seemingly sensing what the other was feeling or thinking. His shoulders relaxed as he scooted closer to her and opened his arms. "Come here."

The corners of her lips curled down as she let him pull her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into the crook of it.

"I'm sorry, baby," he whispered into her ear and kissed the side of her head.

"I'm sorry too."

Gael pulled her up and placed her on his lap until she straddled him, her arms around his neck never breaking from the embrace. His arms tightened around her as his hand brushed circles on her back, soothing her. And they stayed like so, just hugging and breathing in each other's warmth.