Chapter 11 - THE WAREHOUSE ON THE RIVER
The warehouse belonged to Noelle.
That was the irony.
Henry Pierce had hidden his hostages inside the very property he was trying to steal.
Gabriel wanted Noelle nowhere near the rescue.
Noelle refused.
"You don't get to lock me in your penthouse whenever you're nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
"You're carrying three guns."
"Four."
"That is not helping your argument."
Gabriel stared at her.
Then kissed her.
No warning.
No hesitation.
One second she was furious.
The next his hands held her face and every unfinished thing between them disappeared.
When he pulled back, Noelle forgot how to speak.
Gabriel looked equally surprised by himself.
"Stay in the car."
She blinked.
"Did you kiss me to distract me?"
"Did it work?"
"Temporarily."
"Excellent."
He walked away.
Noelle muttered something unprintable.
The rescue began at 11:42 a.m.
Gabriel's team entered from the river side.
Federal agents approached from the street.
Noelle remained inside the command vehicle for exactly six minutes.
Then she heard gunfire.
She ignored every instruction she'd been given.
Inside the warehouse, chaos erupted.
She found Chloe first.
Bound.
Terrified.
Alive.
"Noelle?"
"I'm getting you out."
"Henry's upstairs."
"Where's Derek?"
Chloe's face changed.
"He took him."
Noelle freed her hands.
A gunshot echoed above.
Then Gabriel's voice shouted her name.
Too late.
Henry appeared on the staircase with a gun against Derek's neck.
"Noelle."
Gabriel emerged from the shadows below.
"Put it down, Henry."
Henry smiled.
"Russo."
Noelle stepped forward.
"I'll sign."
Gabriel turned sharply.
"No."
Henry's smile widened.
"Smart girl."
Noelle lifted the papers she'd taken from the command vehicle.
"Let Derek go first."
Henry laughed.
"You think this is a negotiation?"
"No."
She tore the documents in half.
Henry's expression vanished.
Noelle continued tearing.
"The trust cannot legally transfer under coercion. Your entire plan is dead."
Henry aimed the gun at her.
Gabriel moved.
Derek suddenly slammed his head backward into Henry's face.
The gun fired.
Gabriel tackled Noelle.
Federal agents stormed the staircase.
Henry fell.
Alive.
Arrested.
Derek collapsed beside the railing.
For several seconds nobody moved.
Then Chloe screamed.
Derek had been shot.
Noelle rushed toward him.
Blood spread across his shirt.
His eyes found hers.
"I'm sorry."
She pressed her hands against the wound.
"Save it."
He laughed weakly.
"Still bossy."
"Don't you dare die."
Paramedics arrived.
As they lifted him, Derek grabbed Noelle's wrist.
"There's one more thing."
"What?"
"My father kept another file."
"Where?"
Derek's face went pale.
"Ask Gabriel what happened the night he met you."
Noelle froze.
"What?"
But Derek had already lost consciousness.
She slowly turned.
May you like
Gabriel stood ten feet away.
And the guilt on his face told her Derek had just revealed something real.
