Chapter 7 - THE BROTHER HE NEVER KNEW
Gabriel stared at the birth certificate until the letters blurred.
Noah.
The frightened teenager he had rescued from the lake house.
The boy who had been living in a small Chicago apartment, worrying about school and helping his injured sister.
His brother.
"No," Gabriel whispered.
Harper watched him struggle to speak.
"Elena raised Noah from the time he was a baby," Margaret explained. "Victoria trusted her more than anyone."
Gabriel looked at the birth certificate again.
"Why hide him?"
Margaret swallowed.
"Because Vincent wanted every heir under his control."
The room went quiet.
Gabriel had grown up surrounded by guards, private schools, and men who measured loyalty in fear.
He remembered his father telling him that love made men weak.
He remembered Victoria arguing with Vincent late at night.
And he remembered the terrible silence after she died.
"What happened the night of the fire?" he asked.
Margaret's eyes filled.
"Victoria planned to leave. Elena had collected evidence that could destroy Vincent's operation. They were taking the baby with them."
"But the warehouse exploded," Gabriel said.
Margaret nodded.
"Victoria died. Elena escaped with Noah. Vincent disappeared."
Harper looked at the birth certificate.
"Does Noah know?"
"No."
Gabriel stood.
"We're telling him."
Margaret caught his wrist.
"Not yet."
Gabriel turned sharply.
"Why?"
"Because whoever sent Harper that threat already knows his identity."
Before anyone could respond, Leo's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his expression darkened.
"Gabriel. We have a problem."
"What?"
"Someone accessed Noah's school records this morning."
Gabriel reached for his coat.
"Who?"
"The request came through a private company owned by Mitchell Reed."
Harper's heart pounded.
"He's going after Noah again."
Gabriel took her hand.
"Not if I can stop him."
They returned to the hospital's protected family suite, where Noah had been resting under police supervision.
He was sitting on the couch when they entered.
He looked from Harper to Gabriel.
"Why does everyone keep staring at me?"
Harper sat beside him.
"Noah, there's something we need to tell you."
But before she could continue, Noah held up an old photograph.
A baby wrapped in a blue blanket.
A woman with dark hair holding him.
"I already know."
Harper froze.
"Know what?"
Noah looked directly at Gabriel.
"That you're my brother."
Gabriel stopped breathing.
"Who told you?"
Noah pulled a folded letter from his pocket.
"Mom."
Harper stared at the handwriting.
Elena's handwriting.
Noah looked frightened.
"She wrote something else."
"What?"
He swallowed.
"She said if Gabriel ever found me, it meant our father had finally come back."
Then he turned the page.
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At the bottom was a warning:
The person closest to Gabriel will be the one who tries to kill him.
