Epilogue- Starting a new chapter

Chloe found him a pitiful sight.

As Amir pushed him out of his ward, his unwillingness to be aware of what was going on around him was hugely written on his face.

"Please take him to the lakeside," Amir coolly said, his hands letting go of the wheelchair so that Chloe can take charge of it.

"Has he eaten?" she asked Amir.

"No. He hardly does."

"Is Nathaniel coming?"

Amir's face displayed disappointment. "No. He is being too stubborn about this."

"He might come around." Chloe began to push Gabriel down the corridor. "Have a safe trip, okay?"

"Sure. See you later Chloe and thank you so much for agreeing to look after him today."

Chloe smiled as her legs did the final turn and led both her and Gabriel out of the scanty building and towards the open area.

As she pushed the wheels past the mowed grasses, Chloe wondered if talking to him would be of any good. According to Amir, Gabriel had not spoken a word since he was transferred to the institute.

It bothered and saddened Chloe who decided to look past his crimes. She became curious about his actions and maybe a simple story about his past would help her understand.

But, she needed no shrink to tell her that Gabriel was the only one who could narrate such a story.

They finally made it to the lakeside, the ends of Gabriel's pants flapping a gentle wind blew.

After setting the wheelchair to be immobile, Chloe adjusted the beanie that hid the length of Gabriel's hair.

A small smile on her lips as she watched his dim eyes blink for some seconds thanks to the lovely stream, Chloe decided to talk to him regardless.

Certainly, he still had his ability to hear and interpret the words he hears.

So, gently, Chloe sat on the grass. She folded her knees to her chest and centered her sight on the clear water body in front of them.

"You need to eat before you lose your health to some weird illness. Nobody wants that for you, so don't wish for it to happen to you. You know..."

Chloe reached for a blade of the short grass and she played with it, sliding it over her palm and fingers.

"... I finally met my brother. I know I didn't tell you about him, but I want you to know that I met my brother. So, I am no longer jealous of you three."

She sighed hard after a sad chuckle escaped her.

"The NAG brothers... These days, I feel sorry whenever I recall the time I accepted the job to spy on you guys. But, along the line of my thoughts, I feel grateful because I was sent to spy on people who eventually felt like family. Gabriel," she reached for his dangling right hand, "I don't know how you truly feel after what happened, but I want you to know that you will always have your family even if most of them want to punch you hard."

Chloe scoffed at her words.

Was that any way to make a person finally speak out?

She let go of his hand as it occurred to her that she wasn't helping out in any way.

But as she pocketed her hands into her leather jacket, she heard a weird noise.

Chloe made no sense of it until she realized that it was the sound of a person clearing their throat. The sound wasn't distant so her head snapped in Gabriel's direction.

His dramatic eyes locked with hers and his emotionless face wore sadness as his lips curled into a dome shape.

Chloe hurriedly assumed a kneeling posture beside him, eager to hear what he had to say.

"I-" His voice, almost inaudible seemed to be an issue, so Chloe reached for the bottle of water attached to his chair and helped him gulp down some of the liquid.

Once that was done with, he cleared his throat again and said, with a low voice, "I am sorry."

"You are?"

He shook his head and she frowned. "I am very sorry that I don't feel bad about what I did."

He coughed again. "I have thought about it over and over," he continued with his raspy voice, "I wished for something inside me to feel apologetic towards everyone but it wasn't there. So I am sorry about that I-"

"You are not sorry?" Nathaniel's voice said from behind, his rapid movements towards the duo embedded in a solemn moment, quite scary.

"Nathaniel, wait-"

The man, with a deep frown on his face, stopped in front of Gabriel, grabbed the handles of the chair firmly, and said, "You almost ruined us. You kept innocent girls captive. You shot Amir. Sebastian died because of you. Even our rival, died because of your selfishness but what? You are sorry that you are not sorry? What kind of bullshit is that?" he bellowed.

"What kind of explanation are you trying to give? Can't you even lie and say that you are sorry? Fake some tears, act some drama, lie, or whatever! Just say that you are sorry."

Gabriel didn't seem moved by Nathaniel's tantrum. He sat there, his eyes back to wearing the shade of aloofness. When Nathaniel's heated words were finally out, Gabriel said, "I am sorry that I hurt you Nathaniel, but I am not sorry about what I did. I did it when my thinking was straighter than ever. It was a wonderful plan and I don't regret it."

"Gabriel..." Nathaniel growled. "Apologize, now."

"I'll like to head back to my room."

"What is this stupid arrogance that you have?" Nathaniel asked, his voice cracking midway, a sign that he was on the verge of tears.

"What happened to you, Gabriel? You were never like this," he said softly.

"Perhaps you didn't know me that well and that's where both you and Amir got it all wrong, you thought you knew me. Well," he shrugged, "you don't."

His head being nodded slowly, Nathaniel stood straight and after some time, he said, "If that how you want it. Chloe, let's go."

"But-?" The woman attempted to argue.

"Let's leave him alone. That's what he wants."

Chloe and Gabriel locked eyes as she wondered if Nathaniel was right. Gabriel smirked as he noticed her keen sight.

"I should let you know something though. I will be escaping this place in about a week."

"What?"

"It is a plan already in action Nathaniel, so don't try to stop me. Anyway..." He got up from the chair effortlessly. "... I want you to know that I appreciate everything you have done for me in the past."

"What are you going to do?" Nathaniel asked, caution in his voice.

Gabriel smiled. "You'll find out soon enough. By that time, I won't be a mental institute patient anymore, I will be someone you can never reach. But really," his eyes darted between Chloe and a perplexed Nathaniel, "it was nice seeing you guys, especially you, Chloe. You'll always have a special place in my heart."

With a sense of protection, Nathaniel pulled Chloe to his side.

"Anyway guys, I will see you whenever I see you." He gave a dismissive wave.

Chloe, in turn, held onto Nathaniel as they both watched Gabriel sturt out of their presence. Chloe couldn't believe she thought he was been remorseful when it had been an act all along.

It then came to her.

The speculation that Gabriel had found a way to wrap the Agency around his fingers. That would explain his release.

As Chloe hissed at the turn of events, Nathaniel grabbed her hand and said, "Let's go, Chloe, this has been a waste of our time. Gabriel has made his choice, it time for us to make ours."

~

"Do you think we should sell the house?" Nathaniel asked Chloe who was in his arms, her lips wearing a smile of satisfaction.

"Do you want to sell the house?" she asked him.

"Maybe," he replied. "These days, I imagine the both of us in a house smaller than this one."

"Oh," she sighed. "That sounds so lovely."

"Hmm," Nathaniel murmured in response. And nothing more was said, they both enjoyed each other's hold till Amir came into the room.

"You guys won't believe it."

Chloe asked, "You finally realized it?"

"Realized what?" Amir asked confusedly as he tore his sight from his phone.

"Never mind. What do you have for us?"

"Gabriel. It is news about Gabriel."

Chloe felt Nathaniel shift uncomfortably.

"He is now a leader of a gang."

"What?" Nathaniel and Chloe chorused.

"This gang is the one that always stole our goods in the past. The D.G."

"The very D.G?"

"The very," Amir confirmed

"What is he looking for there?"

"He is their leader, so maybe power? Or more wealth? This is so insane."

"Well..." Nathaniel shrugged. "It seems he made his choice."

"We are not going to talk sense into him?" Amir asked, his face wearing a frown.

"Why bother talking sense into a person that has his mind made up? Let's just move on with our lives Amir."

"But-" Nathaniel lifted a brow as Amir seemed to dive into a dilemma. "What if he decides to come at us?"

"If that happens, we will be ready for him. Amir, let's move on with our lives. You can start by going to Lucille's place."

"To do what?"

Chloe's worried look changed to a smile as Nathaniel replied, "To tell her that you like her."

"But-"

Chloe butted in. "You know you like her, you always have, Amir."

"Yes, so do us a favour and make yourself happy for once. Go and knock on her door and make her yours."

"You guys don't have any idea-" Amir groaned. "You guys are right, I like her so much."

"So, go and get her and start a new chapter of your life."

"Even if Gabriel is not in it?" Amir seemed to have an issue with Gabriel not being around. A big issue.

"Gabriel made his choice Amir, it is up to us to do the same and live a happy life."

"Okay, okay. I will go and meet Lucille. Wish me luck."

"You don't need it. She likes you too," Chloe assured him and the next second, he dashed out of the room.

"Chloe?"

"Yes, baby?"

"How about we start a new chapter of our life as well?"

As she played with strands of his hair, a smile crept onto her face. "Yeah?" she asked, trying hard to mask her excitement. "How are we going to do that?"

"We are going to get a house. A smaller house where just the two of us will live."

"For how long?"

"For as long as possible," he replied before nuzzling her neck gently.

"Are we going to live there alone for a very long time?"

"Maybe we can add to the family along the line."

"Maybe?" she chuckled as she caught his teasing tone.

"Maybe," he repeated. "All I know is..." Chloe let out a yelp as he shifted their positions and had her lying on the couch. "... I want to live with you in a small, cozy place."

He kissed her softly.

"For as long as possible."

"That's a nice dream Nathaniel," Chloe whispered as she cherished the moment.

"It's not a dream Chloe," he replied as he arched her back seductively. "It is our reality."

He kissed her again. "It is our way of starting a new chapter together."

"Together," she repeated.

"Together."

He sealed their words with another kiss which led to full-blown intercourse. But as that happened, all Chloe thought about was how luck and happiness finally found her.

After more than two decades of living a rough life, she finally found what her heart wanted the most and she wasn't going to do anything to ruin it.

She definitely wasn't...

THE END