56

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

GABRIELLE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I made the call to Lucian and he told me to remain where I was, that he was on his way back.

A shaky breath escaped my nostrils, why did Derek send that text? Was he around here? Perhaps he was watching me this instant? I shuddered inwardly and started to drop my phone on the bed when my eyes caught sight of a shadow behind me.

A half scream managed out from my mouth before the shadow moved in a blur, a cold hand was clasped over my mouth, turning my screams into muffled sounds. I bit the hand hard, a curse left my attacker's mouth as he spoke.

"Do not move, don't scream!"

My body froze at the sound of the familiar voice.

His hand went tight around my mouth while his other hand had a firm grip on my shoulders, he slowly turned me around to face him. Slowly, he took off the black mask that shielded his face and I was staring into the familiar face.

Derek.

I studied him still in shock at how he had suddenly appeared.

He looked so much different, the harsh lines on his face were harder, very much more defined. He looked dangerous.

Why was he here?

Maybe he wanted to abduct me for his boss, or perhaps he was here to kill me. My heart hammered in fear and adrenaline at the thought.

"Promise me you won't scream and I will let go." He murmured lowly. I nodded vigorously in agreement, he counted to three and released his grip on me. I wasted no time, I started to race towards the door while screaming for help. Mother or any one of father's men should be able to hear me and help me before Lucian arrives here.

I almost reached the door but he was faster, he caught my arm, and this time, he slammed my back against the wall.

I continued to pant heavily while glaring at him, I never would have thought before that a day would come when I would be so afraid of him.

"What do you want!? let me go!" I pleaded, a look flashed across his features, one that carried gentleness, that almost reminded me of the man I once knew.

"You do not need to be scared of me, I won't hurt you, I promise." He sounded hurt, the look in his eyes looked very sincere, this must be how he had deceived me for so long.

"All I know is that you are a betrayer and a fucking liar, Get away from here or I'm going to scream and you will be sorry!" I hissed venomously, he only smiled faintly at my outburst.

"You already did that, nobody came isn't it?" He said and my eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"If you ever did something to hurt my mom and..."

"I didn't need to hurt them, I just ensured that they all went away, so I would get the chance to meet you."

He probably didn't know I had called Lucian, maybe if I could keep him talking...

"Damn, I've fucking missed you." He said I didn't anticipate his next action until it was too late.

His lips slammed against mine, shock held me motionless as he continued to assault my lips.

I suddenly grasped control of myself and shoved him hard, panting furiously as I wiped my mouth clean.

"He's going to kill you!" I snarled.

"There's no time, I'm here to get you away from him, I'll explain everything to you later."

He grabbed my arms but I refused to move, he stopped to stare at me. "I'm sorry, I should have saved you earlier, you are mad at me, we will talk about everything, but you have to leave with me before they get back!" He spoke with urgency in his voice.

"I'm not going anywhere with you! Is that all you have to say? I trusted you, but you not only betrayed me, you also worked with the enemies against my father, and you expect me to leave with you as if nothing happened?" A short ugly bubble of laughter left my mouth. I struggled to yank my hand free from his grip but he wouldn't let go.

He watched me silently as though he had just realized something.

"As expected, you still don't know the truth." He spoke.

What truth was he talking about? I didn't ask him because I didn't want to hear any more lies spewing from his mouth.

"I never betrayed anyone Gabrielle, I didn't betray you, on the contrary, it was your father who betrayed me."

"Don't you lie! You were a spy for the enemy, don't you blame it on my father!" I seethed angrily, totally disgusted, despite being caught he was still trying to lie instead of admitting his deeds.

"Just as I said, you still don't know the truth." He spoke, when I only gave him silence, he continued.

"Who exactly is your father? Do you think he wouldn't know if there was a spy by his side, do you think he would know nothing about the man he chose to be his right hand?"

I stared at him, what was he trying to say? He couldn't mean that...

"Yes, Gabrielle, your father, and Vladimir Petrov have always been business partners."

I stared at him mutely, my brain could only process his words slowly due to shock.

"But cowardly as he is, he didn't want to make enmity with the head of New York familiar either, your marriage arrangement was merely a farce to take the suspicions away from him."

I didn't believe this. Why would dad work with our enemies? He always hated them for killing grandfather and uncle, who knew he would be partners with the same evil people who took the lives of so many.

I shook my head wanting Derek to stop speaking but at the same time, I wanted to know. If what Derek was saying was true then my marriage to Lucian was all....for nothing's sake?

I wondered if Lucian knew about dad's involvement with the Russians. Was that perhaps the reason he suddenly had to come here?

My heart sank to my stomach, oh God, this couldn't be happening!

Derek's hands went to my shoulders, his eyes bore anger now as he looked at me.

"He found out I was going to leave with you, he didn't want me to ruin his plans, when we got caught, it was easy for him to make me the scapegoat, I was loyal to him all along, but he tagged me a spy who was working with the Russians!"

I shrugged away from his grip on my shoulders.

"Let's say all of these is true and that I believe you, it still doesn't explain that you were married, all the while you were with me, you were already someone else's husband!"

He sighed aloud, but there was no trace of guilt in his eyes.

"I've met Anya only a few times, yes she loved me but I never shared that feeling with her and we also never got married, it was merely an identity we were ordered to take at one point in time for business reasons, I swear that I never betrayed you! You know how much I love you." His voice cracked as his eyes searched mine desperately.

I didn't respond, my whole body suddenly felt as though it had been washed with raw acid.

If he was telling the truth, then had not betrayed me, he had only been a victim and a pawn to my father and Vladimir. It was me who didn't trust him enough, I was the one who betrayed him first.

"Please come with me, there's not much time left!" He tugged on my arm but my feet remain rooted to the floor.

"I..I..can't " I whispered, taking a step back.

"What do you mean that you can't? Do you know that during the times I was tortured, all I kept thinking about was you? Of the future we planned? I only survived because I held hope that I was going to reunite with you! I'm not leaving you to stay with that sick son of a bitch! I won't lose you again, I promise."

His pained words made hot tears sprang in my eyes, why did the "future " seem to me like a lifetime ago?

Why was I hesitating? I've dreamt of this opportunity for so long and now that it was finally here, I was reluctant to move. And it wasn't because I was afraid that Lucian would find me

Derek jerked me by my shoulders until I looked at him again.

"What are you thinking? You trust me right? I didn't reveal any of your father's secrets to Lucian Castiel because I was afraid of implicating you, I didn't want that bastard to involve you if he decided to hurt your father. Do you know how helpless and powerless I felt when I saw you that day at the airport but couldn't take you with me? I love you, Gabrielle! we will leave this place and those people behind, together we will heal and forget the sad memories, alright?"

I stared at his hands, the burning sensation in my eyes increased.

Slowly, my shaky fingers found his. A joyful smile formed across his face.

"Let's go back to how we were, alright?" He whispered, lifting my hand to his lips.