Page 154 of Forged

For a moment, our eyes meet and recognition flashes across his face.

Then Falco shifts his stance, dragging Neomi backward toward the curb, his grip tightening.

There’s no more time to hesitate.

The noise of the city fades, the movement around them dissolves into the background as everything narrows to a single point of focus. Falco’s head. Neomi’s alignment. The space between them.

I raise the gun, steadying my aim, forcing everything else out with a breath.

My finger tightens on the trigger. The shot cracks through the night, loud enough to cut through the chaos.

Falco’s body jerks violently as the bullet tears through the side of his skull. For a moment, he remains upright, his grip loosening slowly as blood pours from the place of impact.

Then he drops.

Neomi stumbles forward into Lars’ arms as security surges in, pulling them away, voices overlapping as they secure the scene. The tension breaks all at once, the street erupting back into motion as people scramble, alarms rise, and orders are shouted across the sidewalk.

The smell of gunpowder lingers in the air. Across the street, Lars hasn’t moved. His gaze lowers briefly to Falco’s body before lifting again, searching, until it lands on me.

We rode backto the estate in a convoy.

Sirens still echo somewhere behind us in the city, fading into the distance as our vehicles cut through the quiet suburban roads leading back toward the house. No one speaks during the drive. The air inside the car feels heavy with everything that just happened on that sidewalk.

Falco’s body hitting the pavement.

Neomi in my arms.

Gabriel standing across the street with the gun still in his hand.

I sit beside Neomi in the back seat, one arm wrapped around her shoulders while she leans quietly against me. Every so often my hand drifts through her hair, more for my comfort than hers.

Across from us, Gabriel sits with his hands clasped in front of him, his gaze fixed on the passing lights outside the window. He hasn’t said a word since the moment security pulled him into the car.

I haven’t said anything either.

There’s too much between us right now.

When we reach the estate gates, Dante’s vehicle is already waiting in the driveway. Enzo stands near the front steps with two security men, his posture rigid as he watches our car pull up.

“Inside,” Enzo says as soon as we’re out of the car.

The tone leaves no room for argument as his gaze lands on Gabriel.

Neomi’s hand tightens around my sleeve.

“It’s okay,” I assure her quietly.

Violette appears beside her, looping her arm through Neomi’s.

“Come with me, darling, let’s get you something to drink,” Vi says gently, guiding Neomi toward the corridor to the kitchen.

Once they disappear deeper into the house, Enzo gestures toward the library. Once the three of us are in the room, the door closes behind us with a soft click that echoes through the room.

Gabriel stands near the center of the carpet, his posture tense while Enzo moves slowly behind the desk. I remain near the door, unsure of what to say.

Enzo rests both hands against the polished wood.

“Start talking.”