Lexi's POV
The door creaked open, and Gabriel stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the room until it landed on me. His usual easy-going expression was gone, replaced with a sharp intensity that made my throat tighten. Without a word, he strode over, sinking onto the couch beside me. His knee brushed against mine, his presence grounding me in a way I didn't realize I needed.
"Lexi, how are you holding up?" His voice was low, careful, as if he was afraid I'd shatter if he spoke too loudly.
I tried to force a smile, but it barely reached my lips. "I'm okay, Gabe. Just... tired." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. Exhaustion clung to me like a second skin, but beneath it was something darker—something raw and splintering.
His sharp blue eyes scanned my face, reading between the lines like he always did. "And Max? Where is he?" His head turned slightly as if expecting my son to peek out from behind the furniture.
"Mom took him to bed," Ava answered from the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. She was still leaning against the frame like she had all the time in the world, but the tension in her shoulders told a different story.
Gabriel exhaled, some of the stiffness in his body easing. "Good. I was worried sick when I heard what happened."
I gave a small nod, the weight of the night still pressing heavily on my chest.
His expression darkened. "Tell me, Lexi... that bastard didn't touch you, did he?" His voice had a dangerous edge now, his jaw locking so tight I thought it might crack.
"No, Gabe," I assured him quickly, placing a hand on his arm. "He didn't hurt me. He didn't hurt Max either. We're okay."
He didn't look convinced. His fingers curled into tight fists, his knuckles whitening. "I swear, if he so much as laid a hand on you—"
"It's fine," I cut him off, my voice steadier than I felt. "It didn't come to that."
Gabriel's shoulders tensed, but he nodded, exhaling sharply through his nose. "Then what happened? How did you get out of there?"
I hesitated, my throat tightening. "Dominic Conti showed up."
His head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "Dominic Conti? The Dominic Conti?"
"Yeah."
His brows pulled together, suspicion flashing across his face. "What the hell was he doing there?"
"I don't know, and honestly, I don't care," I admitted, my voice raw. "All I know is that he saved Max. If he hadn't…" My voice cracked, and I looked away, my hands balling into fists in my lap.
Gabriel was silent for a beat, his fingers flexing before he reached for my hand, his grip firm but gentle. "It's okay, Lexi. You don't have to explain."
But I needed to. I needed to say it out loud. "No, you deserve to know."
So I told him everything. The cold, suffocating fear when Victor Rex held Max like a pawn in his twisted game. The way my blood had turned to ice. The gunshot. The chaos. And how Dominic stepped in, ruthless and terrifying, but the only reason my son was still alive.
By the time I finished, Gabriel was staring at me, his expression a mixture of fury and disbelief. "That son of a bitch. Victor Rex is completely unhinged." He scrubbed a hand down his face, letting out a shaky breath. "And Dominic… fuck. I don't know whether to thank him or be suspicious as hell."
"I'm grateful," I said firmly. "Whatever his reasons, he saved Max's life. That's all that matters to me right now."
Gabriel's jaw twitched, but he nodded, his thumb brushing absently over the back of my hand. "I'm sorry, Lexi. I'm sorry you had to go through that. It's not fair."
I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. "Fair? Fair went out the window the day Victor Rex decided I was a problem. But I'll tell you this—I'm not backing down. I don't care how much power he thinks he has, or how untouchable he pretends to be. I'm going to take him down."
Something dark flickered in Gabriel's eyes. A mix of admiration and pure, unfiltered rage. "That's the Lexi I know." A small, almost proud smile tugged at his lips. "You're tougher than any of those assholes, and I know you'll bring him down."
Before I could respond, my mom appeared in the doorway, drying her hands on a dish towel. Her face softened the second she saw Gabriel.
"Oh, Gabriel! I didn't even hear you come in." Her voice was warm, grateful.
"Hi, Mrs. Thompson." Gabriel stood, offering her a polite smile. "I had to check on Lexi and Max. I couldn't rest until I knew they were okay."
"You're a good friend, Gabriel." Mom patted his arm, her eyes glassy with gratitude. "It means so much to me that you're here for them."
"It's nothing, really," he said, though the sincerity in his voice made it clear it was anything but.
Mom smiled, but the exhaustion was settling in her bones too. "It's late, sweetheart. You should get some rest."
Gabriel glanced at me, hesitating. "I should probably head out anyway."
Ava, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. "Think you can give me a lift? My car's still at the bar."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Yeah, of course."
Ava turned to me, her usual smirk creeping back. "You good, bestie? Or do you need me to stay and babysit your ass?"
I rolled my eyes, but there was affection behind it. "I'm fine, Ava. Go."
She studied me for a second longer before giving a firm nod. "Alright. But if you start spiraling, I will climb back through that window and drag your ass out of bed."
I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. "Goodnight, Ava."
She grinned and pulled me into a quick, tight hug. "You're a badass, Lex. Don't forget it."
"Night, Lex," Gabriel added, giving my hand one last squeeze before following Ava to the door.
As soon as they left, my mom turned to me, her face full of quiet concern.
"I think I'm going to head to bed too," I murmured, rubbing my temples. "It's been… a long day."
Mom crossed the room and cupped my face in her hands, her touch warm and familiar. "You've been so strong, sweetheart. Go get some rest. You've earned it."
I leaned into her touch for just a second, soaking in the comfort. "Goodnight, Mom."
She kissed my forehead softly. "Sweet dreams, baby girl."
I wasn't sure if I'd have any dreams at all tonight. My body was drained, my mind restless.
As I shut the door behind my mom, the silence pressed in. The kind that wasn't peaceful, just... empty.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the floor, the weight of the night settling heavily onto my shoulders. My friends were gone. My mom had gone to bed. And for the first time since everything happened, I was alone.
The exhaustion in my bones begged me to crawl into bed and shut out the world, but my heart pulled me in a different direction.
Max.
The thought of him—small, fragile, scared—drew me out of my room before I even realized I was moving. My bare feet barely made a sound against the floor as I made my way down the dim hallway.
The closer I got, the tighter my chest became.
I needed to see him.
I needed to know he was really here, safe, breathing.
I reached his door and slowly pushed it open, the hinges creaking softly.
To Be Continued...