Chapter 9 - Fire and Rain
The rain started hammering against the warehouse roof just as dusk settled over the harbor. Inside Bellini Auto & Transmission, the air was warm, smelling of fresh coffee, metal shavings, and heavy machinery grease.
The garage had undergone a miraculous transformation over the last forty-eight hours. Thanks to the fifty-thousand-dollar equipment deposit, the old hydraulic lifts had been replaced, the leaky roof was patched, and two brand-new diagnostic computers hummed quietly in Bay Two.
Leo was actually working—sweeping the floor without complaining for once, motivated by the lingering terror of Gabriel Costa’s threats.
Frankie stood under the chassis of a heavy diesel truck, tightening an oil filter with a socket wrench. Her hands were blackened with grease, her hair tied back in a messy bun.
The sound of a car engine idling outside caught her attention.
A sleek, matte-black Mercedes pulled right up to the open garage door, cutting its headlights. The driver’s side door opened, and Gabriel Costa stepped out into the pouring rain.
He wasn't wearing his usual tailored suit. Instead, he wore a dark charcoal overcoat, unbuttoned, over a simple black shirt. He looked less like a corporate titan and more like a dangerous man who belonged in the shadows of the docks.
Frankie slid out from beneath the truck, wiping her hands on a rag. "If you're here to inspect my work, Costa, the lift is brand new and the oil change is pristine."
Gabriel walked into the garage, shaking the raindrops off his coat. He looked around the clean, modernized space with an approving nod before fixing his dark eyes on her.
"I didn't come to inspect the garage," Gabriel said, his voice low and melodic over the sound of the rain pounding the roof. "I came to see you."
Frankie’s heart did a strange, traitorous flip in her chest. She tossed the rag onto the workbench, leaning against the edge. "Is that so? Last I checked, my contract says I report to your downtown office, not the other way around."
Gabriel stopped just a foot away from her. The height difference was striking, but Frankie refused to shrink back.
"Victor Vance made his move an hour ago," Gabriel said, his tone suddenly turning serious.
Frankie’s posture stiffened. "What kind of move?"
"He tried to flee the country," Gabriel said softly. "My associates intercepted him at BWI airport. He’s currently answering for every bribe, kickback, and illegal wire transfer he used to manipulate the city council. Vance Enterprises is being broken up by federal receivers as we speak."
Frankie stared at him, stunned. "It's really over? Vance is finished?"
"Finished," Gabriel confirmed, reaching out slowly. His warm fingers brushed against her cheek, gently wiping away a stray smudge of black engine grease from her skin.
Frankie shivered at the contact, closing her eyes for a brief second before looking back up into his intense, gray-black gaze.
"You didn't just do this to protect your business expansion, did you?" Frankie whispered, her voice barely audible over the rain.
"No," Gabriel admitted, his hand sliding down to cup her jaw, his thumb tracing the contour of her cheekbone. "I did it because no one touches what belongs to me, Francesca."
"I don't belong to you, Costa," she murmured, though she made no move to push his hand away.
"Not yet," Gabriel replied, a slow, breathtaking smile spreading across his face. "But give me time. I’m a very patient man when I find something worth fighting for."
From across the garage, Leo stopped sweeping, dropped his broom with a loud *clatter*, and stared wide-eyed at the two of them.
"Uh, hey, Frankie," Leo stammered, backing away toward the office. "I think... I think I'm gonna go lock up the back gate. Take all the time you need!"
Gabriel let out a low, rumbling laugh, his eyes never leaving Frankie’s face.
May you like
She rolled her eyes, but a smile broke through her tough exterior. She reached up, grabbed the lapels of his expensive overcoat, and pulled him down toward her as the rain poured outside, sealing the dangerous, beautiful chaos of their new beginning.
***
