32. I've Come For What's Mine

-Gabriel-

I’m standing in a darkened alleyway, the blood of a bounty hunter slipping down my claws, while Katherine is on her knees in front of me, waiting for death. I can see her body stiffen and her heartbeat pick up… she knows I’m here.

“Hello, little lamb,” I murmur, but she doesn’t turn around when she gets to her feet, so I move closer and lean my head towards her ear. “Found you.”

I can hear her mournful whimper right over the storm and it takes everything in me not to take her in my arms and hold her close. I don’t want to force myself on her if it will make her run again. She turns around with a hand clasped tightly over her mouth and tears shimmer in her eyes when she sees me.

“Gabriel?” she says, removing her hand to reveal a trembling bottom lip. The sound of her saying my name knocks the wind out of me and I ball my hands into fists to compose myself.

I give her a smile and nod, hoping she can see the gesture, but what she does next pushes the thought of not forcing myse