30. Diana

[Gabriel's POV]

As I ended the call with Rachel, I realized with a pang of guilt that I had forgotten it was her birthday. I slapped myself on the cheek, muttering, "Fool, you forgot." How could I have been so preoccupied with our plans that I forgot something so important to her?

But there was no time to dwell on my mistake. Thoughts of Rachel's safety consumed me, and I knew I had to act fast. While our plan with Lowell and Lewis required patience, I couldn't rest with the knowledge that Rachel was now under the threat of Jake.

I rushed back inside, packing my belongings in a frenzy. Clothes were hastily stuffed into a bag, and as I grabbed one of my shirts, a necklace fell out. I picked it up, and a flood of memories washed over me.

The necklace held sentimental value – a keepsake from my father. I remembered the times we spent together, like that day fishing in a boat in the center of the river. I was young and bored, waiting for a fish to take the bait, but my father's voice echo