Chapter 10 - The Horizon
The autumn wind swept down the Hudson River, carrying the crisp scent of falling leaves and woodsmoke as our private helicopter touched down on the helipad behind the North Salem estate.
It was a quiet Sunday evening. No federal agents, no corporate enemies, no secret conspiracies waiting in the dark.
Just the sprawling stone mansion, the golden retrievers barking happily across the lawn, and the sound of three little boys laughing as they raced toward the porch.
Gabriel climbed out of the cabin first, turning to offer his hand as I stepped down onto the manicured grass. He didn't let go of my hand as we walked up the stone steps toward the grand double doors.
Inside, the house was filled with the warm, golden glow of evening light streaming through the massive windows.
Julian, Marcus, and Leo had already dropped their shoes by the oak bench and were busy arguing over who got the biggest slice of apple pie the estate chef had left on the kitchen counter.
Gabriel stopped in the center of the foyer, pulling me gently against his side. He looked around the house—at the children’s boots by the door, the family portraits hanging on the mahogany walls, and the bright, chaotic life that filled every corner of the rooms.
“Penny for your thoughts, Mr. Cross,” I murmured, resting my head against his shoulder.
Gabriel looked down at me, his gray-green eyes shining with a deep, quiet devotion that made all the shadows of the past completely vanish.
“I was just thinking,” Gabriel said softly, pressing his lips to the top of my head, “that for a man who thought he owned the world, it took losing everything to finally find out what living actually means.”
I smiled, sliding my hand into his.
May you like
“Welcome home, Gabriel,” I said.
And as the sun dipped below the Westchester treeline, painting the sky in brilliant shades of violet and gold, we closed the heavy oak doors, leaving the rest of the world outside, exactly where it belonged.
