UNKNOWN

For years, he had been planning to take Gabriel and Daniel down. For years, he had wanted to destroy Gabriel's empire from the day it had begun. He didn't want some petty little child to take it away from him.

Taking Caleb away and torturing him was the best and the worst thing he had ever done. A weak spot was hit and wounded both men, but that didn't weaken them. Forces were made stronger, made to be unbroken. The strength and power of Gabriel's underworld had increased. Daniel had grown stronger. The two were unstoppable at what it was that they had wanted.

Gabriel had broken the train of injustice. Less people were trafficked, less children were used as soldiers, less drugs were distributed around, making other empires fall. The dirty work was all for money. For riches. But most importantly? Control. He had his control once. The poor bowed down to him like filthy unfed dogs. He took their children. Sold them. Raped their women. Murdered their fathers. Forced them to make drugs. Forced them to distribute them. He had control. Until Gabriel came. The underworld was no longer empire after empire. It was empire to rule all others. And he felt it was time to fully take back what was his. Greed fuelled him like a lit fire.

"Boss".

"WHAT!".

"Here's the file you asked for".

"Hmmm, good job. Now leave". Glancing at the door, he watched his man shut the door.

He laughed slightly, looking down at the photo of the young medical student. His constant craving for power ignited his passion for destruction. After Gabriel and Daniel were taken care of, he would be the one to rule over all. He would be the one to make governments fall. He would bring the world to its knees in front of him.

After all, he wants to play God.

GABRIEL

Sitting in the private jet, Gabriel clenched his jaw and his fists. No, he wasn't angry about the fear Angelica had towards his men, but to her thoughts plaguing her mind like a disease. He knew he shouldn't have told her anything. He knew deep down that she wasn't ready to know. Hell, she wasn't even ready to know what he fully did, but that wasn't all. She was going to find out one way or another. He just say there in anguish, hoping and even praying that her mind wouldn't be too swayed.

Who was Gabriel kidding. Of course she would be swayed. After all, he had done such horrible things to her. Why would she not see his job as a reason to fear and hate him even more than she already did.

Looking down, he cast his eyes upon his watch. Not long until they landed.
Standing up, Gabriel cracked his neck and flexed his arms. He was tense. He was growing angrier and angrier by the second.

He knew whoever was after his wife had killed Caleb. He knew what they would do to her should they take her away from him. Picking up his glass off the plush wooden table, he threw it hard, shattering into small pieces. He didn't want to hurt anyone, like he nearly had on the yacht from his island to the plane base. He didn't want to scare his angel. Hearing a soft click, Gabriel looked up to the door ahead of him. One of his men had pushed his head through the door assessing the noisy situation. Looking up at his boss, he raised his eyebrows slightly.

"I am fine. Thank you", Gabriel muttered. Noting his shocked face, Gabriel watched his man duck away quickly, slamming the door slightly behind him.

Sighing deeply, he began to walk over to the other door in the room he was in. Located behind the seats, he inched his way closer and closed until he came to a stop, placing his large tan hand on the barrier between him and his wife. Taking his time contemplate the sudden events, he let out a soft huff. He had to face her. It was now or when they landed. Suddenly the latter option didn't seem so decent. Slowly moving his hand to the lock on the door, he unclasped the latch, and walked in quietly.

To his surprise, his wife wasn't asleep at all but awake, resting against the head of the bed she seemed to have been placed in. Moving her head slightly, she looked at up her husband.

Watching his angel intently, he had realised something that shocked him. Her arms had opened for him. Beckoning him in for some type of physical affection. He gazed at her. Perplexed at the notion.

"Come here", his angel whispered.

Without noticing, his feet carried him to her, pausing slightly as he was but two feet away from her. He towered over her small form, but differently this time. He was apprehensive. Should he fully approach her? Before he had time to react, a small delicate hand pulled him onto the bed with a soft thud.

Looking up at her, he hardened his stare. What is it that she wanted? Was she going to cry and tell him she hated him again? Was she going to pummel her small fists against his chest in a rage of anger and sadness combined? Whatever it was, Gabriel wasn't ready.

He inwardly chuckled. This woman, this angel, had turned him soft. He had never cared or even slightly worried about peoples opinions of him. He had never taken his time out to know, had never shown interest. Yet here he was, enticed and changing all because of a woman he claimed to love. From just one glance.

Strange isn't it? How he knew she was the one, just by gazing at her beauty. And! He was already showing signs. Just the smallest type of affection came from Gabriel and people were shocked. He knew Daniel was happy for him. He knew Daniel wanted him to treat her with care. Maybe one day, Daniel would find someone to love, just like he had. Snapping out of his thoughts, he felt Angelica's hand move away from his.

"Why did you call on me to come closer?", he roughly said, trying not to get caught up in her deep gorgeous eyes.

"I...I don't kno-".

"I am sorry".

He felt her gaze snap up to his face, questioningly.

"I truly am sorry for what has happened, and what may happen in the future".

"What do you-", Gabriel held his finger up to his wife's lips softly.

"You are in danger, as is your family. They have all congregated at the cafe a few times as it has it, with that...boy", he sneered. Angelica let out a light chuckle.

"You have no need to be jealous. He is my brother now and will always remain to be. I may not like you, but I need to now. I do not want any of my family hurt. I won't be able to protect the ones I love by myself", she looked down.

Without warning, she flung herself into his arms, holding his cheeks in the palm of her hands.

"Please protect them. Protect my family...I cannot bare to live without any of them". He didn't know why she was showing him this affection of sorts. However, he couldn't deny loving the idea of his wife softly stroking his face in adoration. The feeling he so much hated in the past, is becoming what he craves. Love. He wanted it. He needed it. And hoped it would always be Angelica giving it to him. He cast his eyes upon her ruffled hair, and soft cheeks, a tear falling down one. Lifting his hand, he wiped it away. How badly he wanted to kiss her lips, but knew what would transpire if he did. He wanted her love. Forcing her to do so was not what a real man did, and he wanted to show her how much of a real man he could be.

"I will. In fact, we will see them when we get home".

"What?", she yelped out in shock.

"We will see your family when we get home. I will protect them", he paused off slightly.

"No, wait", he saw her look up in sadness, "We will protect them. Together".

ANGELICA

Angelica sat there with her husbands cheeks in her hands. The rough hairs on his face grazed her hands, but for some odd reason, she did love it. It showed off his exterior. Rough on the outside, hard, cold. But what was on the inside?

Kindess? Care? He was going to protect her and her family. Even though it was his fault that she was in this position, he willingly understood his mistakes and took it upon himself to rectify them. She knew he loved her. But there had to be a reason as to why he never showed it how he was supposed to. Why he was so closed off to her. He may show his feelings for her through his eyes, but there had to be more to it.

Still looking up at him, she noted how handsome he was. Dark, strapping, handsome. his muscles bulged, but not too much, and his height loomed over her. Almost like he was made t protect her. His jawline was hidden under his facial hair, but no doubt it was sharp, and angled perfectly. His hair was always neat, but made him look rugged and manly when tousled. His eyes were dark, but she noticed that they gleamed when he looked at her. And when he did? She felt light. It was as if his eyes were only given to him, to gaze upon her beauty. Even though she didn't think she was beautiful, she felt it when he looked at her, the way he was now.

"Gabriel?".

"Hmmm?".

"Do you know what I love the most?". She saw Gabriel shake his head.

"I love helping people. I wanted to open an orphanage for children. It was a dream of mine that began with my father". She looked up at her husband. Even so close to him, she was so small.

"Would you like to tell me about him?", he whispered in his deep voice.

"Yes, but I need to ask something".

"Yes, angel?".

"What...what was your childhood like?".

Gabriel froze under her touch, and his eyes grew darker. She had hit a spot for him that was never spoken about. She knew Daniel would know. He had to know. But for some odd reason, she wanted to know too. She wanted to understand. It was like she wanted to take away his pain. Anyone would be a fool to not realise that he had endured a pain so brutal. An anguish that drowned him in sorrow. Had Daniel also suffered as he did? If he did, he made no sign to fully show it. Maybe what had happened to the both of them was what made Gabriel the machine he was. No emotions.

Dominance. Control. Power.

Without her realisation, she leaned back and bought his head down on her lap. She slowly began to comb her delicate fingers through his hair. Her mother always used to do it to her, especially after her father had passed. It would calm her down, and stop her from having panic attacks.

"You don't have to tell me".

"I do princess, I do. But I do not want to scare you".

"I am scared enough. I feel like we will be facing each other for a lot longer now. We will be together until everything is sorted...and maybe after that too", she whispered the last part lowly, hoping he wouldn't hear. But of course, the beast had heard very well.

Gabriel opened his eyes and stared right at her. What she had said had hit a soft nerve. But if he was going to keep his promise to her, to make her love him as he loved her, there was no doubt she would stay. According to her, love only came around once. That was why her mother had never found anyone else. She was so in love with her father that no one else mattered.

No one else mattered, but the person who gave your all to. She didn't know what would happen. All she knew was that she and Gabriel would protect her family from whatever was heading their way.

Together.