Chapter 44
“Get off me!” Lucy screamed as Rachel shoved her forward, using her as a human shield. Her legs shook uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.
The attacker advanced, knife raised. Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the blade to strike.
There was a flurry of movement. A gasp rippled through the room.
Lucy’s eyes snapped open. Gabriella had somehow gotten between her and the attacker, engaging him directly.
“Stay back!” Gabriella shouted to the others as she dodged the man’s wild slashes. But his blade caught her arm, blood immediately seeping through her white shirt.
“I’ll fucking kill you!” he lunged again, all reason gone from his eyes.
Gabriella moved like she’d done this before. She caught his knife hand mid–strike and twisted hard. The crack of breaking bone was followed by his howl of pain.
The knife clattered away. “Get the blade!” Gabriella ordered, and someone quickly kicked it across the floor.
Now disarmed, the attacker stood no chance. Gabriella struck him with practiced precision–a series of punches followed by a kick that caught his head. Before he could recover, she threw him to the ground with surprising force.
The office stood in shocked silence.
When paramedics arrived, they rushed straight to Daniel. Police secured the attacker who lay groaning on the floor.
“Oh God,” Lucy sobbed, still shaking. “I thought… I really thought…”
“He’s been taken care of,” Gabriella said firmly..
Sarah leaned against a desk, visibly shaken. “Christ. In all my years…”
“Daniel–will he make it?” someone asked.
“He’d better,” Sarah said, but her voice trembled.
As others started praising Gabriella’s intervention, she turned to Rachel, her eyes hard.
“You pushed her in front of a knife?”
Rachel couldn’t meet her gaze. “I… I panicked…”
“Bloody hell, Rachel,” Gabriella’s voice cut like steel. “We’re lawyers. You know damn well that’s attempted murder, not self–defense.”
Rachel said nothing, her face ashen.
Chapter 44
“Gabriella, your arm,” Lucy interrupted urgently. “You need medical attention.”
Without acknowledging Rachel further, Gabriella headed for the door, blood now soaking her entire sleeve.
At the payment counter, Gabriella nearly collided with Sienna.
“What are you doing here?” Sienna’s tone was openly hostile.
The encounter surprised Gabriella. Though she hadn’t expected to see Sienna in London, it made sense–Drake never went anywhere without her these days.
Without engaging, Gabriella moved to walk past her, medicine bag in hand.
“Always turning up where you’re not wanted,” Sienna muttered, watching Gabriella’s retreating back with narrowed eyes.
Doubt crept into her mind. They’d left Montana before finishing their trip because Drake suddenly insisted on coming to London. Was Gabriella the reason? Did she have something to do with Drake’s injuries?
Her fingernails dug into her palms at the thought.
Meanwhile, Asher had already called, having seen the news.
“Gabby, I just saw the report about an attack at your firm. Someone was stabbed,” his voice was urgent with concern. “Are you alright? Where are you? I’m coming to get you.”
“I’m fine,” she said, juggling her phone and medicine bag while pressing the elevator button. “Actually at your hospital. Coming up to see you.”
“How badly are you hurt?” Tension strained his voice.
“Just a cut on my arm. Nothing serious,” she said lightly. “It’ll heal in a few days.”
When she entered his room, Asher’s eyes immediately fixed on her bandaged arm. Pain flickered across his features.
“Look how deep that wound is,” he said softly, genuine distress in his eyes.
Gabriella noted his reaction. If he was this concerned now, she was grateful he hadn’t seen her blood–soaked sleeve
earlier.
“You need protection,” he said firmly. “The legal profession is too dangerous. You need bodyguards, and I won’t hear any arguments. I can’t risk this happening again.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Gabriella nodded.
Taking her hand gently, Asher continued, “I’ll assign you two of our best security personnel.”
“One is enough,” she protested. “Today was unusual. It’s not normally this dangerous.”
“One isn’t sufficient,” he insisted. “I won’t compromise on your safety.”
481.5%
Chapter 44
“Alright,” she conceded, then added with concern, “But I need to work. Having obvious security might be awkward
at the firm.”
“That’s easily managed,” Asher replied. “I’ll speak with the senior partner at Sinclair & Klein. We can establish a security office. Your protection can work as regular firm security.”
“That could work.” Gabriella agreed. “After today’s incident, the firm will probably welcome increased security
measures.”
She noticed his laptop on the bedside table and frowned. “Should you be working while hospitalized? You need rest.”
“The company has some critical matters that need my oversight. I can’t delegate these decisions.”
“Just… take care of yourself,” she said softly.
Her genuine concern made Asher’s dark eyes soften. “I will,” he promised.
