The kitchen became busier and Gabriel soon put on the metal frame on his arm.
Claire watched with quiet fascination as everyone chattered, readying for a day. The life continued.
"What are you planning to do today?" Joseph asked them.
"Well, it seems that we're settling down." Gabriel answered with a smile giving Claire cautious glances. "We're going to look for a place of our own. Close enough, of course, so we can visit and that you can too. But also, I think it's time for me to stop imposing on you."
"You're not imposing, Ragazzo." Nonna said clearly. No one could ever argue with her. Not that any of them wanted to.
"Thank you, Adam, for having us." Leanne spoke to her brother who smiled at her.
"It's good to have family all together."
"It is indeed."
Claire suddenly started to feel increasingly more distant from her own family as each had a conversation about something recent which she was not a part of, and then they've started leaving for work following their daily routines, which she also wasn't a part of.
But Gabriel seemed unbothered, chatting with everyone, smiling, talking about things that she didn't even know such as asking Adam about his new case, Joseph about some business, and Alex about his new car purchase or whatever.
A thought, a surprising one, maybe even startling one, passed through Claire's mind. Gabriel fitted perfectly in a family setting. He was a natural in a chaos of chatter and clatter. His smile was beaming and his eyes seemed to brighten. A family that he never truly had. And a family that Claire has given him.
Their family.
Perhaps, more than ever, Claire understood that their union was much more than a contract or a crush, or even dating. They were more than that.
"Claire, dear, you seem ever so distant." Gabriel somehow appeared behind her and wrapped his arm around her, placing his head in a crevice of her neck.
"I suppose I am still in disbelief that it is all true." Claire said honestly. "The family life suits you."
"You suit me, Claire dear." Gabriel spoke softly, his words caressing her ear. "And whatever comes with that. We're starting anew. And it is time to find the perfect little place for us."
"Oh, where first?"
"The one which you pointed at earlier. The one with stunning view over the river and near enough to your family and work. I think it might be it."
"It sounds lovely. I hope it'll be as good in real life as in the pictures."
"Indeed. When are you planning to disappear?"
"Disappear?" Claire looked over in worry.
"You've said that you are going to see that mysterious Frenchman again."
"Frenchman? I don't think I ever told you that he's French." Claire's eyes widened.
"I worked out a thing or two when you were gone. I was searching for all the clues I could."
"Oh, Gabriel…" Claire said quietly as she looked down, feeling guilty over what he had to go through. She wondered if that guilt was ever going to fade away and if they truly were capable of moving past it.
"When do you need to go?"
"This afternoon. We should have plenty of time to view a few of the apartments beforehand. And if you fancy, we can have a lunch together." She turned around and feigned a smile. "I assume that you aren't going to work today."
"I'm using my hardly earned holiday."
"At last."
"At last." He said in agreement.
Once the house quietened they went to view the place just for them. As much as they were in sync in the morning, as the day continued, it started to become apparent that there was an invisible wall between them. They have changed in the months that they were apart and awkwardness hovered over them like a dark cloud. Gabriel lost a part of his trust in Claire, and Claire felt truly guilty for what she did.
But they both forced smiles on their faces and soon they walked into the first apartment, pretending that the normal life was in their books.
"This is perfect." Claire said as she walked through the spacious rooms.
"I'm not convinced." Gabriel mumbled as he put his hand in pocket. It must've been his instinct to hide his hand away out of stranger's sight.
"How so?" Claire looked back at him.
"There's a pool in the line of sight from this window." He pointed at the blueness way below.
"And it'll suit you perfectly on the summer mornings." Claire smiled at him.
"But you?"
"I'll manage. Besides, you can't complete a triathlon without swimming."
"Oh, that's news." Gabriel's eyes widened as he looked at Claire attentively.
"I have just decided this very second so as new as news can get."
"Okay." Gabriel nodded. "I think it is it then?"
"As long as you like it too!"
"I love it, Claire dear." Gabriel's eyes were fixated on Claire as if he tried to relearn all of her again, happy to see her after being sure this was never going to be. Claire on the other hand avoided looking at him, instead fixating on the walls, high ceilings, and planning of how they can furnish the place. She felt the increasing guilt and it was made worse by seeing glimpses of sadness in Gabriel's eyes.
Suddenly it felt like they had nothing else to speak of. The lunch was even quieter. Claire looked out of the restaurant window and Gabriel watched her like a hawk waiting for a sign that his prey were to escape. Except Claire wasn't a prey and he wasn't the predator.
In the afternoon, Gabriel bid her goodbye and walked towards a cafe to wait for her as she went to meet with Pierre.
Claire was fidgeting nervously. She had a strong gut feeling that something wasn't right. Over the past few months Pierre was keen to message her and call her and talk to her.
Pierre was running late.
For the first time he was running this late.
At last a familiar face appeared in the crowd. She smiled at him but he didn't reciprocate the smile. He ruffled his hair, he had a stubble, and looked as if he didn't sleep in days. Claire fled a pit in her stomach.
"What's up, Pierre?" Claire asked without any pleasantries. His sullen face wasn't anyhow reassuring.
"He fled."
"What?" Claire didn't quite understand.
"Michael Moore fled. He wasn't detained."
"He escaped?" Claire felt faint. The very freedom she felt over past few days was an illusion at best.
"Claire…" Gabriel approached them out of nowhere. His eyes moved to Pierre.
Claire went pale. Michael Moore fled. Gabriel heard it. Gabriel saw her and Pierre.
That feeling of powerlessness crept in again.
"Gabriel…" Claire turned around to face him.
Claire started to hyperventilate. Pierre's sharp gaze landed on Claire in an accusatory way, as if she brought Gabriel there.
"Pierre?" Gabriel sounded surprised.
"We don't have time." Pierre said sharply.
Claire looked back at Gabriel. She realised it just now. Gabriel staying home and then waiting for her in the cafe was a ploy. He lied to her, then he followed her. He didn't trust her after all. And now he knew about Pierre. "You need to run." Pierre said to Claire although it did seem that he included Gabriel in that thought.
"I am not running again." Claire said sternly as she looked warily at Gabriel. "But you…"
"I am not going anywhere. Also you?" Gabriel still stared at Pierre with curiosity.
"It's a long story."
"And I was talking shit to you."
"Yeah, and then I went and repeated it to Claire." Pierre shrugged. "That is not an issue right now."
"What are we going to do?" Claire asked quietly.
"Besides running? Prepare an actual funeral?" Pierre sounded irritated with Claire.
"Pierre!" Gabriel's voice was sharp.
"Can you kill him?" Claire asked Pierre.
"Kill him? I'm not a hitman."
"If it were to come to it, can you shoot him?" Claire asked as she slowly started regaining her level-head.
"Only in self-defence or defence of others."
"So, presumably, you'd be able to step in if he were to kill me."
"Claire!" Gabriel said her name with equal sharpness as Pierre's.
"I do not like where this is going." Pierre sighed.
"If I were to act as a bait?" She suggested more decisively now.
"Claire!" Gabriel's voice was full of warning.
"Don't you dare to 'Claire' me now! You followed me!"
"And this is exactly why I did it, Claire. I couldn't have put out yourself in danger!"
"We are all in grave danger though!" Claire raised her voice.
"She has a point." Pierre nodded.
"It cannot be that bad. Every organisation must be on his back." Claire turned to Pierre again. There was hopefulness in her voice.
"That's why I think he didn't try to escape a city but he is still around."
"What for?" Gabriel asked now, furrowing his brows in thought.
"This man has lost everything. So, take a guess."
"Revenge." Claire whispered.
"Bingo! And guess who is on his hit list!" Pierre spoke in a truly patronising tone of voice.
"Realistically, how likely it is that he will be dangerous enough to get to us?" Gabriel was trying to problem solve as Claire went silent. She was hurt and angry at Gabriel. And she knew that whatever was going to happen was not going to be good.
"Well, he attacked your wife in your home whilst you had a small army employed to protect her. Tell me?"
Gabriel rubbed his face as he tried to collect his thoughts.
"What we're you thinking?"
"I was about to send Claire back to the USA and then deal with you and get you under the witness protection, likely somewhere else. The issue is the time constraint. Every minute passing is a minute wasted."
"Okay." Gabriel admitted. "Take Claire back to the USA. She'll be safer away. As long as I know that she's alive, I don't care what it takes to keep her safe."
"Okay. I'll arrange for the jet."
"Absolutely fucking not." Claire said sternly. Gabriel and Pierre looked at her with their eyebrows raised in question.