As Gael rounded the car, his phone buzzed, indicating a message. He read the text and paused right in front of the driver's side, his brows drawing together.

[ Giovanni: Drop by the bunk since it's on your way. I need you to get something for me. It's with Trigger. ]

He quickly tapped out his reply.

[ Gael: Can it wait until after dinner? Angela's with me. ]

[ Giovanni: No. We need it for the drifters. ]

He rotated his neck from side to side. He didn't want to bring Angela to the Bunk—the De Luca crime family's safe place. Some members who didn't have their own homes were staying there. She had met some of his trusted men but there were other men in New York whom he didn't want around her.

Gael got in the car and started the engine. He glanced back at Giovanni's text before tossing the phone on the dashboard then raking his hand through his hair. When he turned to look at Angela, she was looking back at him with a questioning gaze. "I'll drive you to Ferry Park near Brooklyn Bridge. It's where we'll be tonight."

Her brows knitted at his words. "What do you mean? Are you just dropping me off? What about you?"

"I have to do an errand."

"Where?"

"Just a few blocks from here."

"Then we'll go together—"

"No," he refused right away.

However, Angela wouldn't take it even if his gaze had sharpened. This woman didn't seem to be fazed so easily. She reached out and squeezed his hand, the warmth of her palm transferring to him. "You can't drive me there just to come back here. That would be such a hassle."

Gael gritted his teeth, his tone lowered, hinting a warning. "I can't bring you to where I'm going."

Her shoulders squared, and her mouth pressed into a thin line. She probably already understood the reason behind his refusal. But instead of agreeing to what he wanted, she attempted to compromise, "I'll stay in the car."

He stared at her for a full minute before facing the front and letting out a sigh. This woman was too stubborn. Without saying anything back, he turned on the engine, and the Escalade roared to life. He stepped on the gas and drove towards the Bunk.

They cruised along Lafayette Avenue and turned at S Portland Avenue, where a row of brownstones lined both sides. Gael pulled to the curb in front of the only brownstone in the area that had a garage.

He unbuckled his seatbelt and faced Angela. "You must—absolutely stay here. Under no circumstances will you get out of the car."

She nodded obediently. He pressed a button on the center panel, and the windows, windshield, and the rear glasses darkened. "No one can see you from the outside. If someone knocks on your window, do not open it." She nodded again and he suppressed the urge to smile. Why did she look so adorable?

"How long will you be gone?"

"Just five minutes. Ten max." Gael pointed at a button on his side of the door. "You lock the doors as soon as I get out. Only open it for me. Are we clear?"

"Don't move. Got it." She smiled, and a small dimple that rarely came out appeared at the corner of her lips.

He nodded and exhaled a sigh before he stepped out of the vehicle. The doors locked immediately as soon as it closed. He smiled in satisfaction. At least she listened.

…

It hadn't been a minute since Gael entered the brownstone with the black door. It was as if they knew he was coming as he didn't even knock, and the door just opened when he landed on the last step. Angela looked up and saw a camera, and she thought that must be how the people inside were watching the door.

The darkened windows were uncomfortable for her eyes, so she leaned back and stared at the dashboard instead, her eyes focusing on the time display on the screen. Two minutes. She softly chuckled at herself for counting the minutes. It was sort of her hobby.

The sound of another vehicle parking in front of Gael's Cadillac Escalade caught her attention. Angela looked up and saw a man exiting a black sedan. He wore dark jeans and had the hood of his jacket covering his head. As he rounded to the front passenger side, his eyes landed on her, and she instinctively ducked to hide, but then she remembered that no one could see the interior of the car so she sat back up. The man narrowed his eyes as he lit up a cigarette. She couldn't see his face clearly.

He opened the passenger door and retrieved a blue box of cereal with a tiger on the front, tucking it under his arm and pulling out something from the glove box compartment. A gun. He looked around before shoving it in the waistband of his back, then covering it with his hoodie.

Angela's breathing hitched as she watched the man walk up to the stairs and stood in front of the black door—the same one where Gael disappeared into a few minutes ago. The man knocked and looked up to the camera as if to show his face, and a few seconds later, the door opened.

She didn't see anyone from the inside of the house, just like when Gael walked in. Her hand clutched her phone, and she searched for his number. The thought of him being inside the same house where a man with the gun just entered made her nervous. What was this place anyway? Was that man a friend or a foe?

Angela didn't know if she should call Gael or send him a text. What if contacting him would only put him in danger? Her heart drummed in her chest and she thought of calling Giovanni—only she didn't have his number. 'What do I do?' She bit her bottom lip.

*Knock*

She gasped in a start—her hand flew to her chest as she instantly looked up to the window of the driver's side where a man waited outside.

He knocked again, and she blinked before reaching the unlock button, releasing a stuttering breath as she watched Gael climb into the driver's seat. "You okay?"

Her stare lowered to the blue cereal box in his hand—the same one the man with the gun carried earlier.

"Is that drugs?" Angela muttered tentatively and swallowed. Surely, it wasn't cereal inside that box, was it? Were they also selling drugs? They could be. They're mafia, after all… She wrapped her arms around her stomach subconsciously as if seeking protection, not wanting to believe that he'd deal with drugs.

Gael followed the direction of her gaze, his brows knitting at her question. "What? Why would you think that?"

"Then what is that you're holding? I saw a man carry that box when he entered the house where you went. He had a gun and he looked so shady."

It was silent for a full minute as he studied her expression. She must have looked so frightened because he seemed to be hesitant in answering her. His expression softened and he slowly handed her the cereal box. "See for yourself."

Angela stared at the box a few inches from her. It took her a few seconds before she had the guts to check what was inside it. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, seeing as it wasn't drugs inside, but her brows furrowed once again. Cash bundles filled the container—lots of cash. "Money? What is this for?"

"For later." Gael took the box from her and tossed it on the floor of the backseat before facing her again. His grey eyes were clear as he looked at her intently and told her, "Let me make this clear, Angel. I don't deal with drugs. Do you understand?"

When she nodded, he kissed her forehead and smiled at her. The car pulled away from the curb and they headed towards Ferry Park just as the sky turned to dusk.