Chapter Nine: Gabriel Meets Riot
Diane adjusted the strap of her handbag as she and Riot stepped out of the car in front of the tall glass building that housed Gabriel's private clinic.
-Frost Medical Center.-
Riot checked the building for any threats.
"Nice place," Riot muttered as they walked toward the main entrance.
"Wonder if he ever actually works here or just puts his name on everything."
Diane gave him a look. "Let's keep the commentary to a minimum, shall we? He's still my husband after all."
Riot smiled but didn't respond, falling into step beside her.
Inside, the clinic was as pristine and modern as its exterior.
Staff members in scrubs walked through the halls, and soft murmurs of conversation were heard.
Gabriel was waiting in his office when they arrived.
He was behind his large, imposing desk, flipping through a file with a frown.
The moment Diane stepped inside, his green eyes went up to meet hers.
"You're late," he said curtly, closing the file and setting it aside.
Diane's lips tightened. "Good to see you too, Gabriel."
Gabriel shifted, narrowing slightly when he noticed Riot stepping into the room behind her.
He slightly furrowed his eyebrows.
"And who's this?" he asked in a cold tone.
"My bodyguard," Diane replied calmly, gesturing to Riot.
Gabriel's frown deepened. "A bodyguard? Really? Is that necessary? I thought you were joking."
"Yes," Diane blinked. "He's going to tag along with me every day, everywhere. And he's also living with me."
Gabriel's jaw tightened, he pressed his lips into one line. "Living with you?"
Diane nodded again, and then let out a shaky breath.
"Yes. I hired him to ensure my safety."
Gabriel stared at her for a long moment, moving his head briefly to Riot before returning to her.
"Diane, you're my wife. You're safe here. You don't need—"
"I don't feel safe," Diane interrupted, her tone sharper than she intended.
"And that's not up for discussion."
Gabriel's eyes hardened, but he didn't argue further.
Instead, he turned his attention back to Riot, his eyes turned icy.
"Fine," he said coolly. "But don't expect me to trust him."
Riot, who had been silent until now, raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Diane sighed. "Gabriel, where's the bathroom? I need to freshen up."
"Down the hall to the left."
Diane turned to Riot. "Let's go."
But before Riot could take a step, Gabriel's voice commanded him.
"No," he rose from his chair. "You will wait here. This is my hospital, and my wife will be safe here."
Riot looked at Diane.
Diane hesitated, then gave him a small nod. "It's fine. Wait here."
Riot leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Your call, boss."
Satisfied, Gabriel walked around his desk, his polished shoes clicked softly against the floor.
As Diane disappeared down the hall, Gabriel approached Riot.
Riot watched him calmly, relaxed but eyes on alert.
Gabriel stopped in front of him, pretending to brush an invisible speck of dust off Riot's shoulder.
His voice was low when he spoke. "Let me be clear about something, bodyguard."
Riot didn't avoid Gabriel's glare. "I'm listening."
Gabriel's green eyes narrowed.
"Diane is my wife. It's my job to protect her, not yours. So don't get any funny ideas."
Riot remained silent, and didn't say anything.
Gabriel nodded, stepping back slightly. "Good. As long as we understand each other—"
But then, Riot's voice cut through the air, so calm and steady.
"If you were looking after your wife properly, then maybe she wouldn't need me to protect her."
Gabriel stopped, his jaw tightened.
His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he stared at Riot.
"You don't know anything about our situation," Gabriel stated.
"Don't need to," Riot replied in casual but edged steel tone.
"It's not hard to connect the dots. A woman hires someone like me to protect her? That says a lot about what she thinks of the man she's married to."
Gabriel's face darkened, but before he could respond, Diane returned.
"Is everything all right?" she asked, glancing between the two men.
"Perfect," Riot said with a faint smirk, straightening from his spot against the wall.
Gabriel forced a tight smile. "We were just... getting to know each other."
Diane rolled her eyes slightly, but she didn't press the issue.
"Good," she said, brushing past them and heading toward the door. "Let's go, Riot."
Riot followed her without a word, leaving Gabriel standing in the office, his fists were still clenched at his sides.
The ride back to Diane's house was quiet.
Riot, seated beside her in the back of the car, seemed completely unbothered by the confrontation with Gabriel.
Diane, on the other hand, couldn't shake the tension from her shoulders.
"Do you always have to antagonise people?" she asked finally, breaking the silence.
Riot glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "Antagonise? I was just being honest."
"Honest?" Diane repeated, "the air was so strong, I didn't even get to talk to him properly."
"Allow me to say this, boss."
"Go on," Diane raises an eyebrow.
"Is your marriage with that scum arranged? Because to me, you two don't look happy together."
"Oh wow..." Diane exhaled, "that's a bomb."
"It's a yes or no answer," Riot looked at her.
"Yes. But I trust him to be my husband."
Riot didn't believe that. He saw her trembling shoulders when they walked inside, and her leg kept shaking.
"Understood. No further questions, boss."
"You see..." Diane played with her fingers. "I need him to get in contact with my father."