57 | New Jersey

**SIENNA**

“Sienna, wait. Sienna!”
The voice trailed behind me for a stretched moment, but my legs refused to stop. All of a sudden, someone latched on to my hand and made me pause. Harper stood panting before me, her face painted with contrite.
I shot her a crossed look, folding my arms. "What?"
"Look, I am sorry!" She apologized, probably for the fiftieth time since last night.
"I don't think that's going to help me," I sneered mildly. Even though I knew that my-bitch mode was of no use because Harper was already on the verge of tears, I could not stop myself.
But I still could not believe that Gabriel found out about the pictures from Harper.
"How long are you going to be mad at me?" she asked. "I did not want to tell him, believe me. He was very…insisting."
I raised a brow at her. "You mean, he scared the crap out of your pants?"
She sighed heavily, hanging her head low. "Yes."
"Harper, the least you could have done is given me a heads-up," I told her, unlocking my arms.
"I had no idea that things would happen so fast."
"Did you really think he would sleep over the idea that someone was blackmailing me?" I challenged.
"You are right." She nodded regrettably. "It's my fault. And I am sorry."
Harper was simply too sweet and too genuine in her apology that it melted my heart. Besides, I knew how intimidating Gabriel could be when he wanted, and the truth be told, Harper was a soft target.
The asshole knew that.
I let out a harsh breath, nodding. "It's okay. He knew that he would not get anything out of me, so he kind of scared you into spilling my secret. Actually, I am mad at you both!"
A smile adorned her bowed lips, and her face lit up like a thousand suns.
We made our way through the corridors and slipped into an empty classroom, shutting close the door. Harper and I had discovered various places to hide and chat away the afternoon. And given how enormous this school was, I doubted if anyone would find us.
Mostly, I was called away to the headmaster's office, and Harper was allowed to skip a few classes. So, our alibi was rock solid unless Gabriel himself was looking for me.
While I sat on the desk, propping my feet on the chair, Harper took the seat like a proper Catholic lady and smoothed her skirt down.
"Well, now that he knows everything, what is he going to do about it?" she asked conversationally.
I shrugged a shoulder. "All I know is that I have to back off. He doesn't want me sniffing around for the person behind it."
Harper nodded understandably. "He will keep you safe."
Her word strummed something within me. "How do you know?"
"I just know. Father Sullivan protects the people he cares about, and he cares about you."
"I know." That was all I could bring myself to utter because deep in my heart, I know the gravity of his affection and the aflame passion we had for each other.


**GABRIEL**

"Where are we going?" Sienna asked, as impatient as ever. She fiddled on the seat since the time she got into the car with me and did not stop asking me the same question on loop, even though she knew I would not answer.
"You will see," I said, having my eyes fixated on the road.
"For the love of God, Gabriel," she huffed and puffed. "You have been giving me the same crappy answer for the hundredth time."
I hid a smirk without meeting her gaze. "Well, that's because you have been asking me the same question."
I heard her let out a frustrated sigh and slip into the silent mode, but it had only lasted for a good five-second. She turned to me with those big, saucer-like eyes. "Are you taking me somewhere safe? Did you figure out who was blackmailing me?"
As soon as the thought invaded my mind, every nerve stiffened in discomfort. "No, I am yet to scour a name. We are going somewhere else."
As vague as I could be, Sienna rolled her eyes and faced towards the window. The next thirty minutes were like a loop, with her asking the same question while I relentlessly dodged them all.
It was only when I pulled up near the airport and handed over the car I had hired from a rental company we ventured into the arena and approached the counter for the check-in and tickets.
"Why are we going to New Jersey?" Sienna flabbergasted, holding the piece of paper. She partially has her answer now, but that seemed to be confused her further.
Good, because I had no intention to reveal the biggest surprise I had planned for her. It was her day, and of all the people in the world, she deserved to be happy.
All the more reason, I wanted to be the reason for her happiness.
That small, masculine, and egoistic part of me thrived on the idea that she was happy and smiling because of me. And what I would not give up to see her beaming.
"C'mon, walk fast, or we are going to miss our flight," I cautioned, tugging her arm. "You have already taken an eternity to pack your bag for a day."
"Well, genius, that's because you did not tell me what was I was packing for," she shot back. "I just had to stuff in things. Dick."
I pulled her close enough for my mouth against her ears and whispered, "Keep running that tongue, girl, and I might use the airport restroom to put that mouth to good use other than swearing off."
The blush swept over her cheeks as Sienna bit her tongue. "Don't we have a flight to catch?" she said, almost a little breathless.
"I guess your reddened backside could be a bonus."
Playing along, she placed her juicy lips against the crook of my shoulder and moaned, "Geez, I am scared, daddy."
"Keep it up, and I will simply add up the strikes," I replied nonchalantly.
The rest of the journey was not easy either. Sienna bombarded me with a thousand questions, trying her pretty best to extract an answer while I had plugged in noise cancellation earphones and pretended to sleep. Not that she did not understand, but she was quiet for a while until we landed.
"What are we doing in New Jersey?" She asked.
The weather was a little windy as Sienna tried her best to tuck in the stray hairs behind her ear before looking at me. And my Lord, she was pretty. The sun shone against her creamy skin, almost making it glow from within. It was hard to take my eyes off her.
"Happy birthday," I wished in reverence.
"Thank you, Gabriel." Her smile was infectious until a soft scowl took over her features. "But why—"
I quickly pressed a finger against her lips. "Shh. Not a word now," I hushed and pointed across from the road. "The car is here. Get in."
"Don't talk. Don't move. Get in the car," she kept mumbling, dragging her feet reluctantly and rolling her eyes. But these tantrums never got old with me. "I could not have a better day!"
The car ride, though short, was full of her questions. As much as she wanted to get into the nitty-gritty details, I fixated my eyes outside the window and tried my best to stifle a smile. Her growing impatience was anything but funny.
"Come. Let's go," I said, offering a hand for her to step outside the car.
At last, she was standing in front of the destination.
However, Sienna did not look very relieved. Confusion and a little worry crowded her features, but I was pretty much aware of it.
"Gabriel, I am going to admit this only once - I am a little scared." Her wide eyes scanned the place as I had to nudge her to move forward. "What are we doing in a bloody hospital?" she hissed.
"You will see," I countered, boldly taking her hand and strolling inside. In here, in New Jersey, nobody knew us. Nobody was aware that I was a Catholic priest and that she was my student. And that we were neck-deep in sin and debauchery.
And there was a respite in that knowledge.
I hauled Sienna towards the second floor and took a sharp turn, stopping right in front of the door. My gaze met hers briefly as she silently questioned my action.
Sienna did not know what was behind the door, but I knew in my heart that she would be elated.
"Happy birthday, love," I whispered, kissing her right temple before pushing the door open and revealing the sight to her.
Sienna took a step and froze. Her lips parted, and her eyes widened, glazed with happy tears.
"If I am dreaming…" she barely managed to whisper.
"You are not, sweetheart," I assured with another kiss. By now, she was trembling a little.
"She is…I didn't know…" The tears streamed down her cheeks endlessly as she clutched my shirt and held herself steady. Only a few incoherent words were made out of her throat.
"Nobody knew, except a few."
"How did you…?"
"I had my sources look her up and found out that she was kept in a hospital in New Jersey. I guess they could not risk keeping her in New York."
*"Mama…"*
Sienna broke down, crying in happiness, and for the first in a long time, I closed my eyes and whispered to myself, "Thank you, Lord."