“I have a brother,” Gabriel repeated. “I have a brother, younger than me. And he is still in there.”
Miller was flustered with confusion. “You’re eighteen. We can work on getting your brother out and into your care.” The pressure in Gabriel’s chest lessened some at that. But it wasn’t just about Michael anymore.
“Brothers.”
“What?”
“Brothers,” Gabriel said again.
Miller frowned. “Brothers?” Gabriel could hear the confusion deepening in Miller’s voice. “You only mentioned one. How many brothers do you have?”
“Six,” Gabriel said and watched the surprise light up Miller’s face. “I have six brothers.” Gabriel exhaled, picturing Bara, Uriel, Sela, Diel, Raphael, and Michael in his head. “And we need to get them out soon. I have no time to waste in that regard.” Coldness infused his veins. “It’s the only reason I’m here. I couldn’t care less about my grandfather and his riches. But if the money helps me get my brothers out, I’ll use it.”
Miller stayed quiet the rest of the ride. Gabriel had no idea what he was thinking. He probably thought Gabriel insane.
Maybe after all his years in Purgatory he was. He knew he wasn’t the boy who’d entered through the sunken staircase and metal door. There was a darkness lurking in him now too. He felt it growing day by day. He didn’t know if it would one day consume him.
Today was not the day to dwell on that.
When the signing of the documents was done, they took the journey to Gabriel’s new home, out of Boston and into the Massachusetts countryside. Miles of nothingness led to a set of tall iron gates. They opened automatically. Gabriel’s eyes were wide as he took in the vast estate.
“It has a no-fly zone.” Miller gestured to the rolling manicured fields that stretched for miles. “Your grandfather was a very particular man. He wanted things a certain way. This address is not on any public record, and, for a small fortune, your grandfather ensured it is government protected. No one knows this manor exists outside of us and the staff. It is as off the grid as any secret military base.”
“Staff?” Gabriel questioned plainly, ignoring the rest.
Miller nodded. “Only a few. Just enough to help keep an estate of this size running. Staff who are discreet, ignore what they must, and live on the grounds in their own homes as a reward for their silence. And Winston, your driver, of course. All staff have been vetted and have signed non-disclosure agreements. But they were loyal to your grandfather for years, some decades, and loved him, as he did them. They were as much his family as he would allow. And they will be yours too if you let them.”
Gabriel wondered how they would react to the Fallen when they moved to the house. How they would take to six teenagers who were anything but normal. Because there was no doubt in Gabriel’s mind that they would come here with him. Each and every one would have a place here. Each one with a violent and disturbing obsession. How would he explain them to his grandfather’s staff? Michael with his blood-letting? Diel with his body in chains?
The car came to a stop. Gabriel looked up at the stone steps that led to a grand, ornate entrance. He had never once left the orphanage, but he had seen pictures of stately homes in Ireland in Father Quinn’s study. This manor . . . it was comparable to the best he had ever seen. The main doors opened, and three members of staff, three women and one man, dressed in black-and-white uniforms, made a line along the graveled path on top of the stairs. Gabriel viewed them with distant interest. But reality began to seep into his brain. This was his. All of this belonged to Gabriel. He now had more money than he could ever want. Gabriel, despite everything, was a man of God. He made himself believe that this was all just some big test. That God would reward him later for his soul’s sacrifice now. Money meant nothing to him. But he would use it to save his brothers. He would sin and indulge enough to see them freed.
The man in the black suit, white shirt, and black bow tie opened the Bentley’s door. “Master Kelly,” he said as Gabriel stepped out of the car. “Welcome home.”
“Thank you,” Gabriel said and began his journey up the stairs. The wind chilled him as he walked toward the sprawling mansion. It was so big it stretched as far as the eye could see. Gray stone, with climbing green ivy making the mansion look alive. The many windows were decorated with lead diamond patterns on the panes. It was as big as Holy Innocents. Maybe even bigger.
“Master Kelly,” each of the staff greeted him as he walked past. Gabriel nodded his head and shook their hands. The man who had helped him from the car opened the main doors.