Chapter 129: The Man who Darkens the Threshold

The trouble with things finally being out in the open is that you tend to think of the nastiest possibilities all the time. And tonight, as Claire put down the receiver, she realizes this might truly be a long night.

Gabriel paces the room, scratching his chin, staring at blank space.

"What do we do?" she says.

"Nothing," he says. "He will come to us. And that's when we'll try to sort things out."

"You're not thinking of resorting violence, aren't you?"

Gabriel laughs, despite the situation. "Of course, not! This is my brother we speak of." Then he stops mid-stride as a thought strikes him. "Although if push comes to shove, I'm afraid I have to do something utterly drastic…and embarrassing."

"How do you mean?"

"There's only one person in the world who can straighten him out. And I'm deathly afraid to let her come into the picture. So as much as possible, I would like to solve this between the two of us."

"Are you talking about an old girlfriend? His first love?"