At 2:14 a.m., five heavily armed men dragged the most ruthless syndicate boss in New York through the sliding doors of Mercy General Hospital, and the first person brave enough to lay hands on him was the woman they sneered at.

"You're dead!" Leo screamed, panic breaking his voice. "I shot you myself! I watched you bleed out!"

Gabriel reached the bottom of the stairs, stopping in the center of the ballroom. He let go of Clara’s arm, stepping slightly in front of her to shield her body.

"You did," Gabriel agreed calmly. "But you made a fatal miscalculation, Leo. You left me in the hands of a woman who refuses to let her patients die."

Gabriel gestured to Clara.

Leo stared at her, recognition finally hitting him. "The fat nurse... you're the nurse from the ER."

Before Leo could say another word, Gabriel moved with a terrifying, explosive speed. He drew a custom 1911 pistol from his tuxedo jacket and fired a single shot.

The bullet struck Leo directly in the right kneecap.

Leo screamed, a high-pitched sound of pure agony, and collapsed onto the balcony, dropping his champagne flute.

The rival bosses in the room didn't flinch. In their world, treason was met with execution. Gabriel was simply re-establishing the hierarchy.

Gabriel walked up the side stairs to the balcony, his gun pointed directly at Leo’s chest. He looked down at the treacherous boy who had nearly destroyed his empire.

"You insulted the woman who saved my life," Gabriel said, his voice echoing coldly. "You threatened her safety. For that alone, I should flay you alive."

"Please!" Leo begged, clutching his shattered knee, tears streaming down his face. "Gabriel, please, I’m sorry!"

Gabriel looked back down at the ballroom floor, making eye contact with Clara. She stood strong, refusing to look away from the violence. She accepted him, blood and all.

Gabriel turned back to Leo. "Victor," he called out without looking away from the traitor.