Snapping his jaws shut because he probably now looked like a fish out of water, Gabriel considered the repercussions of staking his claim right then and there.
When a full minute passed and he was still weighing his options, Vasily brought his head around and their eyes locked.
“Thank you,” the Pakhan murmured so that the conversation was theirs alone. “I’ve been wondering if you’d forgotten what respect was.”
Woah. Unexpected—deserved—jab to the solar plexus. “I’m so fuckin’ sorry, Vasily.” The words came out in a heartfelt, shamed rush. “I fucked up large with the timing here, but you need to know that I love her, and I’d be grateful for your permission to marry her. If she’ll have me,” he allowed at the last minute, wondering if claiming his place in the family would be a deal breaker.
Letting his head fall back, Vasily groaned. “And there goes the time I was looking forward to having with her.” He sighed, and then his expression eased as he brought his head to rights. “I can’t blame you. You know, I’m beginning to think I subconsciously wanted this to happen,” he murmured almost as if to himself. “I’ll have to give her away eventually. It might as well be to someone I already love and respect like a son.”
Gabriel did his best to front like his emotions hadn’t just blown sky high. “Are you…” He cleared his throat of the break that made him sound like he was going through puberty. “Are you giving us your blessing?”
Vasily reached out and cupped the side of his head to give him a gentle shake. “According to Caleb, she loves you. The last thing I’m going to do to her is what I did to Kathryn.” Regret resonated in his voice. “I won’t break my daughter’s heart. And I have no intention of leaving her to struggle without the man she’s chosen as her own. So, yes, you have my blessing. Marry my daughter, Gabriel. Protect her and cherish her in a way I should have done with her mother.”
As much as Gabriel wanted to celebrate the gift, he took that moment to mourn because he’d just received another rare glimpse into Vasily’s past.
† † †
Vincente sank down in the passenger seat of the Hummer, his body pretty much shutting down on him after the adrenaline that had been fueling him during the past couple of hours drained away.
Holy hell. What a night. He allowed his eyes to slide closed. Though, cleaning house had certainly helped him work off some serious tension. A tension he wasn’t used to feeling.
Forcing his thoughts away from autumn colors and back to the dump of a cabin, he had to admit it had been a damn impressive sweep.
Maksim Fucking Kirov was an animal. Thank the good Lord above he was theirs.
And Vasily? Holy shit. No wonder he was still chief.
Even icy calm Alek had performed a perfect dark ballet of death back there.
Aron and Micha? Chriiist. The Russians were vicious, man.
Lucian Fane and his boy, Sorin? Seriously. Deadly. Absolutely deadly.
Jak? No fucking wonder G had their boy in his personal guard. He was morbidly lethal.
And, finally, Quan Mao. Freaking savage. Cold. And. Savage. The boy was in.
V sighed long and loud. He’d held his own by taking out the two kibitzing assholes hanging out in the back of the property. Shit. If they’d been overlooked, it would’ve been one nasty surprise considering the pricks had been carrying semis.
A mental replay of G getting a go at Furio, which they’d caught through the grimy front window of the cabin after the action had died down, had pride warming Vincente’s chest. Their boy could easily rule in the octagon if he wanted to go that route. Easily. Guy was wicked good.
Sobering, he pictured Eva. Face bruised, clothes sliced. Fuck. There was nothing in this world that flipped his kill switch faster than signs of abuse against the weaker sex. Thank God they’d gotten to this one in time.
He slumped even deeper into the leather and sent up a short prayer for the man laid out and still unconscious in the back of the truck. Lucian’s blip of history had certainly cleared a few things up. Stefano had had it rough as a kid.
But, then, so had most of them. Especially Maks. Christ, that guy’s past was all sorts of fucked-up. But look at him. He didn’t go around making everyone’s life miserable.
Only his, Gabriel’s, and Alek’s, because they had to live with the pain in the ass.
He cracked his lids open to watch the trees whiz by in the beam of the headlights. The coming months would be an interesting time. A busy time. Possibly a deadly time.
The intended boss had stepped up.
Gabriel would be taking his place at the head of his family. Finally. And Vincente would be at his right hand to do whatever he could to make the transition an easy one.
But not everyone would be happy with the new world order. Some would rebel. And he’d be there for that, too. Hopefully to convince the assholes to fall in, but if not, he’d put them down. Especially those who thought to continue with the underbelly business that he and Gabriel had always secretly weeded out without Stefano’s knowledge. No more need for secrecy. The zero-tolerance would be out in the open now. He knew without having to be told they’d start trimming the minute G opened the books.
He couldn’t. Fucking. Wait.
TWENTY-SEVEN
On some level, Eva was aware she was moving. A lot. She was also aware of Gabriel’s presence at her side through it all.
He’d come for her. He’d saved her from Furio. Him and her father.
As her mind lazed in a comfortable place that wasn’t quite sleep, she saw her past. Loneliness. All that effort expended striving for perfection. The life-altering change that came with her mom’s death. The slowly growing what-if-I-lose-them-too that now lived in the back of her mind regarding Nika and Caleb.
Then she saw what her future could be. Gabriel. Her father. Their family, consisting of an army of men who stood shoulder-to-shoulder at their backs. Protective. Loving. Loyal.
She could be a part of that. Regarding her father, at least. Gabriel? She wasn’t so sure. The trouble she’d caused him, with her father, his brother. Serious issues. Not simple stuff like butting heads with a boyfriend’s sister but putting him in the position of disrespecting a mob boss. Not to mention possibly ‘taking out’ his own brother to save her ass because she’d naïvely believed Furio’s lies. What if he’d killed Stefano?
She woke with a start and didn’t move for a bit as she once again had to get her bearings because she was in an unfamiliar place. The hum surrounding the small bedroom she was in was unmistakable. She was on an airplane. A luxurious one, she saw as she gingerly pushed herself into a sit to find she was alone.
Gabriel had to be nearby.
Right?
Panic had her ignoring the aches and pulsing wounds on her body as she climbed from the bed, absently noticing she wore a light blue hospital gown that was as soft as her own pajamas. She opened the only door in the small room.
She didn’t have a chance to take one relieved step.
Gabriel was traveling the narrow corridor, approaching her like a tank on a mission. His face was all darkness, his mouth a tight slash, his chest puffed with indignation.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he growled when he reached her. Without missing a beat, he lifted her into his arms, kicked the door shut, and brought her back to the bed.
Sinking into the pillows, Eva didn’t take offense to his gruff caveman routine, she just stared at her protector as he sat on his leg next to her while her heart expanded with a love too vast for her to deny. Not that she would. Never again.
“How are you feeling?”
“Sore.” She touched an angry-looking bruise on his jaw. “I’m so glad you weren’t badly hurt.”
He waved the concern away and loosely held her chin as he kissed her. He was tender and careful, but slow. Deliberate. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again. Swear to me.” He pulled back to look at her. “Swear it.”
“I swear.”
“You�
��ll never fuck off without coming to me first. Jesus Christ, woman.” He put their foreheads together. “I think I aged a decade in the last twelve hours.”
Her heart melted. “I’m sorry. Furio called and told me he had an explosive device in the suite. He knew who was there. He knew I was with Caleb and Nika— Oh my God. Are they okay?”
“Worried about you, but otherwise fine.”
She let out a breath. “And everyone else?”
“No one was hurt.”
“Your brother.” Stefano had been shot. “How is he?”
“He’s okay.” He looked at his watch. “Came out of surgery an hour ago. Your father’s private physician stayed behind. Apparently, Yuri’s connected at Virginia Mason where they took Stefano. When he can be moved, Yuri will bring him home.”
Thank God. “Home.” She glanced around. “Whose plane is this? Are we going to New York?” Whose home?
“Yeah. Vasily didn’t think there was any reason to remain in Seattle. We’re heading to his place on Long Island.”
She searched his features. He was taking her to her father’s house? Not his? “Oh. Okay. That’s, uh, good. I’ll be able to get to know him…” She bit her lip as nerves attacked her belly. “That didn’t seem so scary when I thought you’d be with me.” She tried to laugh that off but failed.
Gabriel feathered his fingertips down her throat. “Don’t be scared. He’s a goddamn saint. You have no reason to fear him.”
“Does that mean he’s not mad at you? For this?” She waved her finger between them.
A pained expression flitted across his face as he looked into her eyes. “Tell me about this.” He mimicked her gesture.
She swallowed, her mouth drying. “What. You mean, now?”
“Sure. We have some time.”
He stretched out beside her and rested his arm across her middle, pinning her down with its weight. She stroked her fingers over the corded muscles in his forearm, feeling anchored and secure.
“Would it help if I told you Caleb shared what you said in the elevator?”
Shit. Her face flushed hot. Okay. They were really doing this.
She cleared her throat and grew a pair. “No need. I already know he has a big mouth.” She plucked at his watch. “So, what. You want me to lie here while I’m injured and tell you that your unexpected presence in my life has changed everything? You want to hear that in the short time I’ve known you, you’ve become my world?” She pressed into him, holding tighter when he went to move. “How can I tell you that that without being terrified it’s too much for you? What if you don’t feel the same? What if you were on your way back here to fire me? What if—”
He forcibly extracted himself and rolled his big body over to trap her beneath him, holding his weight on his elbows. “Say it.”
She blinked up at him, adoring the smoky demand in his green eyes. “Your life scares me. Your wealth freaks me out. Your friends are intimidating. The way I need you is absolutely terrifying. But…I love you, so I’d deal. With all of it. If you want me to.”
† † †
Gabriel stared into his future wife’s sapphire eyes and waited for his heart to start up again.
She shifted, looking uncertain. “You know, if a relationship with me isn’t what you want, considering the trouble I’ve caused you, you can just tell me. I won’t have a breakdown.”
The weak trace of snark she’d injected into her tone even in the shape she was in had his lip pulling up at the corner.
Aaand that was when he remembered his vow to Vasily.
His joy and humor fucked off faster than Maks when faced with a serious conversation. “I claimed my place, sweetheart.”
A wrinkle hit her brow. “What?”
“When we get back to New York, I’ll be stepping in to rule the family.”
Her eyes went round and it was a minute before she spoke. “What does that mean?”
“It means you have a choice to make.” He pushed off her and stood. When she sat up and he saw he had her full attention, he slowly took a knee. “I don’t have a ring yet, but that isn’t going to stop me from asking you to be my queen. I will rule our family in much the same way your father runs the bratva, which means the risks to you and our children will be low. But they will exist. Especially in the beginning.” He had to be honest. She had to know what a future with him would look like. “Reorganizing will take a couple of years. During that time, I’m going to piss some greedy people off and they’re gonna make a fuss.” He grimaced and stopped pussyfooting around. “I’ll have to bury some of them to prove myself. But I swear to you right now, I have never, and will never, take a life if there is another option. But you have to know with full certainty that I will kill anyone I feel is a threat to one of my own. And I won’t apologize for it.”
He reached out to take her hand from where it was limply resting in her lap. Her eyes were shadowed and achingly vulnerable.
“Can you live with that? With who I am? Am I worth the risk?” Please, love me enough to say yes, he begged silently, his life on the line.
She took a deep breath. “Yes. Yes. And, God, yes.”
Holy shit. He buried his face in her neck, thanking God repeatedly for blessing him despite the man he was. “I’m so goddamn in love you,” he whispered against her skin. “Please say you’ll marry me.” When she stiffened, her nails sinking into his biceps, he drew back.
“But, my father—”
“Gave us his blessing.”
“What? He did?”
“Yeah, baby. He did.”
“Okay, then, your friends—”
“Are aware I’m in love with you.”
Tears turned her eyes into glistening pools that overflowed when she smiled. “It isn’t polite to cut someone off when they’re trying to talk.”
He growled. “Your answer, Eva.”
She brushed her nose across his. “Yes, boss.” Her low tone was partly playful but fully sexy as shit. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Goddamn. As gently as he could, Gabriel gathered his smartass charge-employee-fiancé into his arms and took her down into the pillows, their mouths together, their bodies meeting.
It was a while before he let her speak again.
“I can’t believe you asked my father for his blessing.”
He shrugged as he adjusted their position so that he wasn’t causing her discomfort. “I had to, considering I have no desire to live without you.”
Her smile was brilliant as she came up on her elbow. “I had no idea you could be so romantic,” she cooed.
He snorted and slid his fingers into her hair so he could tuck her head back under his chin. He wasn’t hiding though. Not at all. “Funny how it took meeting you to unearth the starry-eyed shit. Let’s hope it crawls back into its hole before Maks overhears it. Bastard’ll never let me live it down.”
“And there it goes.” Her soft laugh was interrupted by an announcement from the pilot telling them they were nearing La Guardia. “At least I know you’re capable.”
As Gabriel covered her hand where it rested over his heart, he considered that word.
Capable.
He smiled a little. She had no fucking idea.
VENGEANCE UNLEASHED PLAYLIST
Hurt – Christina Aguilera
Broken Crown – Mumford and Sons
At Last – Etta James
Young & Free – Dermot Kennedy
Dark Side – Sebell
Beside You – Marianas Trench
Work Song – Hozier
Watch Me – The Phantoms
I’m Gonna Do My Thing – Royal Deluxe
Unsteady – X Ambassadors
The Power of Love – Gabrielle Aplin
Born For This – Royal Deluxe
WANTED MEN GLOSSARY
Characters, Places, and Terms
(D) deceased
Abel Berkman – Moretti family soldier, Jerod Berkman’s twin brother
Adrianna (D) – Stefano�
��s girlfriend
Albert Moretti (D) – former Don of the Moretti family, Gabriel and Stefano’s father
Alekzander (Alek) Tarasov – Vasily’s nephew, Eva’s cousin
Alesio Moretti – Gabriel and Stefano’s cousin
Aron – Tarasov Bratva, Vasily’s private guard
Avtoritet (Russian) – captain in charge of a crew in a Russian bratva, similar to a caporegime in an Italian/American mafia family
Baikov Bratva – main rivals of the Tarasov’s
Bobby T – Moretti family soldier
Bratva (Russian) – brotherhood, Russian crime syndicate
Caleb Paynne – vice-president of the ODMC, Nika’s brother, Eva’s best friend
Caporegime (Capo) (Italian) – captain in charge of a crew in an Italian/American mafia family, major social status in the family
Crown Jewel (The) – Gabriel and Alek’s luxury hotel in Seattle
Dmitri Zolin – Tarasov Bratva, Vasily Tarasov’s personal guard
Evangeline (Eva) Jacobs – Vasily and Kathryn’s daughter
Evgeny Tarasov (D) – Vasily’s older brother, Alek’s father
Furio Abella – Moretti family underboss
Gabriel Moretti – current boss of the Moretti crime family, Stefano’s brother
Ian Preston – a NYC private investigator
Ivan Tarasov (D) – Vasily’s father, former Pakhan of the Tarasov Bratva
Jakson (Jak) Trisko – Moretti family, Gabriel’s personal guard
Jerod Berkman – Moretti family soldier, Abel’s twin brother
Kathryn Jacobs (D) – Vasily’s love, Eva’s mother
Kevin Nollan – Nika’s husband
Lucian Fane – leader of the Fane organization, Markus’s brother
Maksim (Maks) Kirov – Tarasov Bratva, Vasily’s Avtoritet
Markus Fane – executive VP at TarMor Inc., Lucian’s younger brother
Vengeance Unleashed (The Wanted Men Series Book 1) Page 29