Gabriel snapped to attention. “What do you mean ‘home’?” he demanded, coming to his feet as Yuri lifted one of Eva’s lids and shined a penlight in her eye.
“We’re keeping with the plan and taking her straight to the airport from here. We’re going to my place in Old Westbury, which is where she’ll stay from here on out. Home,” Vasily stressed, meeting his eyes. “And if you even think about saying one word, Moretti, I’ll scare her into never wanting to see you again. Got it?”
Bastard.
Eva wouldn’t let him, would she? Caleb had said she loved him, but that was before Furio had turned her into a punching bag. Before he’d nearly raped her. Before a man had been shot right in front of her face.
Would she still love him once she woke up? Would she want to have anything to do with him after this?
God, he prayed so.
Vincente sank down in the passenger seat of the Hummer, his body pretty much shutting down on him now that the adrenaline that had been fueling him during the past couple of hours had fully 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.
He forced his thoughts away from the mouthwatering scent of oranges and jasmine and breathtaking autumnal color, and back to that dump of a cabin. 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. Lucian Fane? Seriously. Deadly. Absolutely deadly. Jak? No fucking wonder G had the guy in his personal guard. The boy was morbidly lethal. And then there’d been Aron and Micha, the new guy and the one with the woman’s name. Let’s just say that one had proven himself, and Vincente now knew why no one rode the other about the feminine-sounding moniker. And, finally, Quan. Freaking savage, man. Cold. And. Savage. The boy was in.
And he supposed, if he did say so himself, he’d held his own by taking out the two kibitzing assholes hanging out in the back of the property. Shit. That would’ve been one nasty surprise considering the pricks had been carrying semis.
A mental replay of Gabriel finally getting his go at Furio—not Stefano as they’d all assumed—which they’d caught through the grimy front window of the cabin when all the action had died down, had pride warming Vincente’s chest. Crazy shit, that. Their boy could easily become champ in the octagon if he wanted to go that route. Easily. Guy was wicked good.
Sobering, he pictured Eva. Face torn up, 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 Maksim. 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, Vincente thought with a twitching lip.
His humor leaked away, and he opened his eyes 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, too, to 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 for odious dealings would be out in the open now. He knew without having to be told that they would start trimming the minute Gabriel opened the books.
And Vincente. Couldn’t. Fucking. Wait.
The flight to New York was hell for Gabriel. After everything that had happened, his emotions continued to seesaw all over the damned place. One minute his bones were melting in relief that Eva was there with him, safe and whole. The next, he was convinced he needed to send her away for her own good.
But the real question was: What would she want to do?
That’s where he was now.
He tilted his head to the woman asleep in the seat next to him and sifted his fingers through her freshly brushed hair—he’d taken great pleasure in running those bristles through the onyx strands himself. Something in his chest squeezed. What had started out as an all-consuming desire for a beautiful woman had deepened, taking root in his soul, and grown into something he hadn’t thought possible.
He knew as he’d flown through the drizzling sky in that chopper, praying that he reached her in time, that he loved her. Knew it suddenly and without a doubt.
And, according to Paynne, she loved him. But she’d yet to say it. In fact, for all he knew, it was something she’d blurted out in fear, knowing she was facing certain death.
He still couldn’t believe she’d handed herself over to Furio to save them all. Needing her closer, he took her by the waist and, ultracareful of her slinged arm, brought her closer to his body until her ear was directly above his heart. Then he leaned down and put his nose in those silky tresses and inhaled her honey scent. Fuck he hated waiting for shit. Especially for something like this. Something that was going to dictate his happiness. He squeezed his eyes shut and thought back to when he’d called Paynne to let him know that Nika was now in the clear and could be taken home. The guy hadn’t been too happy about the latter, but he had been relieved that Eva was safe and there was no longer a threat. Both brother and sister were concerned about Eva’s injuries, and he’d promised to have her call them tomorrow to fill them in.
And then there had been Vincente, who’d been morose and quiet since leaving Hell Cabin. Well, more morose and quieter than he normally was. The guy had steamrolled over Gabriel’s suggestion that he fly back with Maks, insisting that they ride together. That hadn’t seemed to bother Quan, who’d inclined his head and gone into the plane while Vincente had planted his trunks, insisting on staying with Gabriel.
They’d shaken and embraced, slapping the shit out of each other’s backs, before climbing the stairs into the jet together.
“Regretting it already?”
His gaze snapped up to see Vasily observing him.
“Not yet,” he answered honestly, feeling a little squeamish about lying here with the guy’s daughter draped over him as Vincente snoozed on the chair across the way.
“I think, subconsciously anyway, you let this thing with Stefano go on as long as you did because you knew you would have to step in if you took him out.”
Gabriel didn’t respond. Instead he felt Eva’s narrow rib cage rise and fall in a comforting, steady rhythm under his hand.
Leather creaked as Vasily shifted in his seat, pulling his ankle up to rest on his knee. “You’re not going to have any trouble stepping into this, Gabriel. If that’s what’s worrying you. Leading a family is all about business, and that you already know better than most. If you need a hand, you’re going to ask me. Got it?”
Gabriel nodded, grateful for the offer but not sure he’d need it. He knew the direction he was going to go with his organization.
“I owe you so much more than an apology, Vasily. I failed you in every way. Disrespected you.” Shame coated his words, and he uttered what he hoped was somewhat of an excuse. “I’m in love with her. And, even though I’m pretty sure you’ll refuse, I’d like to request her hand. I want her as my wife.”
A tenderness settled on Vasily’s face, the countenance not
often seen unless one of his men brought his kids around to show them off. “We’ve known each other a long time, Gabriel, and you know I respect you and love you like a brother. Which was one more reason I wanted you, and no one else, to watch over my daughter. I’d, well, I’d hoped you’d take a liking to her. Figured if she had to end up with someone at all, it might as well be someone I approved of.”
Shock moved through Gabriel swift and sure. “You mean, you wanted us together?”
A sheepish grin appeared. “Yes. I did. Of course I thought you legit at the time.” He laughed. “I chose you for her, despite knowing of Stefano’s threat to you, which is why I took responsibility for her condition at that cabin. So I guess it’s only fair of me to put you out of your misery and give you my blessing. I’d be proud to have you as part of my family, brother, if that’s what she wants.”
Meeting that intelligent navy stare, Gabriel felt his love for this man warm his chest. For all of his men. They’d once more proven their loyalty by standing at his back, no questions asked. His trepidation over what the future might bring settled into just another worry. He touched his lips to the crown of his sedated woman’s precious head.
“I can’t believe I’m asking you this, but how can you be okay with this? I thought the whole point, right from the beginning, was to keep her out of our world.”
“Impossible. Especially if what the biker said about her loving you was accurate.” Vasily sighed. “We are who we are. And Eva is my daughter. Soon to be your wife, if she’ll have you. You’ll tell her of your new vocation as soon as possible, by the way. As much as I sometimes hate it, Gabriel, we do live the lives we’re living and that isn’t going to change. You tried. How did that work out for you?”
Gabriel swallowed a scoff, thinking of the typical businessman he’d never been. Even after five years away. Would Eva accept him as the boss of his family? Would that be a deal-breaker? “After everything she’s been through . . .”
“One thing I don’t think you’ve taken into consideration here, and I’m guilty of the same: Eva has the right to make her own choices. Furio got to her at her mother’s house because she left your office without your knowledge. Don’t worry about how I know,” he said when Gabriel’s head snapped up. “And again last night. She made her own decisions, and even though they were the wrong ones, not even you could’ve stopped her from choosing our lives over hers. Like Vincente always says, can’t control it all, right? No matter how badly we want to.”
He knew Vasily was right, but he didn’t like it. Didn’t like the idea of Eva making the wrong choice. But he knew she’d never stay with him if he made all her choices for her. She would demand to be independent.
His lips tilted up at the fights he was sure they’d have. But then that fear—the undeniable anxiety—settled back in his chest. There wouldn’t be any fights if she decided to leave him. He doubted it had ever been a dream of hers to marry a crime boss.
“What about what happened with her mother? You know, better than anyone, Vasily, how dangerous it is for our loved ones.”
“Do you know how often in the past couple of months I’ve regretted my decision to leave them?” Vasily said. “I think—no, I know it was the wrong thing to have done. Had I been there, had I kept them close, Kathryn wouldn’t be dead. Because I would have been there to prevent it. And after this fiasco, I think it’s safe to say Eva won’t be out of your sight long enough to stub her toe, let alone anything more serious. And don’t forget—I’m still a powerful man. There are plenty of people who will be more than happy to leave my daughter alone. My child will be protected and cherished from here on out, the same way your children will be.”
His children. Holy Christ, he wanted that so badly he ached with the need.
He just had to convince Eva it was worth the risk.
“Just remember—it’s a business, my brother. Yes, there will always be that unsavory part where we have to step up and get our hands dirty,” he allowed as he sat back and stretched out again, “but it’s no different anywhere else. You just don’t hear about it. At the end of the day, no matter the vocation, if you’re dealing with large dollars and greedy people, there’s going to be the occasional violent fallout between parties. Thugs or suits. It’s all the same shit.”
Gabriel nodded because that was true enough. “Sifting through what to keep and what to dump is going to take time,” he mused aloud. “And learning who I can trust and who I can’t isn’t something I’m looking forward to.”
“A bad seed in your crew is, unfortunately, always a possibility. How do you think the Baikovs found out about Kathryn? I’d appreciate you keeping your ears open. I still haven’t pinned my snitch down.”
The rest went unsaid. Until the snitch was found, Eva, and Vasily himself, would remain at risk.
CHAPTER 26
Three days later, Gabriel led Eva up the wide stone steps with a light clasp around her fingers. He shouldered his way through the heavy front door and walked into the spacious entrance of the house he and the boys shared. Thank God not a one of them was around right now, aside from Quan, but he was already giving them a wave and making his way across the foyer on his way to the kitchen.
“Where’s Quan going?”
His lips thinned at Eva’s anxious question. “He needs to eat,” he answered, his voice clipped. “The kitchen is that way. I’ll give you a tour after.”
“After what?”
“We need to have a little chat. But you already know that.”
“Okay. Let’s start with why we had to come here.”
She knew that, too. She had to. Which was why she was nervous.
Her time for evading, avoiding him, was up.
They’d spent the last three days at her father’s house, dealing with her—thank God—minor medical issues. Her bruises would fade, and Stefano resetting her shoulder when he had, according to Yuri, had saved Eva some possible trouble with the injury. So it seemed Gabriel now owed his brother. Too bad he couldn’t thank him. The idiot had up and left Vasily’s place without telling anyone where he was going, serious injury and all, and Gabriel still wasn’t sure what he was going to do about that. Probably give him some time to fully accept his apparent change of heart, then find him and bring him home.
“Well?”
She was wearing sandals, a lace tank, and an airy skirt that covered her from ankle to hip, all in white. With her long straight hair and the many twined bracelets wrapped around her wrist, she looked almost boho. Yet another look his woman could pull off effortlessly.
The only thing out of place was the sling on her arm and the bruising around her neck, the black eye, healing cuts . . .
Gabriel turned away. Jesus Christ. Had he really brought her here, to his home, to try to convince her to stay with him? He’d gone into her room at her father’s, scooped her from the bed, and brought her out to his car. Then driven away without telling a soul.
Though, because Maksim had installed the same surveillance system at Vasily’s that he had at their place, there was no way Eva’s father hadn’t been well aware Gabriel had walked out with his daughter. He would be receiving a phone call anytime now, he was sure.
He watched, through the reflection in the mirror in front of him, her gaze around his home, taking in the twenty-foot ceiling, glittering chandelier, and tastefully framed art. The mahogany furnishings were polished to a mirrored shine; the honey-colored marble floors gleamed. Gabriel spotted one of Vincente’s bike helmets and a football carelessly tossed beneath one of the tables against the far wall.
The place was respectable, but lived-in and comfortable. And he was sure Eva would like it, if she gave it a chance. He spun around and put his hand out. “Come in. Please,” he added at the last minute but was then unable to quit there. “At least far enough so I can close the goddamn door. Nothing’s going to bite you.”
Wow. He was fucking smooth.
He sighed roughly and was just
about to apologize when he saw the corner of her lip turn up. She met his eyes and, for the first time in three days, didn’t look away.
She placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her inside and close the door.
“Your home is lovely, Gabriel,” she said with a formality that rankled.
Our home, he wanted to correct her but didn’t. “Thank you.”
He pulled her into motion, leading her too quickly through the living room and out to the back through a set of French doors. With any luck, the soothing sound of the pool’s filter might help her relax. “Sit.” He motioned to the half-dozen chairs surrounding a glass-topped patio table.
“Uh, I’m good,” she said, standing behind one of the chairs, placing her hand on its back, her eyes on the pool. “That looks so welcoming.”
“Maybe we’ll swim after,” he said offhandedly. Depending on if you destroy my life in the next minute or two. “Now. I need to ask you something. And I want you to be honest with me.”
“I’ve always been honest with you, Gabriel,” she stated. “You were the one who had a hard time with it.” And damn if that didn’t make him feel like Lucifer.
He plowed on. “Caleb relayed something you told him in the elevator the other night.”
She warily gave him her full attention, looking at him through her long, lush lashes. Then she turned away and started clicking her fingernails. “We’re really doing this, huh?”
Gabriel’s lips quirked at that and her little habit. She was nervous. “Yes. We really are.”
“Okay. Here goes.” When she squared her shoulders as if she were going into battle, he nearly laughed outright. Goddamn she was precious. “I’d say from the time I was twelve, maybe thirteen, I knew what my father leaving had done to my mom, but you know that. So, that means for a dozen years, I shut myself off from feeling too deeply for anyone outside of my little trio of support.” Her mother, Nika, and Caleb. He got it. “Until you. You pretty much bullied your way into me, Gabriel, and I can’t seem to get you out now. And even though it’s more difficult than I thought it would be to put how I feel into words now that you’re in front of me, I will honestly say your unexpected presence in my life has changed . . . everything.” She moved a few paces over and gently rubbed at the leaves of the plant on the table, to see if it was real, presumably. It was.
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