GABRIELLE POV.Tender hands trailed through my hair, their effect calming, and it was like I was a kid again, resting my head on my father's lap while he petted my hair and told me a bedtime story... it wasn't him that calmed me now, it was Blake Moreno, my Angelo.He'd taken the cuffs off but I couldn't will myself to move, to breathe... To do anything. The memory of that night wasn't supposed to affect me anymore, but I've been on the edge lately and Blake attacking me without warning made it feel like I went back in time, where I was beaten and held down, the face of my assailant unknown, but he had been cruel, too evil for me to forget in a hurry. It had been years, but it still hurt, the memory of that night made me feel as if I was drowning.Maybe if I knew the man and had him killed, I'd have felt better. I shut my eyes, the quiet room amplifying the sound of my breath mingling with those of Blake's. The situation was embarrassing, I wasn't one to allow myself to appear weak,
BLAKE MORENO POV. "I want to protect you, Gabrielle Genovese," I said, surprised by how much I meant it. Her grey eyes widened, and I wanted her to stare at me in that way forever, stare at me like I was her salvation. "That is a promise Blake, and I'd warn you right now not to make a promise that you cannot keep... my heart has been bruised a lot you see... if you leave or hurt me, I might just die" Her words were like a punch to my heart. I couldn't hold back, the demon inside me clawed out to be free and I gave in, unable to fight what I craved any longer. I kissed her chastely, pulling back as her breath hitched in her throat. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, and then we were kissing. The kiss went from soft and sensual, to brutal and demanding as I plundered her lips, our teeth clashing but we both didn't seem to care. I wanted her to give in to me, needed her underneath my skin like the air I needed to breathe. I bit at her lips and she matched my fi
APRIL POV.Getting into the company's parking lot turned out to be way harder than I thought, which was understandable, considering that some rival clan was always choosing that particular spot to attack Gabrielle Genovese- that info was provided by Blair with footage as proof- which was why only specific workers were allowed to make use of it. So if I wanted to get in, I had to be extra careful and incognito. I wore the outfit I'd picked out specially for the job. It was a uniform that was identical to those worn by the special workers who used the VIP parking lot.The outfit was to help me blend in with the other workers in such a way that suspicion would be eradicated, yet as I moved through the building it felt as if someone had their eyes on me. It was eerie and detrimental to my investigation to be under such scrutiny but I was a hundred percent certain that someone was watching me, I just didn't know who it was, or what their motives were. Could they have figured out that I
GABRIELLE POV.I watched Blake sleep, indulging myself in a little moment of staring creepily at him while he was oblivious. I smiled, remembering how perfect our night had been. I'd blurted out that I loved him as I came down from my high. I thought I would regret it, but I didn't, I never wanted to take it back and even tho he hadn't said the words back to me, I was certain that he felt something for me, and that little ray of hope had me thinking about the what if's.What if I stopped fighting for my inheritance, and for the family business, and just went away with Blake... We could travel to places where they could never find us, where I had my other business branch situated, where I was free of my Mafia ties and I could love him without the fear of anyone harming him. A place I wouldn't have to be a criminal to him. A place we both could be free if only he would come with me. He stirred, turning to face me, a lazy grin on his face as he squinted his eyes because of the sunlight
BLAKE POV.I stared at Gabrielle, my ears ringing. Those lips that had professed their love for me just the other night were saying the same thing to the guy who stood wrapped in her embrace. It felt like I was getting whiplashed from all directions. The guy was extremely good-looking, and his hair was a bluish hue that curled around his face highlighting his rare set of eyes. He looked like a model and everything about him screamed delicate. My heart tugged as I saw the way Gabrielle held him as if he'd break if she applied too much pressure. The guy's hands tightened around her but she didn't shove him off or even look angry. I felt like I was going to be sick, I knew enough about Gabrielle to know that she hated people coming close to her without her permission, so if she was allowing this guy into her arms without a fuss, that only meant one thing. The guy was important, and she loved him because her voice had been sincere when she said it. Gabrielle tugged the guy away and I
GABRIELLE POV.I pushed Keenan into the room, even as he protested, then I made him take a seat and he glared at me, his lips forming a pout making me realize that he would never outgrow his childish tantrums. He needed to fucking learn that he couldn't just make stupid decisions all in the spur of the moment."Why do you keep doing this, I told you to live like the dead". I got out sharper than I'd intended and his brows furrowed, his indignation glaringly obvious in his eyes. "That's unfair" he yelled, grabbing at the bedsheets. "My life has been so boring... And then I found out that you were here, with that guy. How could you do this to me!"."I am here with that guy because I love him and I'd love for you to treat him with respect Keenan... I'm making a request this time because it's you, so do what is right".Keenan shook his head vehemently. "No, you don't love him, you're just going to use him like you always do. I'm the only one you love... you told me that you were only goi
****Burn smiled, staring at his phone like it held all the keys to his salvation. Who was this anonymous caller? The person had sounded very nervous, but he knew the information was correct, hence why he was already preparing the soldier to invade the location where his little fierce cat was hiding- she wasn't hiding of course, because he knew Gabrielle wasn't one to run and Genovese was underestimating her.He didn't mind, so long as he was already in charge of the business. Genovese had been great in his prime, but he was old now and just didn't have as much control as he used to. Gabrielle had pushed him too far against the wall until there was nothing for him to grasp onto except him. Capturing Gabrielle was going to be the bonus for all his trouble, and he was going to get her no matter what.The man who ratted her out was probably one of her estranged lovers seeking revenge... Burn didn't care- once he had Gabrielle, he was going to kill the rest of her lovers, including whoev
GABRIELLE POV"Who the fuck did he call" I growled into the phone, my heart rate increasing by the seconds and threatening to come out my chest. The soldier muttered his reply but it all sounded like a freaking broken record that had me flinging my phone at the wall in anger.I should have fucking known Keenan would do something like this. It was like I could never get through to him about the dangers of making impulsive decisions. Did he call grandfather, if he did then he was just going to expose himself to danger, something that I had been trying to avoid from the get-go. If only he'd just listen! Ugh. I switched on the voice transmitter in my room. "Prepare to leave. I want everything ready in half an hour" I ordered, then switched it off. Taking a deep calming breath to ease my frayed nerves, I opened the closet, then hit the button for the secret chamber. It swished open, and I stared at my collection of weapons, all armed and ready for use. I trailed my finger over my revolve