AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The smile that comes across my brother's face is sinister. “Better men have tried, Maksim, and those men have failed. We’re ready for them. They think the war has started, but they haven’t seen anything yet.”
I don’t say anything as we leave the restaurant. My anger about the situation is palpable, but I’m also pissed that Gabriella has disappeared.
“What was that about?” I question my brother once we’re in the car.
“My wife knew about the deal. We agreed we didn’t want the women. We’re not into running stables, Ales, you know that. Itwas the perfect way to ensure there were no throwbacks after the fiasco at the boxing hall.”
“Why didn’t I know about this?”
My brother spears me a glance. “Back then, Ales, I didn’t know if I could trust you.”
Fuck.
Chapter 9
Gabriella
“Are you sure about this, sweetheart?” Dad asks as I enter my new home.
I turn and look at him. He’s been amazing. How he’s managed to make everything happen in less than thirty hours is beyond me, and yet here we are.
“I’m sure,” I promise him.
I take a couple more steps into the house, and I feel a sense of peace, something I haven’t felt before. I’ve always been on edge, knowing that at any moment something could go wrong—and usually it does—but right here and now, I’m calm and collected. I feel good, and it feels right that I’m here.
“Alright,” he says as he carries my bag into the house. “How about we have a look around?”
Yesterday, I flew into Indianapolis on a fake passport, something I never before imagined doing, but my dad insisted that it would be for the best. I trust him, so I did as he asked, and everything went off smoothly. I landed early yesterday morning and spent the day scoping out properties for my gallery. There’s a few I’ve found that are ideal. I just need to look at the locations and do a bit of research before settling on one.
While I was looking over real estate, my dad was in Denver doing what he does best and bossing people around. While I had my clothes packed and ready to go, my dad hired movers to pack up the rest of my stuff and drive it out to me. I’m not sure how much he paid them, but as of right now, everything except for my clothes and kitchen stuff is all unboxed and set up. I’m in awe of how easy this move was. When I left Spain to come live here in the States, it was a nightmare trying to get everything over here. In the end, I had to leave some of my stuff behind.
I’m like a giddy schoolgirl as I check out the house, looking around every room, scoping out every little nook and cranny. I can’t believe how big this house is.
There’s nothing that could ever repay everything Joe has done for me. I’ve thanked him a hundred times and he always grunts at me, telling me I’m his daughter, that he’d do anything for me.
“Okay, kiddo,” he says as I enter the master bedroom. I turn to face him. “I’m going to leave you be and let you get settled in. We’ll have dinner later?”
I blink, my heart sinking. “Um, yeah, sure,” I reply. “Do you have somewhere to be?”
He glances away, and I instantly know that means yes. It’s the same thing he does whenever I ask about his plans and it involves a woman. He feels guilty—as he should. He’s cheating on Christina. Not that I like the woman, but she doesn’t deserve the heartache of what my father’s doing to her.
“Dinner?” he asks again.
“Sure,” I reply. “Let me know when.” I turn my back on him, trying my hardest to quell the disappointment. I shouldn’t feel this way. He’s helped me so much already. But I can’t help it. It just brings up a lot of memories and none of them are good.
“Sweetheart,” he begins, but I don’t turn around. I don’t want him to feel guilty for this. It’s his life. He’s able to live it how he wants.
“Call me later, yeah?” I say as I reach for my duffle bag on the floor. “Hopefully, I’ll be unpacked by then.” I release a little laugh. It’s humorless, but it seems to do the trick.
“Alright then, have fun. Love you, Gabby.”
I sigh. No matter what, he’s my dad and he’s trying. “Love you too, Dad.”
Unpacking takes me the best part of the day. By the time I’m finished, darkness has descended. But my house is now a home. Everything has been unpacked and is in its perfect place. I had to move some things—I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my home—as I like to have things tidy and neat.
I collapse onto the couch and sigh. I’m tired. I could sleep for a week right now, but first, I need food. I reach for my cell that’s sitting on the coffee table and see I have two missed calls and a text from my dad. I hit dial on his number and call him back.
“Sweetheart, is everything okay?” he asks as soon as he answers. “I tried to call but there was no answer.”
