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Love.
Children.
Groaning, I shoved it all aside. I certainly wasn’t going to have the perfect wedding even if he provided everything my heart desired.
When I heard laughter, I realized it had to be Gabriel’s sisters. Maybe he’d changed his mind about allowing me out of the house. What a pleasant surprise.Are you crazy? Are you falling into this arrangement?
While a part of me was giddy like some damn schoolgirl, I realized this might be my only chance of escaping. Right. Who was I kidding? My guess was we’d have ten men trailing behind us. Was I supposed to act like I cared about their brother, looking forward to getting married to him? I glanced down at my attire and sighed. My guess was they were dressed like Italian princesses and all I’d shoved into the duffle bag had been a few shirts and a single pair of jeans. At least I had shoes.
As soon as I heard footsteps, I turned around. Both girls stopped and stared at me. Why was it that every time one of the people in Gabriel’s life met me for the first time, it was as if I was a circus animal locked in a cage? He’d told me about them while at the cabin. Now I wondered if what he’d said was true.
They were both beautiful, one taller than the other by a few inches, her svelte body, long dark hair, and stunning blue eyes screaming of model material just as he’d mentioned. The other one was equally as gorgeous, her hourglass figure close to mine. While she’d used makeup to hide her bruises fairly well, the sight of her split lip riled me, and I didn’t even know her. Thankfully, they were both wearing jeans. Just like normal women. Was there any such thing inside this family? The shorter girl approached first and I finally threw out my hand for a shake.
She seemed confused, immediately squealing and grabbing my arms, pulling me into a hug.
“Oh, my God. I never thought our big brother would get married.”
They had no clue. None. “Um. It happened fast.”
“I’ll say,” the other girl said, swaggering closer, her grin equally as warm and inviting. “Oh, I’m Maria and this is Theodora.”
“Hi.” This was awkward as hell. I backed away, trying to find the right words. “I’m Sarah.”
“I heard. You’re a surgeon. Impressive. Very impressive,” Theodora said as she gave me another onceover. “I’m happy to have a job at an investment bank.”
“He must adore you,” Maria added.
“Ladies, I don’t know how to tell you this, but the arrangement isn’t… let’s just say it wasn’t by choice.” At least Dillon wasn’t in the room. He’d likely tell on me as soon as Gabriel returned. Whatever. I didn’t care at this point.
Theodora glanced toward the door and frowned. “We weren’t born yesterday, Sarah. Besides, our father spilled the beans about who you are and why the two of you met.”
“Then you know this isn’t what I want to have happen. And your brother doesn’t like me very much.”He simply wants to fuck me like a wild animal.I certainly couldn’t tell them that either. While I might be punished later for telling them the truth, I refused to act like a victim. I also wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to get their help.
Do you really want to leave him?
The little voice had already switched sides. The answer was a decided ‘I have no clue.’
Maria laughed. “You don’t know our brother very well. Let me tell you a secret or two about him. One. Gabriel has always been stubborn, refusing to follow the family edicts. Two. He hasn’t touched another woman since his ex-fiancée was murdered. It wouldn’t matter if you were the president’s daughter. If he didn’t adore you, then he’d find another way to destroy his target.”
“I called our brother on the carpet when our father told us. I could hear it in Gabriel’s voice how much he cares for you.”
I glanced at Theodora but was concentrating on what Maria had said.
“Fiancée?” I asked. He’d left that part out. No wonder he was so possessive.
“Tragic. He was so in love. It was only a couple weeks before the wedding and she was gunned down.” Maria frowned.
“A robbery. Right?”
The two women looked at each other, Theodora doing a terrible job of lying. “They really don’t know for certain. Obviously, he’s over it now. We’re happy for him.”
“He wasn’t very likeable for a long time. Grumpy all the time,” Maria breathed.
“I guess he had his reasons,” I said absently.
I heard Maria but wondered why he’d lied about this in particular. Because he didn’t want to worry me about my safety? That was a good bet, but there was more. I was certain of it.
“He was supposed to bring her to Italy to see me,” Maria half whispered, sadness in her voice.
