Page 95 of Ensnared Choices
“I’m sure you can. Let me feed you.” His eyes plead with mine.
“How did you find me?” I ask before taking another spoonful of soup.
Gabriel’s gaze locks with mine. “Things were off from the beginning. Nico was missing… but not missing.”
My brows pull together. “That makes no sense.”
He huffs a low breath, eyes narrowing with dark amusement. “It’s a long story. And if you hadn’t gone missing, trust me, he would’ve happily stayed ‘missing’ just to piss everyone off.”
“I’m still not following.”
“You will. Nico can explain his own bullshit.” Gabriel’s jaw ticks, the shift in his tone sharp. “Naomi told us Victor’s plan.”
My stomach twists. Heat climbs my throat, and I can’t look at him, afraid he will see hurt in my eyes. When he lifts a spoon toward me, I turn my face away, shoulders tight. I can’t stomach food and her name in the same breath.
You disappeared after the fight,” I say, accusation cutting through the room.
He freezes, then sets the container aside with measured, lethal calm. “No. I didn’t.”
“I saw you going after Naomi,” I fire back, meeting his eyes without flinching.
His jaw flexes. “I followed her because Victor sent me a threat. I needed answers, and she was the only one who could give them to me.”
“What threat?” I demand, brows lifting in challenge.
“It doesn’t matter,” he murmurs. “He’s dead.”
“But you didn’t come back.” My voice drops, steady but wounded. “You didn’t come back to me.”
His expression twists; anger at himself, frustration, and something raw. “I couldn’t, Valentina. I was drugged.”
A short, bitter laugh slips out of me. “I went to that hotel room. I knocked. I saw you lying there. I tried to wake you, but nothing. And then she…” My chest tightens. “She told me things. I asked for answers and…”
I stop breathing. A memory slams through me. “Linda.” My eyes widen, my pulse spiking. “Gabriel, there was a girl with me in that basement. Where is she?”
“She's safe; your brother is taking care of her.” I relax, glad that she's good. “I would never have left you and gone back to Naomi. You are the woman I love. You are the woman I want to be with. I thought I made that clear to you.”
“I don’t know. She got to me when she said some strange things about you and her.” I shake my head.
Gabriel takes my hand gently, keeping it firmly between both of his. His voice drops to a low, controlled growl. “Whatever she said to you was just one of her games,” he murmurs, his thumb stroking slow circles over my skin. “None of it matters. Not when it comes to us.”
He frames my face in his hands, pulling me closer, his breath warm against my lips. “What matters,” he says softly but with that dangerous edge of command, “is what we feel and where we go from here.” His jaw flexes as he drags his thumb across my cheekbone. “I agreed to this marriage because I thought it would be to some girl who isn't you, so I’d stop thinking of you.” His voice breaks in a quiet, frustrated laugh. “Even though, deep down, I wanted it to be you, I knew that wouldn’t be possible.” He shakes his head, eyes softening in a way that melts right through my armor. “The night we met, I didn’t know who you were. But even if I did, I was so drawn to you that I wouldn’t have done it any differently.” He swallows hard, clearing his throat, his voice suddenly thick. “For the last two days, all I could think of was what if something happened to you before we could build the life we want together. A life I thought I would never have.”
My voice comes out barely above a whisper. “What are you saying, Gabriel?”
His stare locks onto mine; hungry, honest, stripped bare. “I’m saying, I want to build a life with you,” he says. “You intrigue me and captivate me. You're a chaos that keeps me on my toes. You're a dream that keeps me alive.” His thumb grazes my lower lip, sending shivers down my spine. “I’m in love with you and will do anything to be the man you need by your side.”
My heart stutters. “Anything?”
His gaze locks onto mine, every inch of him tuned to me. “Yes. Whatever you want.”
A slow smile curls my mouth. “Good. I’ll keep that in mind.
“So, what do you say, my love? I get you out of here so I can take care of you as you deserve?”
I smile, my heart filled with happiness. I don’t answer; I lean forward and kiss him, ready for whatever the future has for us, because now I have everything I ever wanted.
