Indebted: A Dark Irish Mafia Romance

by Piper Stone

  As he tipped his head, searching my eyes, I could see the same arrogance as always, but there was another entirely different emotion. Pity. It would seem I’d fallen so far in the world, empathy was required in order to deal with me.

  “I’ve come to tender my resignation, Gabriel. I’m certain you can no longer trust me.” He eased an envelope from his pocket, sliding it across my desk.

  I barely glanced at it, surprised that his act actually troubled me, enough so my pulse had increased. “You are correct.” There were no other words to be said, nothing that would make a difference in this case.

  If he’d expected me to ask him to stay, he certainly didn’t show it. “I will have all your documents transferred to you. If I may, I’m going to give you a last piece of advice.”

  I knew better than to try to stop him. “Go ahead.”

  “Don’t go back to Ireland under any circumstances.”

  “Why would that be, Jefferson? Did you make it a point to talk to the authorities, or perhaps Christina’s parents?”

  He inched closer. “I did talk with the authorities. There is some discussion about reopening the case. They have what they call a new regime. They refused to tell me anything else.”

  “Interesting, just out of the blue.”

  “Did you ever stop to think that whoever is determined to destroy you is not only attempting to do so with your business but also with your personal life?”

  I thought about what he was saying. Given the charges were merely dropped and there was no statute of limitations on various degrees of homicide, the situation was entirely possible. “That may be true, Jefferson, but it would have to be someone who knew me.”

  “Or who’d been given keys to your kingdom,” he stated defiantly. “You believe yourself to be a cautious man, but there are holes in your system, which is how Luis was able to steal information from you. Imagine what it means now that your entire past has been revealed. A feeding frenzy.”

  “That much I’ve already gathered,” I snarled. “You know me well enough, my old friend. I will hunt down whoever is responsible, and they will pay for attempting to harm me.”

  “That’s already been done, Gabriel. Keep something in mind. Things aren’t always as they seem. What I found in Ireland were two things I’d been hoping for.”

  The dangled carrot almost pissed me off. “And what were they, Jefferson?”

  “First was a loving family who gives a damn about you. I think you need to let the past go or you’ll never get out of the prison you’ve placed yourself in.”

  “And the second?”

  This time, his smile was smug. “Answers I was looking for.”

  While his cryptic words were meant as bait, I refused to latch on. “You’ve said your piece. I have things to do.”

  Jefferson finally looked hurt, his expression turning stoic. “Have it your way, Gabriel. I hope you don’t end up a bitter and lonely man. I believe in your innocence as well as your capability of coming out of your father’s brutal shadow.” He turned sharply, taking long strides to the door. When he stopped, shifting until I could see his face, I could see tears in his eyes as he pointed to the envelope. “I hope you can find your soul. I’ve given you a gift, one I hope you will use wisely. Call it your wedding present.”

  He closed the door with a hard thud, leaving me entirely alone. I glanced at the envelope for a full five minutes before opening it. The resignation letter was exactly what I would have expected from him, no bullshit. What I found in the other portion was enough to stun me.

  Somehow, he’d managed through his various connections to learn that Bobby’s killer had been found, a drug deal gone bad. There was also no follow-up on reversing Judge Taylor’s ruling, the Rivers family in no position to continue the process.

  Alessandra would remain in my... custody.

  The swell of emotions was overwhelming, sucking away my energy and my air. I clawed at my neck, my mind reeling. What the hell was I missing?

  My legs shaking, I eased down onto the chair, struggling to breathe, a flood of memories with Jefferson entering my mind. He had cared.

  As I lowered my head into my hands, the sound of a text coming in raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

  We’re just beginning...

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alessandra

  Obsession.

  Gabriel’s obsession for me had only increased, his desires and needs consuming him to the point I feared madness. Perhaps because I was the only thing in his life he could control. He’d only allowed me into certain discussions involving his work, but it was easy to glean from the few conversations that Masters Enterprises was suffering.

  At least in America.

  I was grateful his brother had remained, Liam very much the light where Gabriel was the darkness. Together, they worked tirelessly to repair the company’s reputation, although I knew little by little, investors had fallen away.

  He’d been right. Even the small amount of news I’d been allowed to see had been horrific, reporters painting him to be a... monster. I sighed as the word swam back and forth in my mind. Several days had passed, although time seemed to have no meaning any longer. Days turned into nights, the beautiful man always returning to my room to satisfy his needs.

  Always savage.

  Always desperate.

  I craved him more than ever, longing for his touch and the strike of his belt. I’d fallen headfirst into the very abyss that he’d drifted into, fearful our world would be taken away from us. Yet his hunger knew no bounds, and I’d begun to believe I was his only relief.

  His salvation.

  I closed my eyes, shivering even though I was sitting in front of a roaring fire. Unable to stop myself, I wrapped my hand around my throat, the invisible noose ready to snatch me off the ledge. Gabriel had confided in me about the various threats, although there hadn’t been one in days.

  We were both living on a precipice, waiting for the next horrific item on the asshole’s agenda to occur, releasing the financial information my father had stolen. With Bobby’s death, I wasn’t certain I would ever get the truth regarding my father, unless the true perpetrator was located. However, I’d come to full terms with the fact he’d been forced to steal from Gabriel.

  There were no offshore accounts, no recently purchased stocks and bonds indicating a payoff. So why? The only answer was one that disturbed me terribly.

  He’d wanted to destroy Gabriel.

  Tomorrow was my wedding day.

  I should be happy, regaling in the festivities surrounding such a monumental event. Parties. Bridesmaids. Gifts. Time spent with family. I had none of them. Not one. He’d moved up the wedding a few days, fearful that his arrogance in sending a message to his enemies would be used against him. I had no idea if anyone would attend, nor did I honestly care.

  The mixed feelings I had continued to keep me awake at night. He was following through with my father’s request and the sordid contract. Did Gabriel really love me? I wasn’t entirely certain. He couldn’t say the words, although I’d said them several times. But did I really love him? Could I love a man who’d been hell bent on garnering revenge initially?

  Was I completing the sale to the devil and one day we would both go to hell? I didn’t have the answers, but I couldn’t get out of what would occur. I had no choices. And I remained haunted about the face still eluding me. If only I could remember, perhaps Gabriel could finally live in the present.

  I dropped my head, taking several deep breaths, my body tingling even before I felt hands slide over my shoulders, fingers brushing down my naked arms.

  “You feel good, my sweet girl,” Gabriel whispered as he pressed his lips against my neck, raking his teeth across my skin. He tilted my head toward him as he dragged his tongue across my cheek. “I can’t wait to taste you tonight.”

  The rocket of sensations pulled me into the surreal state we’d shared for almost two weeks, leaving me aching inside.

 
When he eased his hands away, I felt empty, as if he was the only thing that could make me whole. In a way, that was true. I felt lost without him. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be, but this was our world.

  Our passion.

  Our slip-slide into purgatory.

  He slowly walked around the couch, sitting down beside me. In his hand was a small box, the black velvet covering adorned with a single tiny white bow. “I wanted to give you something.”

  I slowly lowered my gaze, blinking several times. I knew exactly what was inside, the ring that would begin tying me to him forever.

  Gabriel wasn’t a patient man and as he opened the box, his eyes were full of expectancy. “I hope you find this acceptable.”

  The ring was stunning, just like everything else he’d purchased for me, the platinum band leading to the most incredible rubies surrounding a beautiful diamond.

  “It’s gorgeous,” I managed, holding out my shaking hand. There would be no ceremony around this. It was merely a formality.

  He took my hand, curling my fingers as he lowered his head, pressing a series of kisses across my knuckles. “I can never get enough of you, my beautiful Alessandra. I will be so proud to be your husband, if only for a short period of time.”

  I knew what he meant, the follow through on every detail of my father’s contract in hopes that perhaps he’d get back a part of his life. The realization made me sad, even as he rubbed my fingers against his cheek, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the moment. I was a little girl lost, adoring a man who could never love me the way he wanted.

  A single tear slipped past my lashes as he placed the ring on my finger. There were so many words I hoped he would say, thoughts about our passion and sharing a life together, but he was incapable.

  He eased a strand of hair from my eyes before wiping away the salty bead, rubbing his finger across his succulent lips. “You should get some rest. Tomorrow will be interesting.”

  Tomorrow could be damning.

  Tomorrow could be telling.

  Tomorrow could be the end.

  “I will.”

  Before moving off the couch, he leaned forward, pressing his lips against mine. As always, the scent of his cologne was intoxicating, creating another round of fantasies that would never come true.

  “Expect a visit tonight, my lovely fiancée. I want to ravage every inch of you.”

  While I didn’t hear his footsteps as he walked out of the room, I knew the moment he was gone, the subtle vibrations I always experienced in his presence falling silent.

  And I’d never felt so lonely in my life.

  * * *

  White roses.

  Dozens of them had been positioned in gorgeous vases in my room, every delicate flower the color of white.

  Innocence.

  Purity.

  Salvation.

  The scent was almost overpowering, the meaning crushing down on my mind.

  The room was filled with beautiful possessions; the draperies sent all the way from Italy, the bookshelves hand carved by artisans and filled with my favorite books, and the insanely gorgeous rug one I’d seen on the pages of a magazine. He’d spared no expense to make me happy, pretending that our relationship was anything but unholy.

  I’d been a part of his world, discovering the beauty of his estate, indulging in fine wines and expensive foods. Yet this wasn’t home.

  This was just make believe, a decision forced on me by my father.

  Then why did I enjoy every moment of being near him?

  I moved slowly to the rear of the chair, dropping ever so silently to the floor. As I reached under, I closed my eyes, holding my breath as I’d done so many times before. The slender handle was comforting, the only reason I’d been able to tolerate the last few days. Swallowing, I pulled the knife into the light, studying the serrated edge, the sharp point. Everything in the house was kept just so; cutlery perfectly polished, knives sharpened after each use.

  As I stood, my legs began to shake, my mind reeling from what I was about to do.

  Killing a man in cold blood was something I’d never done before.

  The memory had come to me in the middle of the night, an unfolding of the tightly woven veil that had been placed around me since even before the night in the club. Why I’d been given the gift of seeing the asshole’s face who’d been arguing with Bobby I wouldn’t know. Maybe it was really a curse, another moment of destruction for a man who couldn’t take much more.

  Another betrayal and I knew I’d lose him entirely.

  However, this was my crusade, my ability to alter his future instead of both of us lurking in the past.

  If only I could find the courage.

  After slipping the blade under my dress and into the folded napkins I’d fashioned into a holder, I bit back a whimper. Then I smoothed my hands down the beautiful frock the color of the Aegean Sea, a hand-beaded creation from the finest designer in Paris. I’d been allowed to pick it out, an unconventional choice for what most people considered a festive event. To me, this was nothing more than additional chains.

  Perhaps I should have chosen the color red.

  The color of hearts.

  And roses.

  And blood.

  I should feel like a princess, cherished by an adoring man.

  Instead, I felt like a mannequin with strings attached, a puppet waiting for her master.

  I was waiting for his summons.

  He’d lured me with an offer he knew I wouldn’t refuse.

  He’d provided me a chance for atonement.

  He wasn’t supposed to be my hero.

  But he’d become that and so much more.

  He’d become my obsession.

  The man I’d fallen in love with.

  The dark abyss was the ultimate cage, but I wasn’t his salvation.

  He was mine.

  The knock on the door was earlier than I’d expected. I gazed at the small clock, my nerves kicking in. This wasn’t the day I’d expected. Then again, nothing was the way it should be. As the door opened, the hulking mass of a man I now knew as Kito offered what had become his kind smile and appreciative eyes.

  “Ms. Toro, a messenger came for you.” He walked further in, an envelope in his hand. I’d never seen him in anything but a suit. Always the professional. Always the man watching for any sign of disturbance. Today, he looked handsome, something I hadn’t allowed myself to notice before.

  Yet I noticed the indentation of his service weapon positioned in a shoulder holster. No one was going to dare destroy what Gabriel had created.

  “A messenger?”

  He nodded. “I didn’t think Mr. Masters would mind since it’s your wedding day and all.”

  I hesitated before moving closer, tentatively accepting it. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes.” He gave me another onceover, his eyes glistening. “If it’s not out of line, I would like to tell you that you’ve been very good for Mr. Masters. I’ve never seen him so happy.”

  Happy. Was there such a word that existed in our world? “Thank you, Kito. I appreciate your kindness.”

  He backed away, returning to his usual stoic manner. I waited until he’d closed the door before going to the luxurious chair that had been my place of comfort. The handwriting was easy to recognize, the realization my father had sent something after his death only increasing my curiosity as well as my anger. Why was he playing some kind of game? What had been his intent?

  This time my hands weren’t shaking as I peeled away the flap, pulling the single page into my fingers. Also nestled inside was a key. I held it into the light, turning it back and forth. It went to a lockbox of some kind. As I opened the letter, I held my breath.

  “My beautiful daughter,

  If you’re receiving this letter, then this is your wedding day. How exciting for you and I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there to share in your special day. By now you are aware that I took intellectual property from Gabri
el. While you may not be able to understand my actions, no matter the reason, the ugly truth is that I did so in order to protect you. I haven’t always been a good man in my life, but you were my shining light, my greatest joy. To have your life threatened was something I couldn’t tolerate.

  To that end, I did what was asked, taking information that could prove damning to Gabriel and his company. I want you to know that I couldn’t go through with it. I couldn’t destroy a man I’d grown to care for. That is why I did the only thing I knew would keep you safe. By marrying Gabriel, no one will dare try to touch you. He is far more powerful than you know and will protect you with his life. I’ve taken other measures in order to right the wrong. You will find additional answers by using this key, the lockbox at the little bank where I met your mother.

  Know I will always watch out for you and love you with all my heart.

  Daddy”

  I fisted the key, butterflies swarming my stomach. He’d risked everything in his world, including his life to keep me protected. I’d read about ruthless people in my life, men and women who would stop at nothing to gain more power and wealth. While I had no way of knowing all the reasons why such an elaborate game had been established in order to ruin Gabriel in every manner, I was certain of the person responsible.

  While I’d believed Gabriel to be a monster, I realized that he was my hero, a knight in tarnished armor. At least this I could do in order to give him back his life, my wedding present to the man I couldn’t imagine being without.

  I slowly moved toward the nightstand, placing the letter and the key on top. I’d squirreled away a single pen and as I eased onto the bed, writing Gabriel a note he would find later, I only hoped that whatever was in the lockbox would ease his pain. Satisfied, I moved to the window, studying the lavishly decorated pool area, various caterers and staff making final preparations for the small reception that would be held immediately after.

  And nothing seemed real.

  Within no time, Kito returned, ready to escort me to the first day of the rest of my life.

  Only I knew by the end of the day, I would be behind steel bars once again, this time with no hope of salvation.