Page 59 of Plunge into Obsession

She looked up and smiled when she heard me.

“You must be Bianca,” she said with a heavy Spanish accent. “My name is Elena. I am the housekeeper here.”

I opened my mouth but closed it at the last moment when I couldn’t find any words to say. I nodded my head.

Her smile widened. “Señor Cadorna told me about you. Come sit. Have some breakfast.”

Hesitantly, I moved further into the kitchen and sat on the barstool. She placed a plate in front of me of what looked like toasted bread and tomato sauce.

I looked down at the simple breakfast, then up at her expectant face before I took a bite.

Oh, wow.

It was simple, but the flavor was plentiful. It was delicious, and after the night I’d had with Gabriel, I readily scarfed down most of it.

Elena placed a cup of coffee, some creamer, and sugar in front of me. I ignored those and took a sip of the black coffee.

“This is amazing,” I said, and her smile widened at me. I grabbed the napkin nearby and wiped my mouth before looking at her again. “Do you know where… Señor Cadorna is?”

Although her face didn’t change, I thought I sensed disappointment. “He didn’t tell you?”

I shook my head.

“Señor Cadorna left for New York to visit with… uh,friends.And for business.”

“He left?” I asked.

What the hell? I knew what we’d had was a one-night stand, but didn’t I deserve more than for him to just up and leave without telling me?

She nodded, reaching inside her apron for a piece of paper. “He asked me to give you this.”

I frowned, took the paper from her hand, and unfolded it, looking at Gabriel’s neat handwriting.

Soon, mi cariño.

What the hell did that mean?

9

GABRIEL

Three weeks.

Three long fucking weeks had passed, and I was still in New York, away from her.

My skin crawled the more time and distance stretched out between us.

I probably should have talked to her before I left, but it was nearing four o’clock in the morning by the time I’d let her sleep, and I had to leave for the airport half an hour after that.

I spent what little time I did have watching her, taking in the peacefulness of her face and feeling something pinch sharply in my chest.

The only reason I could even hold on to a modicum of control was because of the men I had on her for her protection and Raphael’s word that he would protect her with his life should shit get to that.

“Are you even listening to me?” Nikolay Sokolov, the enforcer of the Vasiliev Bratva, asked me. He sipped his beer, and his position was relaxed on the black leather recliner.

I looked him dead in the eye and answered, “No.”

He didn’t say anything, his eyes hardening a little.

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