Page 84 of Plunge into Obsession

His amusement was even more evident now.

“I won’t hurt you,” he repeated. “But do you think I would give the same courtesy to everyone else?”

It took a moment for my brain to comprehend his words.

My eyes widened, and I was left speechless.

Kaia.

He meant Kaia.

And the girls at the club.

He didn’t have to come outright and say it.

I shook my head.

He nodded. “You already know I’m not a good man. So here is what’s going to happen. You’re going to move in with me. Permanently. And you’re going to convince your friend that everything that is happening between us, thatwill happen, is your choice. And make it believable, sweetheart. The moment that girl proves to be a bigger inconvenience than she is worth is the moment that girl forfeits her life.”

My bottom lip trembled, and for a flash of a second, he looked different. No longer amused, he looked regretful. But it was gone almost as soon as it appeared, and I wasn’t sure if that look I saw was really true or if it was my imagination.

Wanting to make Gabriel out to be someone he obviously wasn’t.

I didn’t say anything.

I couldn’t.

He leaned down and kissed my cheek softly, gently.

“You need sleep,mi cariño.”

And with that, he climbed off me and stood at the edge of the bed.

He stared at me, his eyes moving slowly to my bare legs, and I tugged on the shirt I wore further down as if that would somehow offer me a sense of security.

It didn’t work.

I still felt devoured by his eyes, especially by their unmistakable heat.

But all he did was lift me up in his arms and position me back on the bed with my head on the pillow. He tucked the blanket around me, and I could only lie there helplessly.

“I’ll have Elena bring you some food.”

He hesitated, though I didn’t think it was because he didn’t know what to say to me. Something about Gabriel told me he was self-assured in everything he did, and that included his interactions with me. This conversation had goneexactlythe way he wanted, and I was the party left at a disadvantage.

“The wedding will take place in a week,” he informed me.

“So soon?” I whispered.

A week wasn’t enough time for me to come up with a way to get out of it and not let that decision affect anyone.

“Not fucking soon enough,” he said softly.

I heard him loud and clear, though.

Then he was out the door, closing it behind him.

He didn’t lock the door.

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