Stolen by a Sinner (Sinners #3)(48)

“Okay.”

“How long will they stay?” Nisa asks, irritation lacing her words.

Alya Hanim lets out a sigh. “A week. Can you at least try to hide how much you despise them?”

“I can’t promise anything. The second they start ordering me around as if they’re royalty and I’m nothing but a peasant, I might forget I’m a lady and slap them.”

Cautiously I say, “They don’t sound like nice people.”

“They’re not,” Nisa huffs. “You just stay with me while they’re here.”

“Evet,” Alya Hanim agrees. “Let Nisa deal with them.”

I nod, then ask, “Which guestrooms should we prepare?”

Before I can get my answer, Gabriel walks into the sitting room. “Selam,” he murmurs.

My heart starts beating faster at the sight of him, and my cheeks flush when I remember what we did last night.

“I have to miss breakfast,” he tells us. “Emre’s already at work.” After pressing a kiss to his grandmother’s temple, he turns his attention to me. “Give me a moment, Lara.”

I get up from the chair and place my hand over my stomach to contain the butterflies as I follow him to his study.

He shuts the door behind us and lets his eyes drift over my face. “How do you feel after last night?”

“Good.” I give him a tentative smile. “Did you sleep well?”

He shakes his head as he takes a step closer to me. “Thoughts of you kept me awake.”

My smile widens. “Me too.”

Gabriel wraps an arm around my lower back and slowly lowers his head until his mouth brushes against mine. It’s nothing like last night, but it still makes tingles spread through my body.

It makes me feel special.

When he lifts his head, his eyes caress my face. “The doctor is here to give you the implant. Are you ready?”

Even though I feel anxious, I nod.

“Wait here,” Gabriel instructs. He leaves the office, and minutes later, returns with the older man. “You remember Dr. Bayram, right?”

I nod, too nervous to smile.

Gabriel gestures for the doctor to get to work. I glance toward the window, hearing as the doctor moves closer. Gabriel comes to stand on my right, and giving me an encouraging smile, he takes hold of my hand.

Suddenly I feel a prick as if I’m getting an injection, but the sensation passes. I glance at my left arm, then the doctor says, “All done.”

“Thank you,” Gabriel murmurs to the doctor. “You may leave.”

Dr. Bayram lets himself out of the office as Gabriel pulls me into a hug. “Thank you for doing this for me.”

A smile curves my lips. “You’re welcome.”

“I need to leave for work,” he says as he pulls back.

“I hope you have a good day.”

“I doubt I will,” he mutters as he steps away from me and opens the door. “I’ll be busy until the birthday party. I don’t want you to worry if you don’t see me.”

“Okay.” I love that he’s reassuring me after the special night we shared, and it makes my heart expand with affection.

He gestures for me to walk, and we leave the office together. At the top of the staircase, his fingers brush against mine before he takes the stairs down to the front door.

I stand and stare after Gabriel, still finding it hard to believe how much things have changed between us.

I return to the sitting room, and when I take a seat, Nisa asks, “What did Gabriel want to see you about?”

Oh crap.

Thinking quick, I lie, “He had questions about my past.”

Alya Hanim shakes her head. “I hate that Mazur got away.”

“Allah Allah. There will be no talk of that man while we’re planning your birthday party,” Nisa exclaims.

Alya Hanim picks up the guest list again. “Right, where were we.”

“Which rooms should we prepare for the family?” I remind her.

“The three on the first floor in the east wing. That way, they won’t be near you and Nisa, and I can keep an eye on them.”

Nodding, I say, “I’ll get everything ready today.”

With a lot of work to do, we go our separate ways. While I’m changing the sheets and airing out the rooms, Nisa is in the kitchen baking up a storm.

This will be the first birthday party I get to attend, and thinking I don’t have a gift for Alya Hanim, my teeth worry on my bottom lip.

Gabriel said I’m allowed to come and go as I please, but I still feel like I should ask his permission.

Maybe he’ll be home before I fall asleep, then I’ll ask him.





Chapter 30


Gabriel



Emre and I have been busy checking all the shipments of weapons before dispatching them.

Usually, I’d have my men do it, but seeing as the shipments are for high-valued clients, I didn’t want to risk something going wrong.

The moment I sit down to notify my buyers that their orders are on the way, my phone vibrates.

There’s a message from an unknown number. Opening it, I read the text.

My patience is wearing thin.

“Fuck your patience,” I mutter, instantly feeling aggressive.