Stolen by a Sinner (Sinners #3)(55)

It looks like Gabriel is a second away from strangling her.

Eslem is either very brave or stupid.

“What’s going on?” Alya Hanim asks as she enters the dining room.

Ayesenur Hanim lets out a string of Turkish words, and for a couple of minutes, I don’t have a clue what they’re saying, but it looks intense.

Everyone is upset, then Gabriel shouts, “Silence!”

Instantly the room grows quiet.

He pins Eslem with a dangerously dark look. “You will apologize to Lara.”

“Gabriel Bey,” Ayesenur Hanim gasps.

“I said to keep quiet. I’ve had enough of you,” he warns his aunt. Turning his attention back to Eslem, he orders, “Apologize to the woman I’m dating, or so help me God, I will disown you.”

What?

Gasping, my eyes dart to his face. He looks like he could murder someone with his bare hands.

Because of me.

Gabriel’s defending me against his own family.

Eslem sucks in a deep breath, then locks eyes with me. “I apologize. I wasn’t aware you were dating my cousin.”

Gabriel lifts a hand, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Eslem.”

“I’m sorry. Okay? Geez.” She lets out a huff then injects sincerity into her voice. “I apologize for disrespecting you, Lara Hanim.”

Leveling his aunt and cousin with a final look of warning, he says, “You will treat Nisa and Lara with the same respect you give me. They are not maids in this house. They’re more my family than you’ll ever be.”

My heart fills with so much warmth it threatens to burst.

How can I not fall in love with this man when he’s so amazing?

Still gripping my hand tightly, Gabriel pulls me out of the dining room as he orders, “Clean up the mess you made, Eslem!”





Chapter 34


Gabriel



The woman I’m dating?

I drag Lara to her bedroom and demand, “Change your clothes.”

With uncontrollable rage simmering in my chest, I watch as she gets clean clothes and rushes to the bathroom. The moment the door shuts behind her, I suck in a deep breath of air in an attempt to calm down.

Christ, I almost slapped Eslem.

When I walked into the dining room and saw her treating Lara like she’s a piece of shit, I lost it.

The woman I’m dating?

This time I can’t ignore the bomb I dropped in the dining room. It seems my heart decided Lara’s my girlfriend before my mind had time to catch up.

It is what it is. There’s no denying it any longer.

Fuck being bewitched, I’m falling hard and fast for Lara.

Noticing the dress, some of my anger dissipates.

I wonder what her reaction was.

The bathroom door opens, and Lara comes back into the room. She gestures to the dress. “Thank you so much for the gift.”

“You’ll wear it for me.” It’s supposed to be a question but comes out as an order.

“Yes.” Then she suddenly drops to her knees and pulls a slender box from beneath the bed. Standing up, a shy smile graces her lips. “I got you a gift, as well.” She hands the wooden box to me. “It’s to say thank you.”

Staring at her, a smile forms on my face. I flip the box open and look down at the gold fountain pen. “I love it.”

“You do?” She moves to my side and points at the toothed gears you’d find in a clock. “I really like that.”

“Me too. It’s unique.” Taking hold of the back of her neck, I lean down and press a kiss to her mouth.

When I pull back, happiness shines in her mesmerizingly blue eyes. My woman was degraded by my aunt and cousin, and it doesn’t look like it upset her.

“Are you okay?”

She nods. “Yes.”

“You’re not upset with the way Eslem treated you?”

Lara shrugs. “It was nothing, and she apologized.”

“Nothing, my ass. I won’t have people treating you like that,” I snap. Taking a deep breath to calm down, I continue, “Don’t ever let someone disrespect you again.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

Setting the box down on the bed, I lift my hands to her face and frame her cheeks. With my eyes locked with hers, I say, “You stand up for yourself, Lara. You’re mine, and I can’t have someone treating you like shit. Not only does it reflect badly on me, but I won’t stand for it.”

A smile spreads over her face, her eyes softening with affection as she stares up at me. “I like that.”

“Which part?”

“I’m yours.”

My thumb brushes over her cheek. “You know what that means, right?”

She nods. “I belong to you.”

I shake my head, and confusion washes over her face, which has me explaining, “It means this thing between us is serious. If you’re not ready for a relationship, you need to tell me now. It’s either everything or nothing.” Leaning into her, I say, “I don’t want your gratefulness, Lara. I want your heart, soul, and body.”

Her tongue darts out to wet her lips.

“Take time to think about it,” I add, not wanting to force her into anything. I want Lara to make the conscious decision to be with me. I want her to willingly submit to me.