Didn’t speak to her the entire fifteen-minute drive back to my two-story craftsman.
Whiskey called my name, and I nearly bolted from the Jaguar. I barely had the presence of mind to pull my weapon and sweep the kitchen, dining room, and front parlor as I entered. Going to the bar cart, I poured a healthy dose of amber.
A sound at the door made me wince.
Gabriella watched me from the encased archway. Her eyes were molten, the same as the liquid fire shimmering in my glass. “Is this how it’s always going to be?”
Me hating every smile on your bonny face?“Probably.”
Gabriella swallowed hard. She turned on her heel and dashed upstairs. I heard the floorboards creak, realizing that she was in one of the front bedrooms. One that wasn’t mine.
Slamming back the rest of my drink, I finished checking the house for threats. The new security measures would be installedtomorrow, and there was a rotation of guards ready to patrol the fenced property. But the men on guard duty were going to have strict orders.Verystrict. I didn’t trust any of them to stay inside. Not after seeing the effect the beautiful creature had on them.
Chapter 17 – Gabriella
Saturday morning the house phone rang. It was lucky for me that Liam had one of the ancient devices. Otherwise, without a cell, there wasn’t any good way to communicate. Gazing into the empty fridge, which I’d secretly hoped had been filled overnight, I answered.
“McDonagh residence.”
“Gabriella! Cara mia, stai bene?” my mother exclaimed.
My stomach pinched as I closed the fridge door. The box of soggy noodles in a soy-based sauce had been the only thing in there. I would have eaten it had I not discovered the fuzzy green topping that wasn’t original to the dish. The only thing left in the house was a half-finished box of cornflakes.
And I might need to save those for dinner, since I doubted very much that Liam would take me to the pub again. Not after whatever sent him into a blind rage.
“Si, sto bene. E tu?” I lied. I was not alright.
I doubted she was either.
“Si, si….” Mama continued to talk rapidly as I examined every cabinet in the kitchen.
One bowl. A single plate. Three mismatched drinking glasses, a bent spoon, and a fork with a missing tine.
No mixing bowls. No pots or pans. Who lived like this? I knew it wasn’t a lack of money. The rest of the house was palatial. The booze in the front parlor was top shelf, as was the stash in the library. The library that was filled with books, some of which were collectables. The car Liam drove was more than a middle-class house.
Apparently, my husband didn’t eat at home.
“Well, can you?” my mother demanded.
I realized I’d been silent too long. “Sorry, Mama, what was that?”
“I asked if you can come over.”
I glanced at the clock. “I don’t see why not, but I’ll have to check with my guards.”
“Ooh! My daughter has her own security detail. You’re so grown up,” Mama gushed.
I grimaced. I’d been woken by the sound of hammering and drilling. The guards were busy installing some high-tech security system. They’d only stepped a few feet inside the doors to adjust the locks from the inside, shooting me wary glances as I’d padded down the steps.
“I’ll see you soon,” I decided and hung up.
Screw it. I was hungry. There’d been no conversation about what was expected of me or what I might need living here. If Liam wanted to keep me as a prisoner, which was exactly what it felt like, he could quit being such a little cowardly shit and tell me to my face.
I stalked to the garage door, which was right off the kitchen. There was a rack with keys dangling by the wall, and I plucked the set for the retro coupe.
When I stepped into the garage, four pairs of eyes shot in my direction. I pulled myself up straight, put on my bestprofessional, no-nonsense look, and declared, “I’m driving over to my parents’.”
They whispered amongst themselves.
