The temperature in the room goes cold. Gabriel turns slightly, and I turn with him.
“Excuse me?” Gabriel says, his tone quiet but lethal.
Kolya shrugs. “If she’s truly Teodora Fetisova, as you claim she is, then she belongs to the Bratva, not you. The council will need to question her, verify her story. She stays in a neutral location, under our protection, until we can speak again on the topic.”
My heart practically stops.
“No.” Gabriel says with finality.
Kolya leans forward. “It’s not a request, Gabriel. You come to this meeting, accuse me of the vilest sorts of crimes, and now you want to simply leave? No, you’re not going to take her back to your home and coach her on what to say. She stays here and?—”
“I said,no.” Gabriel narrows his eyes. “She’s under Moretti protection. She leaves with me. And if anyone in this room has a problem with that, we can discuss it.”
Vlad raises his hand. “Gabriel, be reasonable. If the girl is who you say she is?—”
“She is my woman,” Gabriel says flatly. “That’s who she is. And no one in this room—no one in thiscity—gets to touch her. Is that clear?”
Kolya nods at Sasha, who rises from his seat and walks around the table.
“Take her,” Kolya says to him. “Make sure she doesn’t leave.”
Two more of Kolya’s men form up with Sasha.
“Come now,” Sasha says as he approaches. “Your woman? This plump little thing you overpaid for at the auction?”
The words hit me like a slap, and heat floods my face. I want to crawl out of my skin.
Gabriel moves so fast, I don’t even see it happen. One moment he’s beside me, the next he’s closed the distance to Sasha, his hand fisted in his collar. There’s a blur of movement before a sickcracksounds as Gabriel slams Sasha’s face into the table.
Sasha screams.
But he’s not done. His hand shoots out and he grabs a pen from the table. Then, with incredible speed, he drives it right into Sasha’s thigh. My stomach tightens at the sudden violence.
Sasha screams even louder.
“Gabriel!” Ivan is on his feet. “Stop this right now!”
“She is Teodora Fetisova.” Gabriel’s voice is cold and precise, each word spoken with terrifying calm and clarity. “Daughter of Lev Fetisov. The last surviving member of one of the most powerful families in this city’s history. And she is alsomywoman. Mine to protect. And if any man in this room disrespects her in the way this fool has, I will do worse than this.”
He yanks the pen out. Sasha falls to his knees, his hands wrapped around his leg, blood soaking through his pants.
Gabriel straightens his jacket and smooths his tie.
“I am Gabriel Moretti,” he says. “Don of the Moretti family. I have shown you respect by coming here tonight and presenting my evidence through proper channels. But do not mistake my respect for weakness.” He turns his attention to Kolya. “I know what you did. And so do you. Justice is coming for you, Kolya. Prepare yourself accordingly.”
He crosses back to me and takes my hand.
No one stops us as we walk out, the door closing quietly.
CHAPTER 27
THEA
The limo driver is waiting as we exit the building. He opens the door, and I climb inside, Gabriel sliding in next to me.
He puts up the privacy screen, and I let out the breath I’d been holding since we walked into that meeting.
“Oh my God.” My hands are shaking. “Gabriel, you… youstabbedhim.”
