Right, and I’m fucking Santa Claus.
“She’s dead,” I lie. Taking my gun from behind my back, I keep eye contact with the man. “May you find the rest you so desperately came to seek.” Sparing him the time to agonize any further about what lies in the beyond, I train the barrel between his eyes and pull the trigger. I hope, for his sake, Mazur will pay his family for his sacrifice.
“Bury him,” I order before stalking out of the freezer.
“Where are you going?” Emre asks, following after me.
“I’m going to find out what Lara’s been hiding from me,” I snap, anger already pulsing through my veins.
Chapter 16
Lara
Life is wonderful. I can’t stop smiling.
Every day my heart fills with more warmth, and I’ve grown so attached to Nisa I can’t imagine life without her.
Murat has also grown on me. He’s always quiet in the shadows, but his presence is comforting, offering me a sense of safety I didn’t even know I needed.
I’m making pide the way Nisa taught me and have learned I enjoy cooking and baking.
Placing the dough mixture into the oven, I quickly rinse my hands and dry them. Nisa’s busy making jam from fresh raspberries. It’s incredible, and I love watching her.
“I’ll get started with the manti,” I say.
I’m busy placing a small amount of shredded beef on a square of dough when Gabriel stalks into the kitchen, his features drawn tight with anger. Without a word, he grabs hold of my forearm and yanks me out of the kitchen.
I almost stumble over my feet as I try to keep up with him, my heart instantly setting off at a wild pace.
Over the past month, my fear has lessened, and I’ve started to let my guard down. The sudden aggressive anger from Gabriel has my mouth going bone dry and a tremble shuddering through my body.
I’m pulled into his study, then the door slams shut behind us.
My eyes flit over his face, and having his anger directed at me almost makes my legs go numb. Instantly, my survival instincts from the past flood back. I lower my gaze to the carpet and fold my hands in front of me, waiting for the punishment for whatever I’ve done wrong.
“Have you lied to me?” Gabriel’s tone sounds downright dangerous and merciless.
It makes my fear multiply until it feels like it’s strangling my heart.
“No, Gabriel Bey,” I whisper, my voice respectful.
I scramble to shut down, to shove all my emotions back into a box so the punishment will hurt less, but I can’t. After weeks of getting to feel, it’s impossible to become a closed-off robot again.
I should’ve kept my guard up.
Gabriel takes a threatening step closer to me, putting him so close to me that I can smell his woodsy aftershave. I can hear his angry breaths.
I cower into a smaller target, bracing myself for the slap that’s bound to come.
“Why the fuck is Mazur looking for you?”
My eyes flick up, but seeing his rage, I quickly lower them again. “I don’t know.” My mind races so I can give him an answer. “Probably to kill or punish me for leaving?”
I really can’t think of another reason.
Suddenly Gabriel's fingers wrap around my throat, and I’m shoved back against the wall. With his hand around my neck, I’m forced to look at him. My eyes are wide, my breaths nothing but shallow gasps.
With his fierce gaze locked on mine, he growls, “You’re lying. Mazur would only want you if you were worth something to him. What the fuck are you keeping from me?”
Even though he can easily strangle me, or worse, break my neck, his hold isn’t too tight. It doesn’t hurt.
Yet.
Turbulent emotions wreak havoc in my chest, forcing tears to my eyes. I swallow hard, refusing to cry. “I’m not hiding anything.”
Gabriel stares at me long and hard, the intense moment stretching between us until I’m highly aware of every inch of his solid body so close to mine. His cool fingers around my throat. His breaths skimming over my skin. The gold around his irises shining brighter than ever.
After experiencing all the good life has to offer, there’s so much more to fear. I have a lot to lose. It’s not just my life that’s on the line anymore.
I can’t bear the thought of returning to Tymon. I won’t survive a day.
When it all becomes too much, my face contorts into a pleading expression. With fear drenching my words, I whisper, “I really don’t know why. I promise.” I swallow hard again, my voice trembling as I beg, “Please don’t send me back.”
Gabriel lets go of me and takes a step back, his eyes still burning with anger.
Panic flares through me, robbing me of my ability to think. I just react, grabbing hold of his arm and dropping to my knees. Clinging to his jacket, the pleas fall over my lips, “I beg you, don’t send me back to Mr. Mazur. I’ll do anything you want. He’ll kill me. I can’t go back.”