Indebted - Piper Stone Page 0,66

attempted to frame her. I’d learned a long time ago that I couldn’t trust anyone.

Not even the woman who’d placed a spell over me.

“Come. It’s time you and I had a long talk. The discipline can wait.”

She narrowed her eyes before taking tentative steps. “A talk. Does that mean you’re going to tell me the truth about what my father did?”

“I will tell you as much as I believe you should hear; however, your father appeared to have led a double life for some time.”

I was surprised when there was no instant rebuttal, merely a single nod. She’d come to accept the fact her father wasn’t the man she’d thought him to be.

“Tell me everything about your relationship with Bobby Rivers,” I stated, attempting to act nonchalant.

“Why?”

“Because I asked you to. I want to know everything.”

“Bobby Rivers is a snake and nothing more. There was no relationship.” She kept her distance, her eyes full of questions, but as she began to speak, I realized that I may have underestimated the asshole.

He would attempt to come for her to finish off whatever assignment he’d been given, and when he did, he would face my wrath.

Chapter Twelve

Alessandra

The morning had dawned with bright sun streaming in through the windows. I’d awakened to a lovely white rose positioned on my pillow with a glorious note.

From him.

Gabriel...

“Today, we will share something special.”

I had no idea what that could mean, but I was intrigued, excited.

Four days had passed since the night in the pool. Four unusual days. I’d been caught in throes of such emotions that I’d found it difficult to breathe, unable to think about anything but being with him. With the man I... swallowing, I shook my head, every part of my body shaking. I’d been forced on numerous occasions to place my feelings in a tidy little steel box, padlocking it after every opening for fear of becoming consumed.

Passion.

Silence.

Abandonment.

I’d felt everything, experienced all sides of a man who was like a caged lion. He was exciting and frustrating, igniting the darkness that had already spun out of control. I adored him then hated him, craved then feared him. The yin and yang was difficult to embrace.

Let alone understand.

Even now my pussy ached, the long and hard fucking the night before acts of pure sin that shifted from one room to another. Every part of me tingled at the thought of seeing him again, spending time with him, engaging in the filthy lust.

With a monster.

I closed my eyes, trying desperately to push the ugly but true thought aside.

Gabriel was an enigma, a man who’d forgotten how to live. He’d carved out a kingdom for himself, reveling in his wealth, yet he remained all alone, punishing himself for whatever sin he’d obviously committed.

So afraid.

Angry.

Desperate.

At least that’s the way I saw him. He would never let me into his world, to share his pain or his triumph, but he enjoyed inflicting anguish, his sadistic side overwhelming. My mouth was dry, my pulse ticking visibly in the side of my neck, a further indication of the raging desire that refused to leave. He had such a tremendous effect on me, his larger than life persona threatening to drain me of my life’s blood.

But he continued to hide aspects of his world. I’d gleaned enough just from our infrequent conversations to know he also skated back and forth between right and wrong in his business. Perhaps that’s how he’d become so powerful.

And so hated.

I’d heard enough during the conversation with Jefferson days before to know Gabriel had a number of enemies, all prepared to take him down. What struck me as odd was that he didn’t seem to understand why. The majority of influential people I knew always understood when they had a target on their backs.

He’d concentrated on asking details about my past, including what little I’d remembered about the night of the stabbing.

And he remained pissed.

The conversation regarding my father as well as the bastard who’d framed me had been enlightening. Gabriel had shared no emotion while telling me that my father had used ruthless tactics, his theft not as much about money but corporate intelligence. My father had changed during the last year. I’d already known that. He’d become antsy and closed off, not the same gregarious man I’d known as a child.

I’d been too busy at school to pay close enough attention, believing he was just going through some tough times. If I’d only pushed him harder to find out what was happening, maybe