Indebted - Piper Stone Page 0,70

back of the seat, the other on the steering wheel. This time, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, the sunglasses shielding eyes that could express every emotion with ease.

I moved toward the fence, easing onto the first wooden slat and leaning over, the harrowing ride all but forgotten by the sight of the horses. “Hey, babies. Come here, pretty ones.” There was nothing that could have made me any happier than the fact all four came without hesitation, easing their massive heads over the fence, two nuzzling against me. As I rubbed their noses, I was suddenly far too emotional, tears slipping past my lashes.

I’d fought so hard to remain strong, but it seemed everything about my little world from before had been stricken with lies. As I pressed my face against one of them, the quiet snorts and the sounds of their hoofs marking the turf became sweet music.

I didn’t hear his approach but as always, I knew he was there. He remained quiet and when I finally looked over, one of the horses had moved in his direction. There was almost nothing gentle about Gabriel but seeing the way he interacted with the beautiful black stallion was incredible. He’d removed his sunglasses, allowing the horse to stare into his eyes. The connection was unbelievable, the horse’s tail shifting back and forth.

“My beautiful baby,” he muttered. “I’ve missed you.”

The brush of his hand was so light. The way he whispered into the horse’s ear completely out of character. I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off him, even though the other babies continued to vie for my attention.

“You’re right, Alessandra. When you infuriate me, I respond and not always in the best way. I’ve spent a good portion of my life pretending that other people’s feelings don’t matter. The truth is, they haven’t in any regard. You’re the first person who’s come into my life that has challenged me this way.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Gabriel. These last few days have been amazing, but they’re not real. You don’t have the capability of having feelings for anyone.” I could instantly see the cloud wrapping around him after issuing the harsh words.

“That’s not entirely true. I did care about someone once. Sadly, as with the majority of aspects of my life, I wasn’t allowed to enjoy for more than a short period of time before she was taken from me.”

“Is that why you ran away from Ireland?”

He shifted his gaze in my direction, removing his sunglasses. “I didn’t leave, Alessandra. I was forced away; told in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t allowed back until I paid off my debt to the family. They had no idea what that did to me nor did they care. Coming to America meant foregoing graduating from Oxford, accepting a leadership in my family’s business. I came here with two suitcases and ten thousand dollars, my father telling me in no uncertain terms that my inheritance was cut off, the money in my bank account frozen. There would be no allowance, no calls accepted, especially to beg for additional funds. Or forgiveness. I assure you, there were rules. Rules to live by. Rules in order to build the family brands. Rules.” Hissing, he gripped the fence, his fingers white-knuckled. “My father expected me to fail. I proved him wrong.”

The words seemed to hang in the air. Horrible and damning, I was beginning to understand why he was riddled with such violent anger. What in God’s name had he done that was so horrible to necessitate his father’s actions?

“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.” There was nothing else I could say, no words that would either calm or soothe him.

A full minute ticked by.

Chuckling, he nuzzled against the horse. “Don’t be sorry for me. I’ve made the best of a life I wasn’t expecting.”

“In a shrine that you wanted filled with people you loved.”

“The house isn’t a shrine. Just four walls and a roof. What else is it supposed to be?”

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” I half whispered. “You are very lucky, even with all you had to endure.”

He snorted, kicking his boot into the dirt. “Luck has nothing to do with everything I’ve built, especially this ranch. I worked long and hard to make it exactly the way I wanted.”

“Yet to live alone.”

“I’m not alone any longer. Am I?” he asked, the whispered words floating toward me. “What happened to your mother?”

I hadn’t expected the direct question. He