Clairessa’s POVAs we rode in the back seat on our way to the club, Gabriel sat beside me, tensed, his energy vibrating with something primal. I could feel it in the way his fingers tapped against his knee, his frustration obvious.Then, without warning, he turned to me, his face hardened. "So help me God, Clairessa, if any of those crazy bastards come near you tonight, I’ll be going to jail for fucking murder." I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief as I placed a hand on his chest. "Gabriel, no one is hurting anyone tonight. And no one is going to jail." His fingers curled into a fist on his thigh. "As long as they keep their damn hands off you, everything will be fine. Because if they don’t, I swear I’ll make them regret it.” I smirked, my eyes meeting his as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Gabriel… tonight is about Sergio and Raquel," I reminded him. "Let’s focus on that.”He sucked in a deep breath, as though trying to calm himself. "I’m well aware. That’s the on
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel’s face hardened back into its usual stoic mask. “Clairessa, I’m not taking any chances with you shaking any part of your body for the drunk men in this room to watch.” I scoffed. “Gabriel, I’m going to be dancing with you. So if there’s any body shaking, it’s going to be for you. That’s kind of how dancing works,” I retorted sarcastically. “Clairessa, I’m still not taking any chances with you in this damn dress.” “What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like any of the men here could—” His cold, lethal gaze cut through me, silencing me instantly. Fine. Overprotective mode was in full effect. I sighed dramatically and turned to face him fully. “All right then, Mr. War General.” I lifted my glass again. “I guess I’ll just keep sipping my drink while everyone else dances.” Gabriel let out a heavy breath, his teeth grinding as he grabbed the glass from my hand and set it down. “Just one dance.” I smiled excitedly, tilting my head to brush a
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel glanced at his phone. His face tightened—it was obvious the call was important. His thumb hovered over the decline button, ready to ignore it. I placed my hand on his chest and whispered, “It’s fine. You can answer it.” My voice was soft, reassuring.His jaw clenched. “Not a chance. I’m not leaving you alone in this place.” I let out a small laugh, tilting my head.. “Gabriel, it’s the VIP section. We’re practically the only ones here, and Sergio and Raquel are just over there.” I gestured toward the couple, still wrapped up in their own world. “You can take your call, and I’ll just be dancing until you’re back.” His gaze burned into mine. “Not a chance in hell.” Before I could protest, he let out a low groan, then grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the private seating area. He leaned down, whispering something to Sergio, who briefly glanced at me before signaling one of the bodyguards. The man moved closer, his presence a silent command. Gabriel tu
Clairessa’s POVDaniel stepped back, startled. But before he could react, Gabriel lunged at him. His fist collided with Daniel’s face, sending him stumbling back. The impact echoed through the room. Gabriel’s chest rose and fell, his breath ragged, his knuckles flexing as if itching for another hit. “That’s what I should have done years ago,” he spat, his voice filled with pure rage. Daniel regained his stance and wiped the blood from his lip, his own fury igniting like gasoline to a flame. “Why didn’t you?” he shot back, his stance shifting, daring him. “Guys—” Sergio shoved between them, placing a firm hand on Daniel’s chest. “Not here. This is the wrong place and time.” Gabriel's entire body vibrated with anger. After a long, tense pause, he finally spoke. "I’ll leave. Only because of you, Sergio.” Then, without a word, he seized my hand, his grip tight, giving me no room to protest. His hold was firm, possessive—as if staking his claim. I barely had time to process
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel walked ahead of me as we entered the villa, his broad shoulders tense, his entire body still radiating anger. "Gabriel," I called after him. He stopped but didn’t turn around. I quickened my pace, reaching out to wrap my fingers around his elbow. He was warm, his muscles rigid beneath my touch. Slowly, I turned him to face me, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might shatter. His face—God, his face—was a mess of bruises and fresh blood. A cut on his brow trickled crimson down his cheek. I reached up instinctively, brushing my fingers over the cut.He flinched. Pulled away. As though my touch burned. A deep ache spread through my chest. He wouldn’t even let me comfort him.Without saying a word, he strode to the bar, grabbing a glass with the same hands that had landed brutal punches just moments ago. He poured himself a glass of scotch. Then another. The silence pressed in, heavy, suffocating. I swallowed hard. “Gabriel, please… talk to m
Clairessa’s POVMy head spun as a mix of fear and excitement coursed through me; anticipation burned in my veins. I made my way to the bed, my knees sinking into the soft sheets as I pressed my hands against them. My thighs spread apart, revealing my warmth.A chill ran through me. I was completely open, vulnerable. I was sure he could see how wet I was, my arousal glistening at my entrance, silently begging for him.Instead of shame all I felt was an unbearable heat.Then I heard the rustle of fabric—the unbuckling of his belt, the slide of his zipper. A shiver raced down my spine.I didn’t turn. I couldn’t.I felt him before he even touched me—his presence, consuming, commanding.Then—he was behind me.His fingers tangled in my hair, gripping, pulling, forcing my head back as his lips crashed against mine.The kiss was wild and desperate.His mouth was hungry, devouring as they claimed every inch of my skin.His hands traveled down my neck, rough and demanding. He cupped my breas
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel’s tongue gave my slit one last slow, teasing lick, his mouth lingering on my clit just long enough to send a jolt of pleasure through me. Then he pulled away, leaving me aching and desperate for more. I winced in frustration, already on all fours, my knees pressing into the sheets. His hands gripped my waist—firm, possessive—positioning me exactly how he wanted me. His cock rubbed against my entrance, teasing, coating himself in my wetness. Then—he drove into me. Hard. Deep. A soft cry escaped my lips as my body shook from the impact, my fingers clutching the sheets as the sting of his intrusion melted into raw pleasure. He stretched me open. The pressure, the sheer size of him, sent a shudder through my body. “You're so tight… so wet for me," he groaned against my ear, his breath hot against my skin. "Like you were made for me." His hand tangled in my hair, yanking my head back, forcing my spine to arch as he buried himself inside me.
Clairessa’s POV "Say you'll never leave me..." Gabriel's husky voice demanded, his lips tormenting me with wet kisses. "I..." I opened my mouth to respond, but before the words could leave my lips, a loud, insistent banging shattered the moment. I forced my eyes open, my lashes fluttering as I tried to adjust to reality. My hand instinctively reached for Gabriel’s side of the bed—but it was empty. Cold sheets. I blinked, my senses catching up. And then it hit me. It was a dream. Gabriel wasn’t here. I let out a quiet groan, rubbing my eyes as I slowly sat up. A dull ache settled in my limbs, a reminder of last night. A frown tugged at my lips as I glanced around the room. No sign of Gabriel. Had he gone to the balcony? Maybe the bathroom? I was about to call out for him when the knocking came again, firmer this time, pulling me from the fog of sleep. With a heavy sigh, I threw the sheets off me and stood. My body felt exhausted in places I hadn’t even realized could be
Gabriel’s POV “Dad?” I didn’t bother looking up as I stirred the pot, letting the aroma rise and fill the kitchen. “I’m here,” I called out. I heard Adrian’s footsteps draw closer. He stopped at the kitchen threshold, and the silence that followed stretched just long enough to make me smirk without turning around. “Wait—are you cooking?” he asked, disbelief lacing his voice. “Dad, I’m shocked. You haven’t cooked in… what, years?” I finally turned to face him, wiping my hand on the kitchen towel slung over my shoulder. “Gretchen told me earlier she had a personal errand to run and would be back by noon.” I offered a casual shrug, reaching for the ladle and giving the pot another stir. “I was hungry and couldn’t wait that long.” I could feel the lie burning on the tip of my tongue. Truth was, I wasn’t hungry. Eating was the last thing on my mind. The food I was cooking—it was for Clairessa. I wanted her to have something warm when she woke up, something to ease the aftermath of
Gabriel’s POV I gently pulled the duvet down and slipped my arms around her, lifting her against me. Her body was burning, her skin clammy, her breath shallow. She didn’t stir—just shivered helplessly in my arms, trapped in some fever dream. “Clairessa.” My voice cracked as I shook her gently, trying to coax her into consciousness. “Hey, open your eyes… please.” No response. “It’s me. Gabriel. I’m here,” I whispered, lifting her slowly into my arms and brushing damp strands of hair from her face. Her eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, they opened. Our eyes met—just briefly. She gave the faintest smile, soft and dazed—then slipped back into the fever, her eyes shutting again. Fuck. I had to do something. I lowered her carefully onto the mattress and rushed to the bathroom, soaking a towel in warm water. I came back and laid it across her forehead, holding it there, hoping to ease the heat. After a minute or two, I replaced it with a fresh one, trying to bring her temperatur
Gabriel’s POV I gripped the steering wheel. “Clairessa—” “You made it clear you’re never going to forgive me,” she said, cutting me off. Her voice trembled. “So it’s better if I go. At least that way, I don’t have to stand next to you, knowing you think the worst of me.” She paused, her eyes glassy. “That look in your eyes… like I’m something filthy. It’s more than I can take. So please… just let me go.” And then she turned and walked away. Just like that. For a moment, I just stared at her, stunned. Her words tried to cut deep into my heart, but I fought it off. How dare she try to make this about my reaction to her betrayal, when she should be grateful—that I was offering her a hand when she deserved far worse for what she’d done? This felt like classic manipulation, just like she’d done before. And I was on the edge of giving in to the voice telling me to turn back... but I couldn’t. Watching her stumble through the storm, drenched and defeated by the rain... It tore some
Gabriel’s POV I stood by the window in my bedroom, staring out at the heavy downpour, hoping the rain could somehow drown out the noise in my head. But it didn’t. The ache in my chest was unbearable. It felt like someone had torn my heart out with their bare hands, and I was still expected to function. To breathe. To move on. Clairessa lied to me. She deceived me. And no matter how many times I tried to reason it out—tried to stitch together a narrative that didn’t hurt as much—I couldn’t move past it. The sickest part? My own son was also in love with her. We both fell for the same woman. But I didn’t just fall. I plummeted. I let my guard down for her. Let her in like she was my second chance at something I didn’t even believe in anymore. Love. I told myself she was different. Safe. Real. Mine. But no. She wasn’t. She was exactly like Angelique. The same games. The same fake innocence. The same damn sweetness masking manipulation. Deception. Lies. And I bough
Clairessa’s POVAs soon as the door slammed shut, it felt like my entire world collapsed.A sharp, jarring pain tore through my chest, and I clutched at my heart instinctively, as if holding it might stop it from breaking apart.My legs buckled beneath me, and I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air as a sob ripped from somewhere deep inside me.I tried to silence it—to swallow the sound—but it was no use. I didn’t just cry. I broke down.Tears streamed down my face, falling freely onto the wooden floor beneath me.Gabriel’s last words echoed in my head again and again, each repetition cutting deeper into my already shattered heart.“We’re done. Nothing is ever going to happen between us again.”But it wasn’t just the words.It was the look in his eyes.A look that will haunt me forever.Disgust. Disdain. Like I was a mistake—a betrayal he regretted ever letting into his life.And what hurt the most wasn’t just losing him… it was knowing that someone who once loved me so deeply
Clairessa’s POVMy voice cut through the room, stopping Gabriel in his tracks.“No… I didn’t,” I choked out, my chest tightening, hands trembling at my sides. “This was a stupid plan. One I never should’ve gone through with—”He turned around slowly to face me—but I kept going.“But don’t stand there acting like you’re innocent. You cheated on me, remember?”His eyes darkened, pain flashing before it drowned in fury.“Don’t you fucking—” He stepped forward, his voice tight with rage.“Liar,” I spat, stepping into the fire between us. “I walked in on you and Nicole. Naked. In your bed. Don’t stand there pretending you ever gave a damn about me… about us.”“I was drunk, Clairessa!” he exploded. “I didn’t even know how I got home! Nicole told me I kept calling your name all night—like a pathetic mess. Over and over again. She didn’t touch me. Nothing happened.”I shook my head, unable to erase the image burned into my memory. “You expect me to believe that? That you just conveniently end
Gabriel’s POV “Which part?” I growled. “Dating my son? Or crawling into my bed, moaning my name like it meant something?” “No one sent me.” “Still lying,” I hissed, gripping her arms—maybe too hard, but I didn’t care. Not now. I needed the truth. I needed it like air. “You don’t just fall into bed with two men from the same bloodline by accident. So who the hell sent you?” She writhed in my hold. “I’m telling the truth! Gabriel, you’re hurting me. Please…” “Not until you tell me the truth,” I bit out. “This is mercy compared to what I’ll do if you keep lying.” My fingers sank deeper into her skin. I shut down whatever was left of my conscience. I was done being reasonable. The truth was coming out—no matter the cost. “I know you planned this,” I growled. “Every move. Every kiss. You made me fall while you played your sick little game. So tell me—who sent you?” “I’m begging you,” she sobbed, struggling against me. “Let me go, and I’ll tell you everything.” I stilled.
Gabriel’s POV I gripped the edge of the desk in my home office, holding it firm like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. I needed to act. Needed answers. The damn truth I grabbed my phone and hit the contact for Clayton—my PI. He picked up on the first ring. “Clayton,” I growled the moment I heard the click. “I was just about to call you,” he replied, voice tight—strained in a way that was unusual. “What did you find?” I demanded, not even bothering with a greeting. There was a pause. “Gabe…” he began, and that hesitation told me everything. Clayton never stalled. Never stumbled. He was a blunt, straight-to-the-point bastard. If his tone had changed, I knew the news was going to rip through me like a blade. “Just tell me,” I snapped. “This finding might shock you. I don’t know how to—” “Bloody hell, speak, Clayton. Now!” I barked. His delay was shredding what little patience I had left. I already knew—I just needed him to confirm it. “It’s... it’s going to hit har
Gabriel’s POV“Adrian… playing savior to a woman while your business circles the drain? That tells me your priorities are completely out of whack. Why bring her here of all places? What happened to your loft?”He shot me a bitter look. “You already know what happened. You refused to help out when the restaurant got scammed. So I had to let go of the loft in order to pay staff. Keep the business alive.”“That’s not my business,” I said flatly. “I gave you a choice: come work at the company or deal with your mess. You chose. Don’t come crying now.”Adrian rubbed the back of his neck and looked down.I continued, “You know how sacred this house is to me. I’ve always had a no-guest policy here. So why the hell bring her here? A hotel, a friend’s place—anywhere but here.”Adrian met my stare. “I’ve been staying here ever since I gave up my loft. Naturally, she’d stay with me. And no, I can’t afford a hotel right now.”“Adrian,” I said, stepping forward, “don’t you get it? I’m trying to set