Page 26 of Forbidden Sins

Gabe’s hands formed into fists at his sides. “Stay away from her.”

“Or what?” Ian asking, glancing down at Gabe’s clenched hands. “It’s not a good idea to deck a partner.”

“You aren’t a partner,” Gabe reminded him.

“I know they’re looking at one of us to come on board at the top.” Ian leaned in and lowered his voice. “I know you and the old man are pretty tight. But I have my connections, too. The partnership is mine. Stay out of my way.”

The look in his eyes made Gabe understand that Ian was trying to threaten him, but he didn’t succeed. Ian was hungry—for power, money. But so was Gabe, and even though he didn’t need to work—the profits from his stake in the Brotherhood’s businesses was more than enough to live luxuriously—as he looked at Ian, his competitive nature took over. It was never just about the job for Gabe, it was aboutwinning,being the best.

Gabe chuckled. “Here’s the thing, Ian. Everyone knows you’re a snake. There’s no way the other partners will take you seriously enough to vote you as a partner.”

“Is that right? I think you’re going to be sorry for that, Foster. I know you’re a golden boy over here, but you’re done. Don’t cross me.”

Gabe stayed cool, figuring that not visibly reacting would bother Ian more. He was right. Ian glared, before pushing past Gabe and leaving the room.

Gabe had to grab the handle of the nearby fridge to stop himself from stalking after him. But Ian was right, he couldn’t pummel the man—not on company property at least. He could handle himself. But he was angrier on Ellie’s behalf. Ian wasn’t going to get anywhere near Ellie.

He wasn’t sure if the tension roiling through his body was anger or lust. Every time he tried to focus his mind, it just made his body recall the way Ellie had felt underneath him, surrounding him. How she’d kissed him back in the elevator, how it felt to drive into her from behind in the playroom at Di Terrestres. It was barely noon, and he had to get out of the building. He’d always been a workhorse, making him an asset to his employers and clients. Since meeting—and marrying—Ellie, however, his work ethic and productivity had plummeted.

He looked out the window. It was another hot day in Las Vegas, and while his air-conditioned office was a relief, he needed to get outside. He made his way back to his office, changed out of his suit and back into the jeans and T-shirt he’d worn that morning, and made his way to the parking lot.

He jumped on his motorcycle and put on his helmet before starting it up. The motor vibrated, coming to life between his thighs, and he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. He drove for a while; the wind was cool on his arms, but the sun was hot as he drove away from the city and into the desert. Taking a ride on his bike was normally the thing that cleared his mind and helped him focus.

But this time, it didn’t work. Like always, Ellie dominated his thoughts, and when he managed to push her aside, he thought about the firm and his future. He was so close to attaining his dreams, he couldn’t blow it now. And if word got out that he’d drunkenly married Charles Burnham’s daughter, he’d be finished. There’s no way Charles would forgive him. And there was no way Ellie would see the reconciliation with her father that she’d craved. It had been selfish, asking her to continue their relationship until the annulment was finalized. And he’d put her in jeopardy.

His phone vibrated in his pocket and Gabe pulled over to the dusty shoulder to answer it. It was a text from Alana.

I’m at Thalia, doing some work. Up for late lunch?

At the mention of food, Gabe’s stomach growled, and he realized that he’d skipped breakfast, and had only had coffee so far that morning.

Hell yeah. I can be there in twenty.Of all the members of the Brotherhood, Alana was his best friend, and if there was anyone he could trust to give him brutal honesty and clarity on his current predicament, it was her.

He turned the bike around and headed back to the city, weaving in and out of traffic, expertly gliding his motorcycle over the asphalt. At Thalia, he parked next to Alana’s red vintage Stingray, loosened his helmet and hung it over the handlebars. On his way to the door, he let some well-dressed businessmen go inside ahead of him. They looked him up and down in his jeans and T-shirt. Gabe was definitely underdressed to dine in their restaurant—which had a dress code—but he assumed, with a chuckle, that as one of the restaurant’s owners, management would make an exception for him.

He held the door open for the men, and smiled while they barely regarded him. He followed them to the hostess stand, and Libby, the gorgeous woman standing behind it, broke into a huge smile, much to the surprise of the men. “Gabe,” she greeted him. “Alana is just inside at her usual table. Behave yourself because she isn’t having an easy morning.”

“Thanks for the warning, Libby,” he said gratefully, as he made his way inside. Alana had already been seated. She had her tablet and a stack of papers in front of her, and her phone to her ear.

“That’s completely unacceptable,” she told the unfortunate person on the other end. She looked up at Gabe and winked. “Get back to me in two hours with a better response,” she said, and promptly hung up the phone.

Gabe took a seat and helped himself to her half-filled wineglass. “What was that about?”

“Oh, you know, the usual. We need some work to be done on the hotel. The contractor is trying to dick me around because I don’t have one.” She shrugged and bit back a yawn.

He watched her. She’d been working herself like crazy the past few months, especially since the Brotherhood had opened their latest hotel, in which they’d taken the erotic themes of Di Terrestres and created a full-service hotel around the concept. Alana had taken on most of the management of their hospitality businesses, and he knew that the work must be piling up on her. “Everything okay?”

“Just peachy,” she said with a smile that Gabe knew wasn’t as genuine as she tried to portray. He also knew that pushing Alana on the issue would make her push herself harder, work more, to prove him wrong.

He reached across the table and put his hand over hers. “We know you’re working hard lately. You can reach out, you know. The guys and I can help lighten your load.”

“Yeah, especially now that Brett is off enjoying married life, Alex is also planning a wedding and Rafael is working on the campaign for his senate run, on top of their own workloads. Yeah, they have all the time in the world to help out. Don’t worry, I’m fine,” she told him. Her voice was firm, and told him that she was close to getting angry. “Give me that,” she said, reaching out and plucking the wineglass from his fingers, and drinking from it.

The waiter came by, and Gabe asked for a beer. Alana put away the stacks of paper and the tablet, and the server returned with Gabe’s lager. He tasted it. It was cold and crisp, the bubbles reminding him of the champagne he’d lapped up from Ellie’s body the night they’d married.Jesus, get a grip.He sighed, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.

“I think the better question is, is everything okay with you?” Alana said.

He didn’t look at her, instead taking another mouthful of his beer. He sighed again.

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