He grabs my hand and squeezes. "Okay, come with me."
We weave in and out of the crowds of people until we arrive at a table where a man with a clipboard and computer is sitting.
"TheLady In Waitingpainting, is it still available?" Gabriel asks.
"Gabriel, are you serious?" I blurt out.
He turns to look at me. "You like it, don't you?"
"Yes, yes, I just?—"
"Then you shall have it."
The man looks over his clipboard and then types something into the computer.
"Yes, sir, it's available. Asking price is $110,000," the man says.
Gabriel pulls out his wallet and hands him his credit card.
"Gabriel, please, you don't," I say and lean into him. "It's one hundred and ten thousand dollars," I whisper in protest.
He looks at me. "You are mine, Bella, and if you want something—you get it."
Once they finish and set up a time for delivery, Gabriel turns to me and whispers in my ear, "Let's get out of here and get you out of that dress."
I smile and nod. "And you out of that suit."
On the drive home, Sofia and Anna wage war in my mind. I need to contact the FBI, but Gabriel's presence is… dammit.
"I need a car," I say without thinking.
Gabriel gives me a glance.
"What? I do. I can't be cooped up all the time. I want to go out. Get coffee, run errands—you know, be a normal person."
"But Lydia can get you everything you need," Gabriel says without looking at me.
"Yes, but sometimes I want to go get things. Browse around, be a human. You can't keep me caged up in your home, Gabriel."
There's a long pause.
"Okay, you're right."
We pull up to his home, and I get out. "Follow me," he says, and we walk to a garage, and the door opens. Inside are four sports cars. I don't know what they are, but they look expensive.
"I don't need something like this," I say.
We walk around to a separate garage, and it opens to show a black two-seater convertible Mercedes.
"This one," he says.
"Really?" I ask, surprised. I've never driven anything like that before.
"Is it okay?" he asks.
"Yes, yes, of course."
As he hands me the keys, his grip tightens. "Some rules, Bella. I always know where you're going. You always come home to me. And no man but me ever sits in that car with you. You're mine. Non-negotiable."