Page 16 of Claimed by my Stepbrother

“You don’t get to tell me what to do!” She continues to wave a finger at me angrily.

“Yes, I do. You’re in my home,” I reply.

Gabby, who is beside herself, breaks down in tears and runs out of the room.

“See what you did?” Her mother is beet red, and I realize I’m done talking. If all she’s gonna do is shame both of us, especially Gabby, then I have nothing to say to her anymore.

“Where did she go?” she demands.

“I’m sure she’s gone to her room to compose herself. Now, I have work to do. Dinner is at seven. If you’d like to stay here, tell Vito and he’ll find a comfortable room for you. If not, you’re welcome to leave. If you do stay, I’ll see you at dinner,” I tell her and return to my office.

There’s no way that this woman is leaving here. I know that. I just hope that my father can convince her to behave at dinner. I sit down at my desk and stare at the phone for a moment. I need to get this situation with the warehouse squared away. It’s imperative that we retaliate quickly. I don’t need this family drama complicating things for me right now.

More importantly, I hate that Gabby is upset. This is all just too much right now. I get up, pour myself a shot of whiskey, and down it. Once it settles in my stomach, I return to business.

At six-fifty, I step out of my office into the now-quiet living room. When I turn the corner to the dining room, I see my father and his wife seated at the table. They’re sipping wine as the housekeeper begins setting out dinner. Gabby isn’t here and I excuse myself so I can go to her room and get her.

I knock several times. She doesn’t answer so I try the doorknob. The door opens and I peer inside the dark room.

“Gabby?” I call out but nothing.

I flick on the light and find that the room is empty. Scanning the room, I see that all of her belongings are still here. I pull out my cell phone and call her but the call goes straight to voicemail. I then dial Vito.

“Yeah, boss?” he answers.

“Find Gabrielle and bring her to the dining room. She isn’t in her room,” I tell him.

“Yes, sir,” he answers and I disconnect the call.

I make my way back to the dining room, half-expecting her to be there when I arrive but she isn’t.

“Where’s Gabby?” her mother questions me.

“I don’t know. She wasn’t in her room. My man Vito is looking for her. I’m sure she just went for a walk on the grounds to clear her head.”

We wait almost thirty minutes before Vito calls me back.

“She’s not here, boss. She’s not anywhere and no one saw her leave the compound.”

I rise from the table and step outside.

“Get our best men together and go find her. Bring her back here. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, boss. I’m on it.”

* * *

Three hours passand still no word from anyone. I’ve paced a hole in the dining room floor and am about to go out looking for myself when Vito comes into the room.

“Where is she?” I ask him.

“I need to talk to you in private, boss,” he whispers so I turn to walk outside.

“Where are you going? She’s my daughter and I want to know where she is!” her mother shouts.

“Let them be, Laura. He’ll come back and tell us what they know,” my father intercedes.

Once out of earshot of the parents, Vito begins, “We didn’t see any sign of her anywhere. We were about to go into the village, figuring maybe she called a cab after she left the compound, but then I got a call from Caspia’s second-in-command. I’m sorry, boss. He says they have the girl.”

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