ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 15

GABRIELLE’S POV

Damon didn’t come home that night.

I got a call from Rhys saying they were caught up with something he couldn’t discuss over the phone.

So I spent the rest of my night replaying Aiden’s threat in my head over and over again.

By morning, I had already decided not to tell Damon about it.

I had a quick breakfast with the girls and spent the rest of the morning working.

By noon, I was in the kitchen learning how to cook pasta while Fiorella supervised me.

It seemed like a normal morning on the outside, but inside, I was spiraling.

Fiorella ended her call and turned to me. “I have to go meet Rhys.”

I lifted my eyes to her. “Now?”

“Yes,” she answered. “He just called and said to meet up. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I nodded and watched her walk away.

I returned to the stove, stirring the pasta slowly as the sauce thickened.

I tried to taste the sauce but clumsily dropped the spoon on the counter, splashing the sauce all over my dress.

“Fuck!”

I took my dress off and reached for the apron on the hanger, pulling it over my underwear.

My focus remained on the pan as I tried to steady myself.

That was when I felt his presence.

When I looked up, Damon was standing by the kitchen entrance.

“Welcome,” I said with a stiff smile. “How long have you been standing there?”

He stared at me for a second before answering. “A few seconds. You’re cooking. That’s new.”

“I just thought to make something nice for you,” I said with a sarcastic tone. “Especially as you didn’t come home last night.”

He stepped further into the kitchen, his eyes never leaving mine.

The silence between us grew tense.

“Are you mad at me?” he asked.

“What do you think?” I returned, turning back to the stove.

I suddenly realized I was almost naked underneath my apron.

I looked over my shoulder and caught him staring. “And stop gawking at my ass, Damon.”

His eyes returned to mine. “I got caught up last night. I’m sorry I couldn’t call you myself.”

I didn’t respond.

I kept stirring the pan angrily even though it did not need it.

Damon’s footsteps echoed in the room as he walked closer.

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “I need you right now, Gabrielle.”

“Well that’s too bad because I’m still mad at you,” I retorted, even though my body said otherwise. “Where were you last night?”

Damon moved his head to my other shoulder and kissed it. “With my brother.”

“Doing what?”

He exhaled and pulled away, then turned me around before I could even blink.

“Work stuff,” he said, his voice rough. “There are problems we need to deal with.”

I held his gaze, searching his face for more. “What kind of problems?”

“I don’t want to worry you,” he said instead. “I’ll handle it.”

That was not enough.

It was never enough when he spoke like that.

I stepped back slightly, folding my arms across my chest. “You disappeared the entire night, Damon. You don’t get to come back and give me half answers.”

His jaw tightened. “I said I’ll handle it.”

“And I’m your wife,” I shot back. “I deserve to know what kept you out all night for the first time in three years.”

The tension in the room shifted, heavier this time.

Damon looked at me for a moment, then dragged a hand through his hair.

“Some of Rocco’s old loyalists are moving again,” he said finally. “Rhys just found out. They’re planning something.”

My heart dropped to my stomach.

It had been so long since I heard that name, and I knew nothing good came after.

Even in death, he still wouldn’t leave Damon alone.

I held his gaze, my heart starting to pound. “So what now?”

“There's a dinner party tonight,” he said. “I will have to go with Rhys. See if we can get some information on them.”

I turned back to the stove, stirring the pasta again. “Then we will go together.”

“We?” he repeated.

I nodded once, keeping my back to him. “Yes. We.”

“You can’t come, Gabrielle,” he replied. “It’s too dangerous.”

I turned my head slightly, just enough to meet his eyes over my shoulder. “I’m not sitting at home while you walk into something like that.”

His gaze hardened. “You are not coming.”

My grip tightened around the spoon. “Don’t start that.”

“It’s not up for discussion, Gabrielle.”

I turned fully this time, facing him. “I’m glad you know that. Because I’m coming with you and it’s not up for discussion.”

“Gabrielle—”

“If you don’t take me with you, I’ll go by myself,” I cut him off. “It would be better if you kept an eye on me instead.”

Another silence stretched between us.

Damon studied my face, like he was trying to decide something.

Then his gaze shifted slightly, narrowing.

“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked.

My breath caught for half a second before I forced it back to normal. “Nothing. Just tell me you’re taking me with you.”

He didn’t believe me.

I could see it in his eyes.

I turned back to the stove again, lowering the heat. “Let’s eat first and we can discuss this later.”

Neither of us moved.

Behind me, I heard him exhale slowly.

“Get a dress with my card,” he said after a moment. “We’re leaving together.”

That wasn’t what I expected him to say.

I glanced back at him. “I thought you said I wasn’t coming.”

“I changed my mind,” he replied. “If something is off, I’d rather see it than hear about it later.”

I smiled despite the tight feeling in my chest.

“Now, can I spend some time with my wife?” he asked.

I leapt into his arms before I could stop myself, and rose to my toes to kiss him.

One of his hands cupped my cheek, gently brushing my skin with his thumb. ”How does it feel?”

I swallowed, my body warming. “New and weird. Tell me how they work.”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he said. “Put on your dress now. It would go well with these.”

He brought out a jewelry box from his pocket and opened it.

A sparkling necklace sat there.

I took it from him. “Oh, Damon. It’s so pretty.”

“The prettiest,” he said.

I lifted my eyes to see him staring at me. “Thank you.”

He stepped closer and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”

Then he walked away.

God, I loved him so much.

And even though he was my husband, I still had a crush on him.

I always would.

I stood there unmoving for a second, trying to calm my nerves and adjust to the feeling of the silver balls inside me.

But my mind kept circling back to the threat that loomed ahead of us—Rocco’s men.

❧

I took Damon’s hand and stepped out of the car.

The silver balls shifted inside me, almost dragging a low moan out of me, but I caught myself.

I froze the moment I lifted my head.

Men and women stood in small groups along the driveway and by the entrance.

Some watched the arriving cars, while others spoke quietly among themselves, flanked by armed gunmen.

My grip tightened around Damon’s hand. “What is this?”

He glanced at me, then back at the men. “Cartel members,” he said calmly. “It’s a mafia gathering.”

Oh.

No wonder he didn’t want to bring me with him.

My eyes widened slightly as I took it all in.

A car pulled up behind us.

I turned and saw Rhys step out first, then Fiorella.

She met my gaze and gave me a small wave.

I returned it.

Rhys nodded once at Damon before the couple walked toward the entrance without stopping.

Damon looked down at me. “Let’s go in.”

“Wait,” I said.

I stepped aside and pulled out my phone quickly.

I sent a message and my location to Aiden.

“What Damon took from you is here. Come get it.”

I locked the screen and slipped the phone back into my bag.

Then I returned to Damon’s side and took his hand again.

“Ready,” I said.

He squeezed my hand in his once and we walked in together.