Crave For You

Gabriel

"Boss?" the driver says after opening the car door while waiting for me to come out.

I shift my eyes to the woman with her head resting on my shoulder, lost in a fainting spell. She has been that way since she hugged me, her eyes closing like she had found safety after a long time.

I drop my gaze to the suit thrown over her. I didn't pay much attention to it before but now that I see it, it's a man's suit. If my guess is correct, this piece of cloth belongs to him. My nemesis. My competition.

Grinding my teeth, I pluck the suit from her body, supporting her head with my other hand as I pull the material off her. The furrow between her brows deepens when my movements disturb her sleep. Once the suit is off, I hold it pinched between my thumb and forefinger, forwarding it to Pearson, the driver. He looks confused as he takes it.

"Burn it," I order.

"Si, boss."

I step out of the car. Pearson steps in to help Sofia out but I stop him with a glare. I scoop my girl in my arms, kicking the door shut like it has done a personal offense against me.

The world irritates me. It's too colorful after draining Sofia of the colors that make her. She curls against me, taking soft breaths while being oblivious to how she is being handled.

I march inside the mansion, ready to take Sofia back to where she belongs when Anton materializes from the other end, stopping me in my tracks.

He isn't looking at me but stops with a dreaded expression when he sees me.

"Gabriel, where the fuck—" His speech comes to an abrupt halt when he notices the human in my arms. He swallows, shaking his head. "Don't tell me that's who I think that is."

I give him the answer I know I excel at—silence with a ticking jaw.

He sends a look to the heavens, slamming his fist to his forehead. "Cazzo, Gabriel!" His hand rubs over his chin and roams through his hair. "We talked about this. Fucking Bianca is inside, waiting for you."

He points to the direction of the hall. I give that location an ignorable glance, steeling my spine.

"Who invited her?"

"Your mother."

That woman is hellbent on giving me a stroke someday.

My fingers curl into Sofia's skin, her waist and thighs, pulling her closer. The top of her forehead grazes my chin and I faintly smell the smoke that sits on her body. It's not her smell. It's the scent of abuse.

"I have no interest in meeting either," I declare, proceeding to move without care when Anton steps in front of me, blocking my way.

He does not look happy. A vein in his forehead flashes indignantly.

"When you made me your underboss, you gave me a duty—to protect your reputation," he says. "I can't let you take a step which would harm you and defy that duty. Let me take her."

He makes a move to reach for Sofia. I step back, practically hissing at his intentions like a snake awakened from slumber.

"Stay the fuck away."

"Gabriel..." Anton keeps looking with annoyed eyes at me, not backing down the least. "Give her to me. I'll have Helene take care of her."

"I don't trust anyone with her."

His chin draws in as he takes in the implication behind my words. After what Fabio did to Sofia, I don't need another of my men in her vicinity. They are all beasts.