Chapter Thirty-One
GAbrIELLA-ROSE
IT HAS BEEN A couple of weeks since the excitement at the office, and things had calmed down a lot. I had been spending quality time with Hudson and Nico, both individually and together. I also made sure that they spent time alone together. I didn’t want them to lose what they had before I came along. Their relationship was just as important as ours.
I had spent some time with Gino, as he had taken me shopping when Nico and Hudson had been away working for a couple of days and didn’t want to leave me alone. I had gotten to know him while they were away and realized how similar he was to Nico. It was as if they were brothers in their outlook on life and how they felt about each other. I still felt the strong connection to him that I’d had the day Viktor had come into the office. It was the same connection I’d felt with Nico, and I’d decided that it wasn’t something I should just ignore, as that could cause more problems than admitting it.
When the boys came back, I decided it was time for us to all sit down and talk about Gino. I wanted to know how they felt about possibly bringing another person into our relationship. To me, it didn’t matter if I had feelings for someone else. If Hudson and Nico said they didn’t want it, then that was the end of the matter. At least I would know in my heart that I had been honest with them so they would be aware of how I felt. I had two men that I loved with all my heart, and I didn’t want to lose them. My heart was big enough to let one more person in, but theirs might not have been.
We were all sitting together in the living room when I decided that we needed to have this discussion.
“Can I speak to you both about something?”
They looked at each other nervously before Hudson spoke.
“What do you need to speak about, as if we didn’t already know?”
I looked at both of them in confusion.
Hudson continued to speak. “I’m guessing this is about Gino and his feelings toward you and Nico. We had a quick chat the other day, when Gino was looking after you while we were talking to Viktor. We decided to leave the discussion for a while because Nico wasn’t sure, but from the sound of your silence, I’m guessing Nico was right.”
It never ceased to amaze me that these two men knew me better than myself at times.
“Well, it appears you were right about Gaby, Nico, but I think we need to talk about how you feel about Gino. We both know he has liked you, possibly even loved you, for a long while. What are your feelings toward him?”
I watched as Nico looked at Hudson and then lowered his eyes before he spoke.
“I guess, if I’m honest, I have always been attracted to him. But didn’t realize that he liked me until after we got into our relationship. You were mine, and I loved you. I still love you and always will. I didn’t want to consider a relationship with another man because I had you. You know I would never do anything that I thought might hurt you, and I have never done anything with anyone without your knowledge, which was one reason why I got myself so upset the other day, because I hadn’t told you that I was going to spend the afternoon in bed with Rosa. I know I’m not really making much sense. I guess what I am trying to say is I’m open to a relationship with Gino, but we would all have to agree, and it would be on the same terms as we have with Rosa. We are exclusive to each other within the group. If you, Rosa, or Gino aren’t happy with that, then nothing happens and we stay happy as we are.”
I was pleased that Nico had finally told us his true feelings for Gino. I could see that it had taken a lot for him to admit that to Hudson. He never wanted to break the relationship he had, and he thought that having feelings for Gino would cause a rift between them. I could totally understand that, because of my own feelings toward Nico, and now Gino, when I was already in a relationship. I got up from my seat and stepped over to Nico, sitting down on his lap and giving him a hug.
“Okay, well, now that we have that much established, I’m going to ask you the same question, Gaby. What are your feelings toward Gino?”
I looked up at Nico. It had been the exact question that he had asked me the day Viktor had come into the office. I hadn’t been able to give him an honest answer that day. I hadn’t even been sure myself with everything that had gone on. Now, however, my mind was a lot clearer.
“I’m going to be honest with you too. Yes, there is an attraction on my part. It feels the same as when I first met Nico. An invisible force pulling me toward him. However, none of my feelings or Nico’s count without you telling us how you feel about it, Hudson. This affects you the most, because I’m guessing you have no feelings toward Gino at all. Plus, we don’t know Gino’s thoughts on the situation.”
I watched as Hudson sat there thinking about it. I was glad he wasn’t just saying the first thing that came into his head, and was considering it carefully. I rested my head on Nico’s chest, his hand gently stroking through my hair, while we both waited anxiously for an answer. I wasn’t sure what to expect as Hudson went to speak. I just hoped that he didn’t lose it completely.
“You’re right, Gaby. I do have the most to lose, but also a lot to gain from this. I only ever want to see you both happy, and knowing your feelings toward Gino, I’m not sure if you can both be happy without him. For the moment, though, our focus needs to be getting Vincent out of your life. My suggestion is we keep things as they are unless Gino confesses his true feelings to any of us. We can sit down and discuss it together then and go from there. What do you think?”
I had to agree that Vincent was a more pressing situation for us all than our feelings for Gino. Gino would always be around, being Nico’s underboss. With me spending time with him, he might eventually crack and finally tell us all the truth.
It was Nico who answered Hudson’s question. “I agree that keeping Rosa safe from Vincent is the most important. But you need to be honest with us, Hud. If we do decide to bring Gino into our relationship, you need to tell us if it’s not working. However, I’m not going to say any more until we get to the moment in time. For now, I agree to keep things as they are.”
I agreed with both of them, happy in the knowledge that everything was out in the open between us. Only time would tell if our dynamic changed in the future or not.
I HAD GONE BACK to working in the office every day after a short break to calm myself from what had happened in here before. The first day was quite nerve-wracking, but after a couple of days, I was completely back in the swing of things. Nico or Gino would always pop their head in if they were around, and one of them would always be here in the office if Hudson was out at a meeting. I finally felt safe again to be in here and wasn’t worried about anyone hurting me.
Hudson and Nico were discussing some business in Hudson’s office, and I had just brought them coffee. It was late in the afternoon and I knew they weren’t expecting any visitors, so it took me by surprise when I heard the elevator door open and someone start walking toward the office. Before I could register who it was, I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and looked around to see Hudson standing there.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Please don’t get worried. Viktor is about to walk in the office. He just wants to talk to you and apologize.”
I could feel my anxiety rising as I watched him walk in. Even with Hudson holding me, the thoughts of the last time he had walked in here with his men ran through his head. I watched as he stopped quite a distance away from me, obviously acknowledging my discomfort. He looked over at Nico by the door to Hudson’s office, and then at Hudson, before he directly addressed me.
“I’m sorry for the circumstances of our last meeting, Miss Quinn. I am not here to cause you any harm today. I just wanted to speak to you.”
Hudson pressed a kiss into my temple and spoke. “It’s really okay, Gaby. Why don’t we all go into my office, and we can speak there?”
Hudson placed his hand on my back, guided me into his office, and sat me down on the sofa, sitting down next to me. Viktor and Nico walked in together and sat down in the armchairs opposite us both.
“Why don’t you explain to Gaby why you are here, Viktor?”
Viktor gave Hudson a smile before starting to speak. “Thank you. As I said, Miss Quinn, I apologize for my actions last time I was here. I was seriously misinformed about what had occurred between you and Vincent. From my point of view, I thought that you had run off with money that was meant for my associate, Mikhail Orlov. Nico and Hudson here have corrected me on that, and I now understand the truth.”
I started to feel a little more comfortable with how the conversation was going. The fact that Viktor was willing to apologize to me said a lot about him as a man.
“I appreciate your apology and accept it, Mr. Kozlov.”
“Please call me Viktor.”
“Thank you, Viktor. And you may call me Gaby.” I finally managed to smile at this intimidating man sat in front of me.
I had always found Russian men menacing. I guessed it was the abruptness of their language and accent. However, Viktor seemed to be quite the opposite as he sat there in front of me. Almost warm and welcoming.
He returned my smile and continued to speak. “Now that I have made my apologies, on to the next reason I came to see you all. Vincent. He was told by Mikhail that you were not in New York, and therefore, he still owed him the money. He obviously didn’t take that well. Unfortunately, though, it also caused him to disappear. No one has seen him for the past two weeks, and he hasn’t even been to the office. I have my men across the country looking out for him. Please do not worry, Gaby. We will find him, and I will deal with him accordingly. A man like that doesn’t deserve to grace this earth, and I will make him pay for what he did to you.”
I remembered that Hudson had told Nico and Viktor everything the last time that Viktor was here. I started to feel embarrassed by the fact that a complete stranger knew what Vincent had put me through and the intimate nature of the situation.
Nico gave me a smile as he spoke, obviously understanding my embarrassment. “You know that Hud had to tell us everything, Rosa. We needed to know the whole situation to understand the lies Vincent was telling. I have already said how sorry I am, and I promise it will never happen to you again.”
I could feel the tears forming again as I remembered the three precious lives that I had lost over the years. Three lives that would never see the light of day, be loved and cherished as they should have been. I felt Hudson’s arm come around my body as I closed my eyes, trying to forget the pain that I was still feeling over my loss. I felt someone take my hand in theirs and looked down, assuming it to be Nico’s. I was taken aback when I saw Viktor kneeling in front of me.
“Gabriella, I promise you that Vincent will pay for what he has done. You may not know me, but I am sure you have heard my reputation. I have already reprimanded my men for what they may have done to you in the past, whether consensual or not. That is not how we treat women. It’s not how I expect any man to treat a woman, and I will not allow them to do it again to anyone else. As for Vincent? Well, as I said, he doesn’t deserve to walk this earth, and I will make sure that when I am finished with him, he doesn’t.”
It still didn’t help the fact that now we didn’t know where Vincent was, although I suspected that Viktor’s reach was far wider than Nico’s. I just had to hope that if anyone could find him, it would be Viktor. He lifted my hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it before getting up and sitting back down next to Nico.
“There is one last thing I wanted to let you know before I take my leave. I wanted to compensate you for the pain and suffering that my men may have caused you. However, I did think that could be taken the wrong way, that I was paying you for services rendered, so to speak. If you will allow me, I would like to make a contribution in your name to a number of charities for women who have been in your situation and need help. I would rather my money be put to a good cause than remind you of what you have been through every time you look at your balance. Would you please allow me to do that?”
I couldn’t believe what I was listening to. Could everything I had heard about this man over the years have been a lie? He was supposed to be ruthless and mistreat everyone he met. However, he seemed to be the exact opposite toward me. I could see a look of recognition come over his face, as if he realized exactly what I was thinking.
“Not many people get to see this side of me, Gabriella, so I would ask you keep it to yourself. I am indeed everything you have heard about me. However, I treat people how they deserve to be treated, so I do have a soft side. It’s just that not many people in my circle get to see it. You, however, always will.”
I gave him a smile. “Thank you, Viktor. I would rather you give your money to help others. I have all I need right here. I also apologize if any of my actions have caused you problems. It wasn’t my intent. I just had to get away from Vincent in any way possible.”
I felt Hudson squeeze me slightly. I knew they hated me saying and thinking it was my fault, but in some respects, it was. If it hadn’t been for me, none of these people would have gotten involved in my mess.
Viktor shook his head. “I’m not going to lecture you because I am sure these two have already. None of this is your fault, and we have chosen to involve ourselves in it. Now, I will take my leave. I will keep Nico updated on my search and let you know when we have found Vincent. You, my dear, just enjoy the life you now have. But, if either of them hurt you, reach out to me and I will deal with them myself.”
I smiled at him and chuckled a little at the look of horror that came over Hudson’s face as I got up to say my goodbyes to Viktor. From a man who had scared the life out of me when I first met him, I now felt as though I had yet another person fighting in my corner if I needed it. He held out his hand, but I didn’t take it. I walked up to him and placed my arms around him in an embrace, which he promptly returned.
“Thank you, Viktor. I’m sorry that I panicked slightly when you came in earlier, but after our last meeting, I hope you don’t blame me. I appreciate your apology and thank you for looking out for me. However, I don’t think you have any worries with these two.” I lowered my voice slightly, but loud enough for Nico and Hudson to be able to hear. “You’d better leave me your number just in case, though.”
The roar of laughter that came from Viktor’s mouth took us all by surprise, but we couldn’t help but join in with him. He said his goodbyes to us all, and Nico walked out of the office with him.
I finally felt as though things were going my way. However, the doubt of whether Vincent was truly gone from our lives still remained. Something told me that we would be seeing him again in the future. I just hoped that when the time came, we would all be ready for it.