Page 47 of Forbidden Sins

Gabe tried to hold his panic at bay. “Is that right?”

“Yeah, it was quite a show you guys put on. That Ellie looks like a pretty decent lay.”

“Keep her out of this.” Gabe clenched his fists and stood. “And I won’t be blackmailed, especially by someone like you. You should leave,” he warned the other man.

Ian made no move. “I can assume the old man doesn’t know that you’ve been fucking his daughter. But that’s not all.”

If Smith exposed Ellie, he had nothing else to lose. “What else you got?”

“I’ve learned that you’re one of the principle partners of Di Terrestres. The club that Charles Burnham is working so hard to shut down.”

Gabe tried to not let his feelings show, played it cool. “How do you know that?”

“There are some good private investigators in this city.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“I know your old man used to run this place, but I don’t think he would appreciate your ownership of a sex club. So if I were you, I wouldn’t worry so much about you becoming partner. And of course, when Charles fires you, maybe I’d be down tomentoryour girl, myself.” Ian laughed and stood, then walked to the door. Gabe sat for several moments, frozen with the rage that pulsed through him.

He stalked out of his office and caught up to Ian, who was already in the hallway. So early in the morning, it was already full of his colleagues milling about, socializing, warming up for the day. But Gabe didn’t care about what any of them thought.

“Ian,” he ground out between clenched teeth. When the man turned to face him, his smirk was the perfect target and Gabe couldn’t resist reacting.

He reached back and punched Ian with enough force to knock the other man back. When Ian regained his equilibrium, he tackled Gabe, forcing him against the wall, before they took it to the ground. Screams echoed in the halls as the men scuffled on the floor, throwing punches, and Gabe quickly maintained the upper hand, until they were finally separated by some other workers.

Gabe brushed off the peacemakers. He straightened and wiped his mouth, and his hand came away bloodied. “You son of a bitch,” he muttered to Ian, who was nursing his own wounds. “You stay the fuck away from Ellie.”

“Gabe, what’s going on?” he heard Ellie cry behind him. He turned and saw her on the edge of the onlookers who’d congregated. She came to him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he told her, hoping that he didn’t look as bad as he felt.

“Hey, Ellie,” Ian called. “Want to nurse me back to health?”

Gabe made a start for the man again, ready to tear him apart, but he was held back by a couple of his colleagues.

“Gabe, no!” Ellie’s hands were on his chest, holding him back, and her pleading eyes kept him from pursuing Ian any further.

“Fine,” he told her. He stared at Ian, who was already looking at him. He knew his career was done, but it didn’t strike him with regret like he thought it would have, when he put his arm around Ellie. “He isn’t worth it.”

“Who wants to start?” Charles Burnham looked between Gabe and Ian.

“I’m sorry I embarrassed the firm, sir.” Gabe’s jaw ached, and he knew a bruise was forming on his cheek. When he threw the first punch, he knew he would have to answer to the boss. But he hadn’t cared about that when it came to defending Ellie’s honor from the snake beside him.

“What was the fight about?”

Gabe paused, before answering. “It was about Ellie,” he said, with a look at Ian, daring the other man to stay silent. He did.

“Can I ask what my daughter has to do with anything here?”

“She’s my wife, sir.” He hadn’t meant to say it, it just came out.

Gabe could feel the shock coming from both Charles and Ian.

“Your wife?”

Gabe nodded.

“How—You married my daughter, and didn’t tell me.”