With more enemies lining up to kill him than he can count, a playboy billionaire must hire the only woman capable of keeping him alive, even if she hates his guts.
Gabriel Gerard's life is full of gorgeous women, expensive cars, and infinite wealth...
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"Brianna!" he said louder than he meant to.
"Gabe," she whispered, her dark blue eyes widening. Her black velvet mask covered most of her face from the top of her red lips to the subtle curve of her pale forehead. But it was her. She was wearing a strapless black gown with a beaded bodice. Her raven hair was down but shorter, swinging in silky waves just above her bare shoulders. A large sapphire hung from a silver chain against her chest. She glanced sideways at the security in the room and then lowered her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Gabriel forced himself to release her arm, afraid people around them would get suspicious.
"We are here for Christian," Bri said putting a hand on his chest.
"We?" he asked.
"Claire is here with me," she explained.
"Do you know how dangerous this is?" He resisted the urge to shake her.
"We are more powerful than you think, Gabe," she said, and he could feel the magic crackling between them. She and her cousin, Claire Cline, must have been the presence that he had felt in the utility room. Who else could feel their magic? "We have been training for this day."
"Then I suppose that you don't need my help," he said.
"We can use all the help we can get." She was unreadable.
"Is that all I am to you? Help for your cause?" He suddenly wanted to hurt her. He had finally found her, and she didn't care about him at all. He loved her, but he was nothing to her. "It didn't seem that way when you were in my bed, sweetheart, calling out my name over and over again."
The crack from her hand hitting his face echoed in the hall and brought gasps from the guests around them. Gabriel's cheeks burned in shame as much as from the slap. Bri stood fuming in front of him as people stared at them.
"Let's dance," he said holding out his hand. He noticed her hesitation before taking it. He led her away from their audience and onto the floor. "I'm sorry but your note-"
"My note," she said through clenched teeth, "was for your own protection as much as mine. It is one thing to be helping the rebellion and quite another to be involved with the president's traitorous daughter."
A tango started, and Gabriel pulled Bri close to him. He pressed her body to his as he forced her into the walking step backwards. She easily kept up. She was a trained dancer. Her father had had political aspirations for her, too.
"You're armed," she said her fingers finding the sword strapped to his back.
"You're damn right I am," he said in her ear. "I never know who is going to stab me in the back."
They sidestepped and switched direction.
"I never stopped loving you," she said her gown swirling around them. "I tried to reach you after that night, but it wasn't safe."
"I know." He lunged, and her embrace tightened.
"And then when Christian told me that it was you helping us, I wanted to tell you-"
"But it still wasn't safe."
"Exactly." She cupped his chin until he snapped her away. The rhythm dictated they forward step. They were cheek to cheek.
"It still isn't safe." He dipped her low, aware of the attention they were drawing again. Even with the mask, there was a chance that the Secret Service would recognize her. They had been searching for her for over a year now. "We have to get you out of here."
"I'm not leaving without Christian." She forced him to take the backward steps.
"Olivia and I will take care of Christian." He spun her around, lifted her thigh, and dragged her towards a dark doorway. "You and Claire are leaving."
"You can't tell me what to do, Gabriel Gerard." She stopped her toe from sliding across the floor. Wriggling out of his grasp, she said, "This is my rescue mission, but you're welcome to come along."
"Bri!" He clamped his mouth shut as soon as he called out after her. She disappeared into the darkened stairway. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure that he wasn't followed before plunging into the darkness. He instantly felt lips on his and could smell her intoxicating perfume surrounding him. He let her pull him closer and run her hands through his hair. Their masks bumped awkwardly, and they ripped the covers from their faces, the cool air an instant relief. Pressing her against the wall, he could feel his world spinning out of control, but he wanted more. Every kiss, every stroke sent thrills of electricity through every fiber of his being. He couldn't believe this was happening. Bri was here. In his arms. And she loved him.
"Gabe, we don't have time for this," she whispered against his lips.
"The hell we don't. I've been waiting for over a year to get you back in my arms, Brianna. There's no way I'm letting you go now." Gabriel kissed her harder. He knew that she was right; they should stop but for the life of him, he couldn't remember why. As their kiss grew deeper, his hands traveled her body. He could feel the heat from the sapphire on her heaving chest, and he was sure that his jade was burning her neck. But he couldn't let go. Not yet. Not even to breathe.
Bri's hands returned to his face and held him to her. She tugged on his ears, and her tongue stroked his over and over. He could feel her heart beating in rhythm with his own. His hand entwined itself in her shorter hair. He tried to pull her even closer. Their bodies pressed into one. He never wanted to let her go. Not again.
A gasp behind them caused Bri to jump. Gabriel reluctantly tore his lips from hers. Olivia was standing there. His brain took a moment to register her stricken expression under her mask. The drinks she held spilled onto the patterned carpet as she lowered them. Dropping the cups, she turned and fled the stairwell.
