The Billionaire's Bargain Bride: An Arranged Marriage Romance Series

Chapter 56

LINDEN

Watching Estelle cry the entire night tore my heart out. I’d never seen her sob and curl into a ball since I met her. She’d shown me her breaking point, her vulnerability, her weakness, but this was different.

This time, I felt her— I felt everything she endured tonight. She was not only my wife but my other half, my heart— the love of my life.

“Baby, you’re breaking my heart.” I was the kind of man who acted than speak, but I thought I’d said a lot tonight. And every time I went close to her, she pushed me away. I knew I was hurting her, and hurting her, I was hurting myself too.

“It’s only just a day. You have to trust me on this. And no matter—”

“What? What, Gabriel?” she admonished. “That I’m just as just emotionally messed up, and this is pregnancy hormones? You should not have married me before you plan on going on your suicide mission. Those people are dangerous, you are aware of them, but you never stop. You just keep going and going. Maybe you will only stop when you’re dead.”

“I never break promises.”

“To hell with it! They don’t follow the rules. They break laws. You, on the other hand, are willing to bend the rules for Jasper. Don’t you think that’s a little too much?”

“He’s my responsibility, Estelle.”

“Well, I am your responsibility, too, aren’t I? And your unborn child. If something happens to you while you’re on a stupid mission—” She sniffled, wiping tears away from her cheek.

“Well, you don’t know that, do you?”

“Are you for real? God, Gabriel. They are outlaws. They are criminals.”

“Jasper never gave up on my dreams. He’s one of a few people who stayed even if the Firm was falling apart because we didn’t have clients. It was tough. Nobody wanted to invest because I was a nobody. If I reached out to Cenric, he would do it in a heartbeat, but he already helped me.”

“I am sure Jasper wants you far from those people.” The anger inside her eyes shifted, and something warm took place.

“I would be dead if not for him.”

“You wouldn’t be entangled with them if not for Hanslo.”

“I know that, baby. I just want you to understand why I am doing this.”

“Oh, it’s pretty clear. You and your brothers’ heroic tendencies are admirable, but you also have to consider your life. What does your family have to say about this? Your father, Willa, everyone? Do they know?”

When I went silent, she turned to face me. “They don’t. I see. So I will carry this secret and keep it from them? Let me guess, only Moses does. Jesus, Gabriel.”

“They don’t have to know.”

“You don’t want them to stop you from pursuing your mission because they can change your mind, but your wife.” She shrugged off. “My words don’t matter. I’m just a wife you forced to marry because I’m pregnant. The surrogate.”

“That’s not fucking true,” I hissed. Anger and pain settled heavily in my chest.

“It is, Gabriel.”

“I shouldn’t have told you. I could have, but I chose to tell you because you know what secrets do to a relationship. What happened the last time you kept a secret from me? It almost tore us apart. I want this marriage. I need this marriage. I need you in my life, with or without our child. You matter to me, Estelle. And I don’t want to live that life alone anymore. Since I met you, I wanted to be happy, to laugh with you, to cry with you. I want that life where I could be just a lazy ass on the weekend and watch you messing up in the kitchen or breaking my mixer.”

“Why are we still talking? If I can’t stop you. Do whatever you must do, Gabriel.”

I dragged myself to her. No matter how resistant she made, I didn’t let her go. I wrapped her in my arms until she cried again.

She fell asleep, sobbing in my arms. At that moment, I knew I wouldn’t live my life without her—my anchor.

I got up from bed. It was three in the morning. I knew my guys were already awake. I grabbed the duvet and covered her up.

I couldn’t even walk away. It wasn’t easy knowing I didn’t have proof that the message was from Jasper or someone wanted me to be there, but it was worth a try to keep my family safe.

I bent down to swipe the hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. She still sobbed.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened in my life, Estelle.”

I met my guys in the kitchen. Quinn was leaning against the cabinet, watching the steam of his coffee, seemingly in a deep thought that he didn’t even notice me walk in.

Lynx was on MG Laptop while Sax and Kye were making breakfast.

“Just got this from Mr. Braddson.” Qamar just handed me a file.

I poured myself a coffee before I sat down next to Lynx. “What do you get?”

“Access to our database. I got your back all the time. Don’t take off your watch, no matter what. Someone like Ilya, a sick son of bitch, constantly dealing with paranoia, would scan you for trackers or wires.”

“Got it.”

“Use your real name and don’t show off—”

“I got this. I handled a mafia once.”

“This is different, boss. You know that, and you’re on your own.”

“Why can’t we come with you? You’re walking into a trap, brother. Why is it Jasper’s life means so much to you? I don’t understand,” Sax said.

“He saved my father’s life.”

Everyone went silent. Jasper promised me not to tell anyone. He didn’t want to be a hero, make it a big deal, or get a compliment for saving my father’s life. We didn’t have the same blood running in our veins, but he didn’t hesitate when I was incompatible with my father.

“I didn’t know that,” Sax said with an absolutely shocked look.

“Nobody knows, except me, Jasper, my father, and his doctors. Willa never knew, even until now. I didn’t tell my wife either. Now I just broke my promise to Jasper, but I want you all to understand why this is important to me.”

“We go it, brother.” Kye came to me and gripped my shoulder.

“Your secret is safe with us, boss.” Lynx turned the laptop to me. “This is our rendezvous in zero-hundred. We will wait for you until twelve hundred. If you’re in trouble, just say the word summer.”

“Why do you get to choose the code word? Not me?”

I rolled my eyes at Sax and told Lynx, “Ignore him.”

“Because I am bonzer, mate.”

I turned my head at Quinn. “You haven’t said a word, Hunter. What’s up?”

Finally, Quinn lifted his gaze from his coffee and sipped it. “Tickets are ready. I’ll help her pack once you’re on your way. Don’t worry. I will protect her with my life.”

“Well, that’s noble of you.”

I glared down at Sax. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing, brother. It’s just you didn’t trust us on why you wanted to save Greer’s ass. Then suddenly, you just dropped the bomb on us.”

“And you look at me as if I’m losing my shit. You do understand secrets and promises, Sax. I don’t take it lightly. I keep my word because that’s what we do. I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but I can’t risk every one of you because this is something too personal to me. You are my brothers.” I wasn’t only talking to Sax alone anymore. I was talking to these men. “And I will do the same if you all get into trouble. That’s what I would do to every one of you.”

Kye just nodded.

“Would you like to say something as well, Ryder? Say it now because I can’t guarantee I will be able to hear your sentiment once I am out there. And God knows if they won’t cut my head and send it to you as a Christmas gift.”

“Just don’t die. You have a wife, and you’re gonna be a father. I know no one can stop you, but just come back to us. I don’t wanna be the one telling your wife or your kid that his father was an asshole who went to search for a saber tooth tiger and never came back.” Sax got up from his chair and came to me. “Can I get at least a hug?”

My guys chuckled and shook their heads.

“Just say I love you. Jesus Christ.” I had never seen Kye be so amused until today.

“I love you, bro.” Sax hugged me tight and kissed my head as he shook to laugh.

“Okay. Enough, Saxonia. You’re taking advantage of me already.”

We started our breakfast, and I began reading the file of Ilya’s entourage.

I shook my head in disbelief. “Jesus Christ.”