Stolen by a Sinner (Sinners 3)

I find myself smiling, and the moment I realize it, emotions wash through me like a tsunami. I haven’t smiled in years. Not a genuine smile anyway.

A wave of excitement rolls through me, and I quickly strip out of the dress. As I put on a pair of soft jeans and a pale purple blouse, my chin quivers, but I suppress the urge to cry. I decide to match a pair of silver ballet flats with the outfit.

When I’m dressed, I quickly walk to the bathroom and look at my reflection in the mirror.

Gosh.

Instantly my eyes tear up, and I blink furiously to keep from crying.

I look like a woman.

Not a maid or someone’s belonging, but a feminine woman.

I look young and free and not like a caged animal that’s kicked around every other second of the day.

A knock at the door tears my eyes away from the mirror. When I step out of the bathroom, Nisa comes into the bedroom.

She stops, her eyes slowly drifting over me, then a wide smile spreads over her face. “Beautiful.” She comes to stand in front of me and touches my hair. “Let’s celebrate your new look with some tea.”

Following Nisa out of the bedroom, I struggle to school my face into an obedient expression. A smile keeps tugging at the corner of my mouth until we enter the kitchen. Gabriel has taken steaks from the fridge and is busy placing them on a plate. His eyes snap to us, then he freezes and stares at me.

My mouth drops open from seeing Gabriel working with food.

Are we in trouble?

Just as panic and fear flood my chest, Nisa asks, “Doesn’t she look beautiful, Gabriel Bey?”

Gabriel takes his time to look at me until my cheeks flush, and I lower my eyes to the floor.

There’s a weird sensation in my chest.

“Evet, now she looks like a twenty-two-year-old woman.”

The heat in my cheeks increases, and so does the sensation in my chest.

“I love the hairstyle,” he adds.

My eyes dart to his, and when I see a smile tug at the corner of his mouth, there’s a rush of warmth through my body.

He’s too attractive for me to handle right now.

“I’m going to put the steaks on the grill,” he says, his tone not harsh at all.

Again my lips part as I watch Gabriel leave the kitchen with the plate of meat.

“He likes to grill on Sunday evenings. Sit at the table while I prepare the rest of the food,” Nisa instructs me.

Gabriel helps make food? Nisa wants me to sit and watch while she works?

He likes my hair?

Amazement fills me, and I swallow hard as I take a seat, my hands trembling from how wonderful it feels to be in this house filled with good people.

To not just exist, but to get to experience new things. Amazing things.

“It’s so nice here,” the admission slips from me.

Nisa smiles while she starts to make a bean salad. “It’s nothing like the hell hole you came from, Lara Hanim.”

That’s for sure.

I soak in all the positive feelings until Gabriel walks back into the kitchen. The grilled meat’s aroma quickly fills the air and makes my mouth water.

He sets the plate down, and without a word, leaves.

“Set our table while I serve Gabriel Bey,” Nisa says.

I nod and slip off the chair to get to work. When I have everything ready, I pour two glasses of water, then wait for Nisa.

I wonder what the east wing of the mansion looks like and whether Gabriel’s wife is also a kind person. She must be if she’s surrounded by these amazing people every day.

The fear I feel for Gabriel is slowly fading, but I’m still cautious, not wanting to upset him. I really don’t want to go back to Tymon, who’d probably kill me on sight.

“Let’s eat,” Nisa says when she returns.

Once we’re seated, she places a massive chunk of meat on my plate.

My boss prepared it, and I get to eat it?

Never in my life did I imagine something like this would happen.

I give Nisa a tentative smile, then cut off a piece and pop it into my mouth. The tender meat practically melts on my tongue, my eyes drift shut, and I almost moan.

So good.

The meal is easily the best I’ve ever had, and I eat everything on my plate even though my stomach is threatening to burst.

When we’re done eating, Nisa sips on a cup of tea, her eyes resting warmly on my new haircut. “You have some color on your face. How do you feel after all the exercise?”

I’m exhausted but don’t care.

“I feel okay.” My teeth tug at my bottom lip. “Thank you for everything. Today is the happiest day of my life.”

Emotion washes over Nisa’s face, she reaches across the table, and taking hold of my hand, she gives me a squeeze. “You’re welcome, Lara Hanim. I enjoy watching you experience new things. It’s like watching a flower blossom.”