He turns his attention to Nisa. “Yusuf’s surgery went well. He can receive visitors.”
Intense relief washes over her face. “Thank you, Gabriel Bey.”
When he leaves, I turn to look at Mom, who seems much calmer.
She clears her throat, then asks, “Is everything he said true?”
I quickly nod. “Yes. I promise. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“This is a good house,” Nisa adds. “No evil lives here.”
Some relief flutters over Mom’s features, then she nods and asks, “Is there work I can do?”
Knowing she needs to keep busy until she’s grown used to the Demir household, I say, “I can show you how to make Turkish bread.”
“Okay.”
We get to work, and Nisa keeps correcting me whenever I get the ingredients wrong. At one point, she even manages to make Mom smile.
Just like me, she will get better and learn all the wonderful things I’ve learned. She’ll experience good emotions and happiness.
Chapter 50
Gabriel
After I took a short break of one day, Emre and I have been working our asses off to get the repairs done to Vengeance from the attack.
All the renovations have been completed for Retribution. I also released the staff who used to work for Mazur, giving them each enough money to start a new life. Lara was happy to hear this.
With everything back to normal, the women have been shopping like crazy. My grandmother redid her entire wardrobe, filling it with colors, and they’ve bought enough clothes for Agnieska to last her two lifetimes.
Walking into the house, I hear Nisa say, “Slower, Agnieska Hanim! You don’t have to clean everything in an hour.”
“Don’t snap at her,” Murat mutters, and in a gentler tone, he continues, “Agnieska, I think it’s time for a break. Take a walk in the garden with me.”
“I wasn’t snapping,” Nisa huffs.
My eyebrow pops up, and I head toward them. Just as I come down the hallway, Agnieska and Murat exit one of the sitting rooms, his hand on her lower back.
“What’s happening here?” I ask, my eyes searching Agnieska’s face for any sign of fear or panic. Not seeing any, I relax.
“Nothing,” Murat answers.
“The question was directed at Agnieska,” I mutter. Locking eyes with her, I ask, “Are you comfortable with Murat?”
She nods quickly. “Yes, Gabriel.”
I turn my attention to Murat. “Don’t push her into doing anything she doesn’t want.”
“I’ll never do that.”
When I nod, they continue to walk toward the side doors as I stare after them. It’s clear as fucking day that Murat is interested in Agnieska even though he’s ten years younger than her.
I let out a chuckle, shaking my head, then the realization hits that Agnieska is only four years my senior.
Holy fuck.
It makes me realize how much younger than me, Lara is. Sixteen years. It’s never even crossed my mind until now.
Doesn’t change a fucking thing.
Like Luca said the other day, ‘Age is just a number.’
Taking the stairs up, I hear laughter coming from the east wing. When I walk into my grandmother’s private sitting room, I find her and Lara knitting.
“He used to run around without pants, his adorable bottom on display for the world to see.”
“Babaanne,” I mutter, realizing she’s telling Lara about my childhood.
“Oh, you’re home early,” Lara comments, a wide smile on her face and laughter dancing in her eyes.
“Work isn’t so busy anymore.” I press a kiss to my grandmother’s forehead, then walk to Lara, placing my hand on her shoulder. “Finish what you’re doing.”
“I’m done,” she says quickly, shoving the needles and wool into a basket.
I notice what they’re knitting, and my eyebrow lifts. “Are you seriously knitting baby shoes?”
“Yes,” Babaanne answers, then she gives me a triumphant smile. “Lara said it’s only a matter of time before I’ll get to hold my great-grandchild.”
“Is that so?” I shrug. “If Lara says so, who am I to argue.”
My words make my grandmother’s smile grow.
Lara gets up, and I take her hand. I pull her to our bedroom, and when I shut the door, I pin her with a questioning look. “Babies?”
She nervously tucks hair behind her ear, then explains, “Your grandmother wants a great-grandchild, and I couldn’t bear to tell her no. I said you have to agree as well, but that I’m okay with it.” She gives me a pleading look. “The news made her so happy, Askim.”
Tugging her against my chest, I stare at her until her teeth worry on her bottom lip. “You want to give me children?”
Lara doesn’t hesitate to nod.
A smile curves my lips, and I place my hand over her abdomen. “I’d like to see you pregnant with my child.”
The nervous tension leaves her, relief filling her eyes. “I’d like that too.”
“But first, there’s your twenty-third birthday next month. I have a surprise planned for you. After that, we can talk about having the implant removed.”
“Okay.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I press a kiss to her mouth. Her lips eagerly part, and time slips away as I show her how much I love her until her lips are swollen and we’re both breathless.