Free Gabriel's Regret: Book 1 (The Medlov Men Series 2) by Latrivia Nelson, Latrivia Welch Page A

“Briggy-gate is going to tear this family apart.  Gabriel hates coming home now.  Anatoly has to walk on egg shells with Renee.  It’s ridiculous.” 
    Dmitry tried to be the voice of reason.  “Living together under one roof can be difficult for multiple couples, even if they are family.  And sometimes, no matter how big the house is, there is going to be occasional friction.  But I’ve never been one to get involved in domestic affairs of other men, even my own children.  Honestly, it’s a bit below me.”
    Royal wasn’t buying it, no matter how cool he behaved while the world burned at his feet.  Her head tilted as she probed deeper.  “So you mean to tell me, being the control freak that you are, all of this turmoil happening under your roof doesn’t bother you?”
    He shrugged.  “I have bigger worries than who is squabbling with whom behind closed doors.  That is your job. You’re the woman of the house.  You’re supposed to keep things in order with the other women, not me.  What would that look like anyway?”  He might have been more relaxed these days but he was no mother hen. 
    Royal cooled her heals and tried another approach. This wouldn’t work if she didn’t have his buy-in.  “If the men are distracted, it’s going to affect your cash flow eventually.”  She watched him take pause.  “They can’t have their head fully in the game if they are fighting between each other.  This Helen of Troy situation is going to blow up.  You watch what I say.”  
    Dmitry didn’t agree.  “Or maybe it will work itself out.  You can’t always play mediator.  We have our problems, and they have theirs. This is normal.” 
    Royal raised a brow.  “You may trivialize this now, but the last woman who created a problem for us in our relationship ended up with a bullet in her head and buried in an Italian winery if I recall.” 
    Dmitry laughed at Royal, ignoring her adorable little scowl.  “And tell me, who called for that particular hit? True enough, I carried it out like I said that I would, but it was my dear sweet wife’s will after I told you that she was leaking information on Anatoly.” He winked at her. “Secrets, secrets.”  
    Royal rolled her eyes.  “That’s beside the point.  Briggy isn’t with Gabriel anymore. They broke up, but she’s still here and that’s a problem.” Grabbing his large hand, she looked into his crystal blue eyes and rubbed a hand across the side of his blonde hair.  “What is your concern?  Why haven’t you done anything?  I know you see it. I know you too well, Dmitry.  You see everything around here whether you say something or not.”
    “Briggy is not family – not in the traditional sense at least.  I agree with you on that.  However, the child she is carrying is a Medlov.  If we send her away, we send away our family, and we take away that child’s safety. That happened to Anatoly; it happened to Gabriel.  It won’t happen again to another generation, if I can help it.” 
    “So, do you think that she’ll just give it up when it’s born?” 
    “No.”  Dmitry lifted her slender hand and kissed it. He knew she meant well and that was all that mattered to him.  “But what has to be done must be done after the child is born.”
    “I don’t like it when you keep secrets from me.  What are you planning to do?”
    Dmitry glared at his wife.  “She’s not family,” he said, using her own words.  “What does it matter what I do, if I do anything at all?” 
    Royal looked upside his head.  “Well, just for the record, I’m not ordering a hit on the damn girl,” she said facetiously.  “I’m just asking for some other arrangements to be made.”
    He took another sip of his drink.  His voice was low and grave. “Are you sure about that?”
    “Yes,” she said sternly.
    Dmitry winked at her, smile lines showing on his tanned face. “That was a just a joke.  Relax, little drama queen. I’m not