Free Gabriel's Heart [The Men of Treasure Cove 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Rebecca Joyce

you did not yell at your sister,” Gabriel said, taking a step forward, positioning himself to protect Antoinette.
    “Something is going on here, and I want to know what the hell it is.”
    Sighing, Gabriel ran his hand through his hair. “What will you have me say, Jeffery?”
    “I want you to say you’ve kept your word. Tell me there is nothing going on between you and my sister, and I won’t beat the living shit out of you,” Jeff said, never taking his eyes away from him.
    Gabriel had been friends with this man for close to fifteen years, and never during that time had he ever seen such hatred emanate from him. Before him, Jeff was no longer a friend but a fearful brother who would do anything to save his sister. There would be no reasoning with him, no explanation would help his cause. Regardless of what Gabriel wanted to do or say, he refused to surrender Antoinette to her brother’s fury.
    There was only one thing left for him to do. He knew this course was going to cost him. Too much history stood between him and the Hicks brothers. It pained him to do so, but he would stand against them to save the woman he loved.
    Looking over his shoulder, he watched as Alexander nodded and turned Antoinette toward the door. As soon as they were outside, Gabriel turned to follow.
    Coming to the decision, he was going to have to find a way and make it work, tell her brothers, and ask the woman he loved for forgiveness. He walked to the door when Jeff stopped him by grabbing his shoulder. “Where the fuck are you going with my sister?”
    Looking over his shoulder, Gabriel knew it was now or never, so with a new resolve of steel flowing within him, he calmly said, “I am taking the woman I love out of here.”
    All movement stopped.
    Gabriel knew this was the defining moment. It could go either way. Her brothers could accept what he said, or chaos was about to ensue. Janie rushed forward and smiled. “Take care of her. She loves you, too,” she said, kissing his cheek.
    “You asshole! You promised,” Caleb shouted, moving closer.
    “I promised to give her time. Her time was up, three months ago. She is an adult now.”
    “You motherfucker! I won’t allow it!” Jeff barked, pushing him against the front door.
    Gabriel wasted no time at all. When Jeffery stepped back, Gabriel pushed him back toward Caleb, who was moving forward. “It’s not your decision. It’s hers. If she forgives me, I will claim her, and there is nothing you can do to stop me. I have loved her most of her life. I only stayed away because, like you, I believed she deserved better. Well, she chose me. I won’t walk away again.”
    There, he had said it. A gigantic weight lifted from his shoulders, and a sense of relief washed over him. There were no more secrets, no more hiding. Everything was out in the open.
    “You’re not leaving here with her, Gabriel. I mean it. I will stop you,” Jeff firmly said, standing next to Caleb, who was nodding in agreement.
    Gabriel knew her brothers determination to keep him from her, but he never expected this. What exactly they had planned, he was not sure off, but one thing was crystal clear. They adamantly refused to allow him anywhere near Antoinette.
    Right now, he only hoped that Alexander had her tucked safely in the car, and it was running with the door open because he was about to make a swift exit.
    Steeling himself, he stood straight and looked the brothers in their eyes. “Well, gentlemen, I believe there is nothing more to say. I wish you good night.” With that, he turned and left. Walking out onto the front porch, he smiled when he realized that Alexander did indeed have the car waiting on him.
    As he approached the car, he opened the passenger side door, when he heard Jeff shout, “Antoinette!”
    “Get in, Gabe!” she shouted, and not waiting for another invitation, he slid into the seat and shut the door as Alexander peeled out of the driveway.
    Buckling his seat belt, he turned and