Gabriel's Light (Doms of Chicago) (2 page)

Chapter One

Six
Months Later

“Zhenya! Over here.”

Stamping the snow off her boots, Zhenya
Addi
moved through the front door of
Pínaka
ti̱s
Mi̱téras
.
Looking around for the owner of the voice, it didn’t take her long to spot
fellow submissive,
Nisey
Richardsen
.
Standing next to her, was her best friend and sister-in-law,
Kalinda
Redding-
LaFontane
.
Waddling towards the table, she wanted to protest the pink helium balloons and
silver ribbons decorating the several tables. She wasn’t sure about this baby
shower thing the girls had insisted upon throwing for her, but she’d gone along
with it, just to keep peace.
Because if
Nisey
wheedled anymore about it being an American tradition
I just have to participate in, I’d have screamed.
Sometimes it was just
better to go with the flow.

“I see you made it, girl.”
Nisey
drew
her into her arms, swollen belly and all. “It’s a good thing too, because if I
had to track you down, I’d tell
Máister
and we
both know he wouldn’t have a problem bending you over and paddling your butt
for being difficult.”

Heat filled Zhenya’s face. “It wouldn’t be the first time, now
would it? He takes his role as a protector quite seriously.” Since she’d
arrived in Chicago six months ago and had been befriended by
Nisey
,
Caelan
Doherty had taken
her safety very seriously. At her request, he’d stepped into the role Ossie had
abandoned with his death. Not only did her friend’s Dom give her a roof over
her head, by allowing her to move into his townhouse and stay in his sister’s
old apartment above his and
Nisey’s
heads, but he
also doled out punishment if he thought it was deserved. Like the one and only
time she’d stayed out all night. She’d gotten caught up by the lights off Navy
Pier and her own thoughts. When she’d finally made it home around dawn, he’d
been waiting. After explaining how dangerous her little stunt had been, he’d
bent her over his knee and warmed her bottom but good for scaring not only him
but
Nisey
as well.

“But there was no need to go to such extremes,
Nisey
. My cab got stuck in traffic. There was an accident
at West Van Buren and Halsted.” She shook her head as
Kalinda
rounded the table to help her off with her coat.

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Gabriel joined them, looking a bit
better than the last time Zhenya had seen him. The bags under his eyes were
gone now, and his skin had a very healthy glow despite it being January. It’d
been nearly nine months since the death of his submissive. “With the freezing
rain on top of the snow fall last night, it’s turning into an ice skating rink
outside.” He took the coat from
Kalinda
. “The guys
just called. Your menfolk want you three ladies to stay put, until Josh comes
to pick you up after the shower. He said it was non-negotiable.”

Kalinda
sighed at the mention of one of her
Doms
,
but leaned in to give Gabriel a one armed hug. “Understood. We’ll be good
little girls and stay here until Sir can come fetch us.” She smiled up at
Gabriel, and it was all Zhenya could do not to shove her friend aside.

The sinfully handsome restaurant owner had been elusive ever
since she’d cornered him nearly five months ago. It had been the same night
she’d ended up stuck inside of
Pínaka
ti̱s
Mi̱téras
 
for several hours under a ‘safe haven’
lock-down, because Olivia
Metjka
, the owner of the
BDSM club Gabriel frequented, had been targeted by a street gang. Since then
he’d gone out of his way to avoid her. She could only imagine what
Nisey
had done to finagle Gabriel into allowing her to hold
Zhenya’s baby shower in the backroom of
Pínaka
ti̱s
Mi̱téras
.

“Thanks. I really don’t want to answer to
Caelan
,
Josh or Dominic if you pull some lame-brained stunt like driving back to
Evanston in this weather.” He pressed a brotherly kiss to
Kalinda’s
head. “Besides fatherhood hasn’t mellowed your men in the least bit,
Kalinda
. I’d rather not risk it.”

Digging into the pocket of her jeans, she pulled out her key
ring. She jingled them. “Here take these if you’re so scared of my big bad
Doms
. I can’t likely leave without them.”

Gabriel gave a put out sigh. “Keep your keys, your word is good
enough,
Kalinda
. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have
other matters to attend to. Lucia will bring back the rest of the guests as
they arrive. Enjoy your shower, Zhenya.” He gave her a shallow nod before
leaving the room.

“Don’t take it personally.”
Nisey
placed her hand on Zhenya’s arm to guide her into the chair of honor. One with
pink crepe streamers decorating its high back. “He’s been distant with everyone
since Sara’s death.”

Zhenya gave a rueful smile as she rested her hands on her
distended belly. “Everyone loses someone,
Nisey
. It
all depends upon how you deal with the loss. I was lucky. I have little Sophia
as a reason to go on. I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d been in his shoes.
Eventually something will change and then he’d come out of his shell. I’m
foolish enough to hope it’s me, but I have no illusions about my attractiveness
now that I have a child. It’ll take a special Dom to take on not only a
worthless sub, but one who also has a child.”

Nisey’s
hands flew to her hips. “What have I told you about that,
Zhenya
Sisneros
? There was nothing defective in you.
Your husband simply wasn’t the correct man for you.”

Zhenya grimaced. The therapy group for abused
submissives
she’d joined at Mistress Olivia’s suggestion
had told her repeatedly she wasn’t defective. She’d been married to Ossie for
several years, and after
awhile
she’d begun to
believe him about how she was lacking in as a wife because she couldn’t boil
water, that the only place she’d ever pleased him was when she was on her knees
sucking his cock.

“Sorry, old habits die hard. I spoke without thinking. I realize
I’m not as worthless as Ossie said.” She rubbed her palms over her belly. “I’ll
be a good mother to this baby, and eventually a good sub to the right man.” She
smiled up at
Nisey
. “I merely have to find the right
one. Maybe I might stumble into him. Knock him on his butt as you did to
Caelan
?”

Nisey
dropped her hands and giggled. “Well not all of us can be as lucky as I was…but
I’ll talk to
Caelan
, perhaps he can invite over some
of his Dom friends for you to knock down in the foyer.”

* * * *

Sitting in his office, Gabriel squeezed the bridge of his nose.
Less than twenty feet down the hall from him, the shower
Nisey
and
Kalinda
were giving Zhenya was winding down if
the female voices in the hall nearly thirty minutes ago were any indication.
He’d been resistant at first to allow her to host it at
Pínaka
ti̱s
Mi̱téras
but somehow, little
Nisey
, with her big green
eyes and gamine expression, had convinced him to change his mind. The blatant
reminder of his loss upon seeing Zhenya waddle into the restaurant had been
hard, but he had no ill will towards the little Greek sub. Although it didn’t
mean he could handle seeing what he’d missed. If Sara had still been here,
she’d have had the same waddle or perhaps would’ve even given birth to their
child already. Her due date had been earlier in the week according to the one
and only appointment they’d gone to together. He’d have been a new father and
even though he hadn’t thought of being one, he’d wanted their child, loved
their child since the moment he’d found out.

But more than his lost child, he missed his Sara. He’d managed
to make it through the Christmas season without losing it by visiting his
parents in Arizona. They had kept him too busy to even think about what he’d
lost. But as soon as he returned home, to the apartment he’d shared with Sara,
her ghost seemed to linger. He saw her everywhere, from the bench by the front
door, to the thick leather couch in his living room. She’d left her mark not
only on their home but on him. He’d honestly thought he’d found the one for
him, a permanent submissive who would share his life. But death had been cruel
and ripped her away from him.

“Gabriel?”
Nisey’s
voice interrupted
his musings. He barely glanced up to see her in the doorway when the lights
flickered off, probably a result of the rising winds outside. Along with the
temperatures dropping and steady rain earlier in the day, it was probably
playing havoc with the electricity. Even with the electric lines buried
underground, there were still large transformer boxes in the back alley which
could be affected by the elements.
Or
cars could run into them if the roads are slick.

“Crap!” Standing, he ordered
Nisey
to
not move. Even though it was only four in the afternoon it was getting dark out
already and his office had no windows, rendering the room dark as the Ace of
Spades. “The lights will come on in a few minutes. Give the emergency generator
time to kick on.”

“Okay.” The lights flickered back on as the generator engaged.
At the same time a cell phone rang. As his eyes finally adjusted to the dim
lighting of the emergency lights, he was able to make out
Nisey
on the phone.

“Yes,
Máister
.
I’m all right. The emergency generator
just kicked on here.” She paused. “Of course. He’s right here.” She offered
Gabriel her phone. “
Caelan
is with Josh, but wants to
talk to you.”

Taking the phone, he pressed it to his ear as he escorted her
down the barely lit hall to the room with the remaining women. “It’s Gabriel.
Give me a second,
Caelan
. I need to escort
Nisey
back to
Kalinda
and Zhenya
before checking on what guests I might have in the dining room.”

He glanced in the back room and was relieved to see only
Kalinda
and Zhenya remained, the other shower guests were
gone. “How long ago did the other ladies leave?” he asked
Nisey
.

“About thirty minutes ago.”

“Good. Stay in this room. It’s the closest to the kitchen and
the residual heat from the ovens will keep it warm if our power is off for any
length of time. I’ll be right back.” He shut the door behind him and headed
down the hall, as he relayed the news to
Caelan
his
sub was safe and sound with her friends. Entering the dining area, he counted
no more than three patrons, not unusual with the weather being what it was and
the time of day. He paused as
Caelan
barked in his
ear. “Okay, I’ll let her know and you and Josh stay safe.” Snapping the phone
shut, he walked further into the dining room. “Excuse me folks. You’re more
than welcome to finish your meals, but I ask you not leave until the
electricity is restored. I was just informed by a friend that there’s an outage
throughout
GreekTown
, and there are several traffic
lights non-operational.” As two of the men stood to leave, he was quick to add.
“There’s also a nasty accident a block up from here which has Halsted St.
completely blocked, so if you’re planning on going North you’re not going to
get anywhere fast. You’re more than welcome to stay. I do have a generator
which will provide electricity, and our ovens can provide heat until the power
comes back on.”

The men looked frustrated but sat back down. “I’ll tell you
what. For staying, your meals are on the house and feel free to pick a dessert
off the menu.” He signaled Lucia. She came forward with a smile. “Lucia will be
more than happy to take care of you. Please let her know what you’d like.”

He was turning to check on the kitchen staff when
Nisey
came rushing out of the back hall. He frowned. He’d
asked her to stay with
Kalinda
and Zhenya.

“What are you doing? Didn’t I ask you to stay with…?”

She came to halt in front of him. “Yes, you did. But I’m not delivering
this baby by myself.” She grabbed him by the arm and started to drag him back
down the hall.

“Whoa…did you say baby?” He dug his feet in.

She glared up at him. “Yes. Zhenya’s water broke and I’ll be
damned if I’m going to deliver it by myself.”

“But what about
Kalinda
?” His brain
whirled. He couldn’t deliver Zhenya’s baby.

“She’s of no help. She passed out on the floor. Zhenya isn’t
panicking but I am! So you’re
gonna
deliver this baby
with me.”

Chapter
Two

"She can't have the baby here." Rushing into the room
with
Nisey
at his heels, Gabriel stumbled over the
inert body of
Nisey's
best friend. "What the
hell..." He barely kept from falling over
Kalinda
as
Nisey
plowed into his back.

"Watch out for-"

"
Kalinda
." He sighed before
crouching down to move the slender brunette from the entryway to the private
room. "It would've been good if you'd mentioned she was on the
floor...." With ease he carried the stirring women over to one of the
empty chairs. Her dazed eyes opened as he set her down.

"Zhenya is having...she can't...Sir said the roads are
blocked because of the ice...she has to wait...” she began to panic again.

Knowing he didn't need a hysterical woman on his hands, Gabriel
infused steel into his voice, letting his Dom persona slip to the forefront.
"Stop it."

As he anticipated,
Kalinda
froze at
the tone. "Gabe?"

He focused a level stare on her. "I realize what’s going on
outside, and just like we can't control what Mother Nature decides to throw at
us, we cannot control when Zhenya's baby decides to make an appearance, and
your theatrics won't make it better." He narrowed his gaze when she opened
her mouth to protest. "And just because her water has broken does not mean
she’s going to have the baby here, right now." He tipped her chin up.
"Now, instead of freaking out on me, why don't you go over and sit with
Nisey
and Zhenya? I'm sure Zhenya would appreciate
it."

"Of course...."
Kalinda
seemed to gather herself up. "I...I don't know why I freaked out. Not all
women have kids as fast as I had Rosie and Will."

Gabriel smiled, relieved that his normal spunky friend was back.
"It's understandable."

She gave him a smile. "Don't tell Sir I flipped out. He'll
be upset. I don't know what's wrong with me as of late. Maybe it has to do with
having two toddlers running around."

He nodded. "It might be. I'm sure the kiddos are keeping
you hopping." He let her stand up, watching closely to make sure she was
steady on her feet and wouldn't take another header onto the floor. "Why
don't you go keep Zhenya and
Nisey
company?"

As he guided her to the chair next to Zhenya, he spared a quick
glance at her. As
Nisey
had said, the beautiful olive
skinned woman had a serene look on her face as she rubbed her stomach in a
soothing manner, despite the bead of sweat running down the side of her face.
For some reason even as he wanted to run from the room screaming, he also
wanted to gather her close and protect her. But the most he could do is
reassure her.

"You'll be fine, Zhenya. The ambulance will either come
soon, or we'll be able to get you some medical attention. You just have to hang
in there..."

"Tell that to little Sophie..." Zhenya gasped lurching
forward, her hands grasping the wooden armrests in a death grip. It was quite
obvious a contraction was twisting her insides.

Supporting her with one hand against the middle of her back and
another on top of her swollen stomach, he could feel the rhythmic tightening as
she rode out the pain. It amazed him she did nothing more than breathe through
it. Staring down, he noticed she was focusing on the ornate belt buckle he wore
at his waist. Designed by one of his favorite artists, it was an abstract
design made out of beaten silver. It had been a surprise gift from Sara and one
of his favorites.

Murmuring soothing words, he waited until she relaxed back
against his palms. She gritted out between her teeth as a contraction washed
through her. "Do you think the ambulance will be able to get through? I've
already called my doctor. If I can get to either Northwestern or Prentice
Women’s Hospital he'll be waiting for me."

"I don't think so,
louloúdi
mou
."
My flower.
As what
he’d just said washed over him, he raked a hand through his hair. He couldn’t
believe he’d just used the same endearment on Zhenya he had for Sara. It
should’ve been a betrayal, but it almost felt right. Ignoring his unexpectedly
mixed feelings, he rose from his crouched position.

"I don't think there’s a prayer of them getting through,
Zhenya.
Caelan
just told me there are downed traffic
lights between us and the hospital. It looks like we might have to do this the
hard way." Standing tall, his mind whirled with all the things he was
going need to help deliver the baby.
Clean
towels, a blanket...crap maybe one of the linen tablecloths will work. I have a
pair of leather
 
shears in my desk to cut
the cord if it comes down to it. But they need to be sterilized...so plenty of
hot water will be a must. Oh and I'll need the latex gloves from the kitchen...
He moved to leave the room, needing not only to gather up the items, but
also to maybe steal a stiff shot of something from his private bar.

"Wait!" Her frantic cry had him pausing.

"What?" He spun back around frantic, thinking the baby
was ready to drop onto the floor of his private room. "Is she coming?"

"No...not yet...but I...I don't want to be...alone."
She panted through another contraction. "And you were leaving..."

He sighed as the first sign of her fear sank in. "I was
just going to the kitchen for clean towels and hot water." He moved close
enough to touch her cheek. "
Nisey
and
Kalinda
can sit with you…”

Her honey colored eyes snapped at him, part fury and part fear.
"I don't want
Nisey
or
Kalinda
- have them go for the supplies. I need you!"

****

The stunned look on Gabriel's face seemed to say it all.
Evidently it'd never crossed his mind she might be more comforted by his
presence than
Nisey
and
Kalinda
.
But after witnessing
Kalinda
do her swan dive act,
and
Nisey's
near panic when her water had broken, she
could only focus on how calm Gabriel had been earlier when he'd brought back
Nisey
. And that's what she needed now. His control and the
inner strength she sensed under his stoic facade.

"Please, Gabriel." She softened her tone, hoping it
might sway him more than her harsh demand had.

He cocked his head, before tugging at one ear and sighing.
"All right, Zhenya." Then he turned to
Kalinda
and
Nisey
. "
Nisey
, go
to the kitchen. Tell the head chef you need a bundle of clean hand towels, a
couple of our best linen table clothes, and a steady supply of hot water sent
in here." She nodded, scurrying from the room.

"
Kalinda
, I need you to go to my
office. In the top right hand drawer of my desk is a pair of leather shears.
I'm sure you know what to look for. I gave Dom an identical pair shortly after
he and Josh moved into your new home as a housewarming gift."

"I know which ones you're talking about."

She moved to take off, but he stopped her. "Also grab the
bottle of whiskey and at least two glasses from my private bar. I have a
feeling we're going to need it before this is all over."

Kalinda
nodded, before slipping from the room. As the door shut behind
her, Zhenya realized for the first time since she'd met Gabriel she was alone
with the man, and now wasn't exactly sure what to say to him. Not only was she
in labor but she had in all essence demanded he stay with her. She'd put not
only him in an awkward situation but herself as well.

"Well, it looks like we're going to be getting better
acquainted sooner than I expected, Ms.
Sisceros
."
Gabriel shed his jacket to roll up the sleeves on his white dress shirt,
exposing dark hair dusted forearms. The muscles were evident even in repose.
She couldn't help but wonder what they would feel like wrapped around a woman.
She had a feeling he would be the ultimate protector.

"I guess
sooo
....” Her breath
caught as pain started in her lower back and wrapped around her waist. Letting
the pain flow through her, she accepted it as her due and refused to fight it,
wishing she could still see his beautiful belt buckle. It had given her
something to focus on. When it finally eased, she exhaled softly.

"Damn, they’re coming fast. When did they start?"
Gabriel squatted down in front of her. Now his face was level with hers.

"I've been having them off and on for the past two
days."

A frown furrowed his brow. "And you came to your
shower?" The disapproval was there in his expression. If it'd been before
she'd left Ossie, she'd have been immediately contrite. But now it did nothing
more than irritate her. "You seriously need a keeper.
Caelan
is obviously falling down on the job if he let you come to some silly
party..."

Anger pushed aside her physical discomfort. "I'll have you
know, Sir, that
Caelan
isn't my keeper. I happen to
be a grown woman, and if I didn't want to disappoint my friends by blowing off
the party they'd been planning for the past two months, because of something as
simple as a few measly contractions, that’s my right." She crossed her
arms over her breasts and glared at him.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "There's the
feisty Greek girl I remember from our first meeting. I was wondering where she
was hiding."

"I haven't been hiding. I've been getting fat and sassy
according to your friend."

He placed his hand on her knee. "Well, let’s just hope you
hang onto to that attitude." He shoved the long gauzy purple skirt she
wearing up past her knees. "Because we're going to end up being more
intimate than some lovers by the time this is over. And the first thing is
getting rid of this wet clothing." He snagged the elastic band of her
soaked bikini panties. "Lift."

Grasping the arms of the chair she lifted, allowing him to jerk
them down. She winced as her bare bottom came in contact with the silky chiffon
of her skirt. Not that it mattered really, as the skirt was already ruined.

"Well, this wasn't a sight I was expecting to see,
Gabe."
Caelan
, his hair damp and coat splattered
with snow and carrying a steaming pan of water, was followed by
Nisey
who had her arms full of table linens and towels.
"One would've thought you'd wait until after Zhenya has her baby before
trying to feel her up."

A scowl crossed Gabriel's face. "And how about I kick your
ass for letting a laboring woman come to a baby shower?"

"I wasn't aware there was any woman ready to birth...until
I caught
Nisey
in the kitchen trying to carry linen
and hot water at your request, Gabe. She filled me in on what was going
on."
Caelan
glared at Zhenya. "Do you think
I'd actually let a woman under my protection pull such a stunt?" Then he
set the water on the table, his hands went to his hips. His firmly set mouth
didn’t bode well, Zhenya decided as he approached them.

"I told you. I wasn't going to ruin
Nisey
and
Kalinda's
shower because of some contractions my
doctor told me not to worry about."

Caelen's
mouth softened. "Braxton Hicks?"

She nodded as he visibly relaxed. "Relax, Gabriel. There
was no devious scheme here. Women get them all the time and don't have their
babies for weeks.
Kalinda
had them several times
before she'd had the twins. It's normal."

Gabriel looked a bit put out but sighed. "Fine...then care
to tell me how the hell you managed to get here?"

Zhenya was curious about that herself. If
Caelan
could get here, perhaps she could get to the hospital. But Josh's words as he
entered with
Kalinda
put that hope to rest.

"Because this fool…" His British accent thick as he
pointed towards
Caelan
. "….couldn't bear the
thought of being separated from his woman."

Caelan
scoffed. "And this idiot decided he couldn't wait for the emergency crews
to clear the roads to get to his baby, so we parked the truck and took a
shortcut through the back alley..."

Zhenya's ears perked up. If the men could make it through this
back alley from their truck perhaps she could...

"Don't even think about it. Pregnant or not, there isn't a
prayer I'm going to let you try and walk down a dark alley during a storm with
ice on the ground. These dumb assess shouldn't have even tried it."
Gabriel’s stern voice echoed through the room.

"I..." She opened her mouth to protest when another
contraction hit her. She dug her fingernails into the polished wood before
dropping her gaze to Gabriel's waist. Standing as he was, she could clearly see
the design on his belt buckle. Using it to take her mind off the pain, she
tried to unravel the intricate markings.