"The old mafia boss insulted me in a rare Sicilian dialect nobody was supposed to understand—unaware I was about to answer him in his childhood language."

"Gabriel," Matteo said smoothly, setting the silver knife back on the counter. "I was just introducing myself to our new staff member."

Gabriel didn't speak. He walked across the kitchen floor with slow, deliberate steps, stopping two inches from Matteo's chest.

"If you ever step into this kitchen again, Matteo," Gabriel whispered softly, every word dropped like an iron weight into the silent room, "or if you ever speak to Tessa in that tone again, I won't just remove you from the shipping board. I will personally throw you into the Hudson River."

Matteo’s jaw clenched tightly, a flicker of genuine terror passing through his eyes before he backed away toward the exit doors.

"You're making a mistake, Gabriel," Matteo sneered raspy from the threshold. "Putting a civilian between us and our business."

Matteo turned on his heel and disappeared down the corridor.

Gabriel stood near the counter, his chest heaving slightly, his gray eyes wild with a fierce, protective focus as he turned to face me.

"Did he touch you, Tessa?" Gabriel asked urgently, his broad hands coming up to gently frame my face, his warm thumbs stroking my cheekbones. "Did he threaten you?"

I looked up into his gray eyes—seeing zero fear, seeing only the immense, fierce, and protective love that burned inside his soul for me.

I reached up, wrapping my hands around his wrists, leaning my forehead gently against his chest.

"I'm fine, Gabriel," I whispered softly. "I've handled bitter men before."

Gabriel let out a long, shuddering breath, his broad arms wrapping tightly around my waist, pulling me flush against his solid frame, burying his face into my hair.

"He's planning something, Tessa," Gabriel murmured softly into my hair. "Matteo has been meeting with rival family captains in Brooklyn. He wants to take control of the docks before my father passes."

"Then don't let him," I said, pulling back slightly to look into his eyes, my voice ringing with absolute confidence. "Your father built this family on honor, Gabriel. You are the rightful leader."