I took out my phone and snapped some pictures. If Ivan sold the Russell to a private collector, he could get a million pounds or more for this one portrait alone. Her work was very much in demand.

In fact, Ivan would have no problem selling off any of the paintings he wished to move. I agreed with him. There was far too much stored in one place. A fire could wipe everything out in mere minutes, and then it would all be lost forever—an incalculable loss for the art world.

And putting irreplaceable paintings such as this at risk was simply not an option.

Chapter 14

IVAN

When I saw her bending down studying something on the ground what looked like it could be wildflowers, I just couldn’t help myself. I’d been impatiently waiting on her and was about to start out searching when I spotted her red jacket across the field from the horse barns. The dogs were with her, just as they should be when the mistress was outside walking on her own. After the incident with the drone yesterday, I wouldn’t be taking any chances with her protection, either here or in London. If Park Jin-ho targeted Gabrielle for any sort of abuse or threats to frighten her or otherwise, I’d fucking lose my mind. I’d be the one in need of a white coat with extra-long arms and a padded cell instead of him.

The guard dog army would be here in another month. Arriving direct from Prague with a handler who would live with them on the property and keep the undesirables out. Trained working security animals who did not fuck around and attacked on demand when trespassed upon. Posted warning signs >>GUARD DOGS ON PREMISES-DO NOT ENTER<< would be going up soon across the entirety of the lands of this estate. It was Ethan’s suggestion actually, and I was fully on board with the idea now.

But at this very moment my thoughts were being distracted by the vision of Gabrielle’s luscious bum in another pair of tight jeans, these with many colorful silk patches on them, bent over to admire the purple flowers blooming profusely in the fields this time of the year. I pushed Pontus forward and hoped the noise of the breeze blowing away from her would muffle the sound of his steps.

GABRIELLE

Pretty lavender flowers bloomed all over the ground in clumps, but they weren’t the species lavender though, they were more like thistle flowers sans the prickles. I was in awe of the beauty of this place. Donadea was filled with treasures inside the house, yes, but many natural treasures existed on the land of the estate, too. No wonder Ivan loved it here so much. He was born here, and his first memories of life were here. Donadea was as special as the people who had made it their home and lived their lives here for centuries. It was as special as Ivan Everley had become to me. I understood so much more about him than before. Everything about him made sense to me now. Why he was a dominant and so protective of his privacy and the ones he loved.