By the time lunch was announced Gabriel was already working on his fifth beer. He didn't usually drink so early, and never as fast (he was good at pacing himself), but the occasion seemed to call for it. He'd been seething since Louisa's disconcerting greeting on the driveway.
He was so taken by surprise it actually took him a bit of time to regain his senses. When he deemed it safe to rejoin humanity, he found Louisa talking animatedly with Angelo on the couch. Since then, his youngest brother had never left her side and followed her around like a lovesick puppy. He would've approached Louisa when Angelo was called away by Matthew, but just as he was about to make his move, Rafael and Miguel arrived and immediately proceeded to monopolize his betrothed.
Although he could've inserted himself in their midst, he thought it safer to stay away when he overheard them reminiscing about their childhood antics with Louisa. He did not need to be reminded of his horrible treatment of her back then. His chance of whisking Louisa away from his brothers disappeared into thin air when Angelo and Matthew returned and joined their group. Frustrated to no end, Gabriel contented himself with plundering the bar.
He sat on a couch on the far side of the spacious living room, silently watching his betrothed from a distance. Louisa sat on the center of the sofa, flanked by Angelo and Matthew on either side, while Rafael and Miguel sat on the chairs opposite them. Miguel caught his eye once and gestured for him to join them but he waved him away, pointing at his drink. Miguel nodded and went back to the lively conversation being lorded over by Rafael.
Gabriel was not interested in what they were talking about. He was more interested in observing Louisa and how the men surrounding her seemed to be captivated by her mere presence. Gabriel brushed off the brief stirrings of jealousy. It was a ridiculous thought. Still, he could not help but ponder on the threat level each man presented.
He considered Matthew first. Matthew had been Louisa's best friend since childhood and was more like a sibling. Matt's threat level: zero. Then, he turned to Rafael, who, with his Adonis-like features and majestic figure, was the most handsome of the Montoya brothers. Gabriel would've considered him a real threat had he not known of Rafael's unimpeachable sense of propriety. Even if he nurtured any tender feelings for Louisa, Gabriel was sure they would be tamped down as soon as he learned of their betrothal. So, not a real threat, either.
Then came Miguel, who despite his glasses and 'nerdy' appearance still cut a captivating figure, nonetheless. But since he was already privy to Gabriel's situation, he was the one who presented the least threat of all. When his eyes finally settled on Angelo, however, Gabriel heard warning bells inside his head.
His brother was sitting too close to his fiancée for Gabriel's liking. Angelo's left arm was on the back of the sofa while his left leg was brushing against Louisa's. Every once in awhile, he would lean in to share a private joke, after which they would both burst out laughing, with Louisa smacking Angelo's thigh once or twice. If he didn't know any better, he would think she was flirting with his brother. But the gesture, he knew, was done without malice. Louisa had always been physically expressive. He even used to get annoyed by her light slaps and punches when they were younger.
Angelo, however, was another matter. He saw how Angelo's eyes softened whenever he looked at Louisa, how he blushed whenever Louisa playfully punched him on the arm or slapped his thigh. He saw how Angelo hung on to her every word, his eyes darting back to her even when he tried to feign interest in the general conversation. But most of all he saw something in Angelo's eyes he easily recognized.
Desire.
His brother wanted his fiancée, and he had no qualms about showing it.
Under different circumstances, Gabriel would've been amused. He would've teased Angelo about it to no end. Unfortunately, his youngest brother now presented a very real threat to him. Angelo was not one to back down from a fight. And seeing the way he looked at Louisa, he was clearly determined to pursue her, to seduce her even. Of all his brothers, Angelo was the only one who rarely danced to Gabriel's tune, the only one who never had reservations about going against tradition or family.
His previous conversation with Miguel laid the groundwork for his present fears. Miguel had told him about Angelo's unusual interest in knowing the details of Gabriel's betrothal to Louisa. Angelo had even asked him if Gabriel had any plans of honoring the said commitment. It made Miguel wonder at his youngest brother's intentions so he told Gabriel about it.
Gabriel brushed it aside and told Miguel that Angelo was probably just annoyed at being left out of the loop. But looking at his younger brother now, Miguel's suspicions didn't seem too far off at all. His hackles rose when Angelo whispered something that made Louisa blush. He was up on his feet before he could even finish swearing colorfully under his breath. In just a few wide strides he found himself directly in front of Louisa.
She gasped when he yanked her from her seat. Angelo leaped to his feet, ready to defy his older brother.
"Don't," he growled.
"What are you doing, Gab?" Angelo asked.
"Nothing that concerns you, baby brother," Gabriel replied, using the moniker Angelo hated, baiting him just a little, challenging him to retaliate.
"I think it does concern me since you're interrupting my conversation with Louie," Angelo's voice was hardly above a whisper but it trembled with fury.
"Gab, what's going on? Let go of Louie, will you? You're hurting her," Rafael piped in, grabbing onto Gabriel's free arm.
"Gab," Miguel said as he, too, rose from his seat.
Matthew was also on his feet now, his face set and stony, eyes throwing daggers at the man hurting her friend.
Only then did Gabriel notice Louisa struggling against his tight grip. When he glanced down he saw the compendium of emotions flashing across her face: fear, dismay, anger.
He loosened his hold but did not let go completely. Instead, he pulled her away from the others.
As he trudged angrily towards the door, a strong hand clamped down on his shoulder. Instinctively, he knew it was Angelo.
All at once, the fury and frustration he had been trying hard to keep in check since morning bubbled up and exploded into one blinding flash of madness.
Relinquishing his hold on Louisa, he twisted around and swung his fisted right hand, connecting with an oncoming face. It landed on Angelo's chin, sending the younger Montoya sprawling on the marble floor of the foyer.
Angelo quickly bounded back up, his clenched fist absently rubbing his chin. He stood smirking before Gabriel, all defiance and daring.
But just as the two brothers moved to tackle each other amidst the collective shouts of Louisa, Miguel, Rafael, and Matthew, a resounding bellow none had heard for quite some time echoed around the room.
All eyes turned towards the voice with trepidation.
Beyond the archway leading to the dining room was Don Fernando, seated on his wheelchair, resplendent in spite of his incapacity, his thick brows furrowing in his wide forehead. His eyes belied his illness as they continued shooting twin lightning bolts at both Gabriel and Angelo.
"Madre de Dío! Can one of you tell me what in blazes is going on here? And do it fast, before I thrash the both of you!"