Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I don’t say anything. Instead, I let it sink in. I knew, the second I stormed out of his apartment, that we’d eventually come to this. Sheila made it pretty clear he’s my only option and I trust her more than anyone else in the world. With Natalie gone, she’s all I have.
Maybe coming here was stupid and impulsive… but also a good negotiating strategy.
Show him I’m willing to walk.
“I want more.” Now it’s my turn to look away from him. I’m worried that if I hold his gaze, I won’t be strong enough to keep going. “You need me as much as I need you.”
“What do you want?”
“Protection for Sheila. Make sure Senesi can’t hurt her.”
“I can do my best.”
“I want your word. And more too. Whatever we have, it’ll just be an arrangement. I want the freedom to work when I want to. I’m not going to be some submissive little mouse following you around all the time.”
“I wouldn’t want that.”
“And I want my own bank account with a contractually specific stipend paid every month.”
He sounds amused. “I didn’t realize we were negotiating.”
“I want my own space. I want the freedom to come and go as I please.”
“That will make protecting you very difficult.”
“You’ll figure it out. You’re a smart guy.”
His smile seems bitterly angry. “Alright. You want to negotiate? Then I have my own needs.” He moves closer. His body is so big and strong. I feel small next to him. “You will give me children.”
I pull back. “Excuse me?”
“I told you, family is important. Creating the next generation matters.”
“You’re talking about getting me pregnant like it’s a science experiment.”
“I’m aware of what getting you pregnant will feel like.”
I shiver at the promise in the tone of his voice. “Agree to my terms.”
“Only if you agree to mine.”
I close my eyes. God, is this really happening? Natalie’s dead. There was so much blood. Now I’m negotiating about my future.
I’m going to get money, freedom, an arrangement with a beautiful man, and safety. All in exchange for my hand in marriage… and children.
“I choose when we have sex.”
He dips his head, a slight smile on his lips. “I can live with that.”
Something tells me he doesn’t think much about my self-control.
The bastard.
I shove my hand at him. “I get money, my own space, freedom to work and move around, control over our sex life, and protection. I get to say no when I want to. That means you have to earn me. You don’t get to own me. In exchange, you get a wife and children. Is that about it?”
“We should draw up an official contract.”
“Screw that. Shake on it here and now.” I lean in closer, glaring at him. “Or are you afraid I’m going to get the better end of this deal?”
His hand slips into mine. It’s big and strong as he grips tight. Slowly, he shakes his head.
“No, baby, I’m very sure I just got everything I could want and gave up almost nothing in exchange.”
That’s total bullshit. I got more than I should have.
But there’s one more thing.
“And I want to help you hunt down and kill Vincenzo Senesi.”
His eyes narrow. “That’s not possible.”
“I want revenge, Declan.”
His laugh is low and dangerous. “Do you have any idea what that even means?”
“I don’t care.” I refuse to release his hand. “Give me what I want.”
His gaze sweeps over my mouth before finally nodding. “So long as it doesn’t put you in danger.”
“Pleasure doing business with you.” I pull my hand back and quickly get up. “I’ll be heading home now.”
“Just like that?”
I reach into my pocket. The ring is still there. I pull it out and hold it up, about to slide it onto my finger.
But Declan moves fast. He grabs my wrist, dropping down to one knee in front of me. I stare in surprise as he takes the ring, flips my hand toward him, and slides it down onto my finger.
“Casey Brennan, you’re my wife now.”
Not a proposal. Not a question.
But a statement of blistering, horrible fact.
He stays like that for a long moment, staring up into my face, and I’m reminded of the sinful night we spent together.
I finally pull away, my cheeks turning red, and hurry away.
As much as I hate it, this man still has a wicked power over me, and I’m afraid I’ll give him more than I want if I stick around any longer.
Chapter 10
Casey
Sheila dumps a box down in the empty kitchen and sighs, rubbing her lower back. “One of my great regrets in life is letting you buy so much stuff.”
“Oh, come on, you’re just as bad as me.”
“True, but I don’t ever plan on moving.”
“I didn’t either.” I glance down at the ring on my finger. I’m tired and achy. I don’t know what I would’ve done if Sheila refused to help me get my stuff over here. I could afford movers, but I’m still operating under the delusion that I might buy my own house one day.