Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
I pick up my wine with both hands and hunch over it. “What if you don’t turn it over?”
“Then the Mantis will take that as a failure, and they will punish me and my entire organization. Maybe they won’t kill me, if I’m lucky, but they’ll make sure we suffer.”
“All for some stupid electronic watch?”
He grunts and looks down at it, shaking his head. “I don’t know what’s on that hard drive, but it’s extremely important.”
“So just, I don’t know, destroy it. Or tell them you found it in the lake. Or invent some other story.”
“They’ll know I’m lying.”
I laugh, feeling somewhat hysterical. “That’s really convenient.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Clearly not. Jeremy Fong was just some guy. He didn’t even seem all that clever. And now you’re telling me he’s this fancy Iron Head whatever, and his criminal organization is ruthless and knows everything?”
“Pretty much.” Alexan refills his wine and paces. “What were you thinking, stealing from that man anyway?”
“I was thinking my dad’s a fucking asshole and I felt like doing it.”
“Which means you weren’t thinking at all.”
“Hey, look, you’re a fucking asshole too, congratulations.”
“Don’t get pissed at me. You’re the one that fucked us both.”
“Fucked us both?” I shove back and stand. My glass sloshes slightly and spills on the counter. “Look, how about this? Give me the stupid watch back and I’ll deal with it. My brother will know what to do.”
“Absolutely not.” He picks up a sponge from near the sink and wipes up the wine. God, he’s such a neat freak; even in the middle of an argument he can’t help himself. “Your family isn’t up for this. Mantis will tear them to shreds.”
“And you can handle it? Seems like you’re doing great so far.”
“I’m saving your life.”
“Are you sure about that? Or are you just saving your little token wife and keeping your alliance together?”
His look is cold and flat. “What’s the difference?”
“Asshole.” I don’t even know why I’m so mad at him. He’s not wrong—I’m the one who stole the watch and set all this in motion.
I’m just sick of people treating me like an idiot.
“Give me time to fix this,” he says, staring at me with that bizarre, intense stare, like he’s trying to see under my skin. Or just under my dress. “For now, you’re staying here.”
I pull back in surprise. “Wait, you mean I’m moving in?”
“That’s what wives normally do.”
“Good thing this isn’t a real marriage, right?”
“It’s real,” he says, his voice dropping into a harsh whisper. “Otherwise, I’d hand you over to the Mantis right now and let them cut your throat.”
“Then do it if that’s what you want so badly. Go ahead, I fucking dare you.” I grip the glass tightly, shoulders hunched. Anger rushes into my core. I want to scream, but I know this isn’t his fault. He’s not the one who dragged us into this.
It was my fault. My stupid impulsiveness.
All because my dad treats me like a child.
And maybe he’s right. That’s the kicker.
“Don’t you get it?” Alexan asks. “I’m trying to protect you.”
“Why even bother?”
“Because you’re mine.” He puts his wine down and comes around the island. I back away, keeping space between us.
“We’re married. But I’m not yours. There’s a difference.”
“I don’t see it that way.”
“Great, I get it, you stalked me for a couple of weeks and we had that one afternoon—”
“When you got off in my bed.”
“When I made another stupid, impulsive mistake.” That’s starting to sound like the story of my life, actually. “But we’re nothing. You owe me nothing. I don’t want you doing this whole protector thing only to turn around and act like I should be worshipping you or something. Because that’s not me.”
“Is that what you think? My love, if you’re going to get on your knees for me, it’s not in fucking worship.”
I stare at him, my mouth opening. What is wrong with this man? Even right now, when apparently we’re dealing with life or death stakes, he’s still talking dirty?
And I’m cursed to freaking like it.
“I’m going to bed,” I announce because this conversation isn’t getting us anywhere. At the look on his face, I clarify that it will definitely be alone.
He follows me to the steps and up into the hall. “We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.”
“Fine, whatever, just right now I need to sleep and think.” I pause at the door to his guest room. The bed’s been made up with new sheets since the last time I was here. I wonder if he changes them often, or if this was for me.
I hesitate before going in. He’s watching carefully like he wants to say something. I take a breath and hold it, and some of my frustration fades.
“I know I’m not being fair,” I say without looking back at him. “This has just been a long day and I’m not at my best. Thank you for not turning me in.”