No. It’s with Anton Todorov, the devil. Lucifer himself. In his arms at the Graceland Chapel in Vegas. Under duress. His bride by blackmail. It’s crazy. It’s amazing. And all I can think is, “What happens next?”
If Anton wants to fuck me right here at the altar, I’m going to let him.
Right in front of the minister. I mean, he’s not a real priest anyway, right? And I’m a mob wife now! Not some Mormon house mom or something.
But, like the gentleman he said he would be, Anton simply takes my hand, leads me from the altar and back to the car.
“We’re keeping the outfits?” I ask. “Won’t the minister be mad? Or did you threaten him too?”
“I paid him,” Anton replies as we pull away. “I do not threaten everyone I meet, Peaches.”
This time, I don’t hide my smile from him. As stupid as it may be, I’m actually swooning right now. I doubt my mom would approve, but who else can say they got married in Vegas to one of the most powerful men in America? No one that I know. The girls in high school would never believe me. No one back at the diner either.
I know I’ve been blackmailed into this, but something is happening between Anton and me. It has to be. Why else would he have dressed up as Elvis and taken me here? He could have easily just had forms brought to us for me to sign and then left me at one of his houses or locked up in a room somewhere or something.
Why go through this effort if not to make me happy?
And why not just have his way with me?
It just doesn’t make sense. He has no reason to play mind games with me either. He’s got me right where he wants me, with my mother and brother’s fate hanging over my head. But instead of just treating me like a necessity, some woman he needs to use to appease his father, he’s treating me with respect. Like he actually cares about me. Like he wants to make me happy.
“Anton, I—”
“It’s a shame you’re too young to drink,” Anton says, his blue eyes sparkling like morning light reflecting off the ocean waves. “There will be champagne waiting for us at our suite.”
“Our suite?”
The car pulls up and parks, and a valet opens the door for me. Anton winks at me. “The honeymoon suite.”
I look up and see an enormous hotel with a sign that reads MGM GRAND. I know nothing about Vegas or hotels or anything like that, but if Anton is bringing me here, it must be the ultimate in luxury.
We enter like royalty. Men and women wait on us hand and foot. We’re escorted to a private elevator which takes us to the top floor, a private suite with a view that takes my breath away. Anton escorts me to the window, away from everyone else, and puts his arm around me.
The warmth of his body feels like home. His scent fills my nostrils, and I feel what’s left of my guard go down. I swallow hard and take a breath as I gaze out over the glowing aura of the Las Vegas lights.
A married woman…
I’m going to be with Anton for the rest of my life. Even if this whole thing began as a sham, a blackmail scheme, it’s evolved into something more. I know it. He knows it. The only question I have now is if he will acknowledge it.
“I don’t know how to do this,” Anton finally says, breaking the silence. I realize we’re alone. Even his men are gone.
“Impress a woman? You seem to be doing a good job so far.”
“No.” He shakes his head, his eyes fixed on the horizon. “That’s not what I mean.”
I can sense that it’s not my turn to speak. I wait and I watch. He’s thinking about something. I let him. Finally, he turns and looks down at me, his cold eyes tortured by thoughts I wish I could heal.
“I don’t deserve you,” he finally says, cracking my heart like a chisel to a stone.
“Anton.”
“What I did to get you here, I—”
“Yes, you do,” I whisper, falling into his arms. His taut chest presses against my cheek. His strength…undeniable.
“I’m a bad man, Mia, and I did a terrible thing to get you here. But I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting you—and your family.”
My lips tremble as his fingers find the hem of my dress and lift. The cool air finds the skin of my thighs as he begins to expose me in a way no man ever has. I whimper, drawing a growl from Anton’s chest.