“What things?”
The contract you signed affords me rights to adjust our agreement and that’s what’s happening now.”
“What the fuck? What are you talking about?”
“We’re going to get married in a few days.”
“Sorry, what?”
“It’s a formality and is only for a limited time. In exchange for you agreeing, I will up your payment from a hundred thousand to two hundred thousand.”
“Are you insane?”
“Relax. There will be no love or happy lifetime together or any of that bullshit. I need to be married to inherit my empire, and it needs to happen fast and you’re the only woman in the vicinity. Two hundred thousand and we only need to stay married until I inherit. A couple of months at most.”
“Call it a million for all I care. I’m not marrying you.”
“What’s the matter? Worried you’ll fall for me?”
“That’s a joke. I wouldn’t fall for you in a hundred years. You use people. You hurt people. Look at this. You come in here and tell me we’re getting married like I’ll just accept it. Fuck you, Hunter.”
“I could send you home and leave Oswald to deal with you.”
“Wow. Show me who you really are, why don’t you?”
“You prefer that idea? I leave you to your ex?”
“You’re a bastard, you know that, right?”
“You thought he was a risk to you. He’s nothing. A fly irritating the corner of your eye. I’m a fucking mallet coming slamming down onto your head and you didn’t even see me coming. Get this into your head. We’re getting married.”
“Not fucking happening.”
“Then you will never leave this house again.” I storm out of the bedroom before she gets a chance to reply, shoving the key into the lock and turning it while she starts rattling the door on the other side.
I’ll leave her stewing on that for a while. I send Toby a message as I walk back downstairs, ignoring her yelling.
Book me a priest and a venue for a wedding. Make it fast.
On it.
The faster I get married, the faster I get her pregnant, the faster this farce comes to an end.
I smile, slipping my phone into my pocket. One last thing to do before bed. Most people might settle with cocoa or a good book. I’ve got a dying Russian assassin to remove from the trunk of my car.
21
Bex
* * *
My fingers hurt when I wake up. It takes me a moment to remember why. My first thought is to wonder where I am. An unfamiliar bed. Blankets are softer than any I’ve ever known. The temperature is perfect. There’s not a sliver of light getting in through the curtains.
I’m not at home. I know that much. Where am I?
The pain in my fingers answers that question for me. I hurt them last night trying to get out of here.
Hunter locked me in. I can’t believe he did that. Told me we’re getting married like it’s the most natural thing in the world, and of course, I’d agree to it. Then locked me in like Beauty and the Beast or some shit.