My dad plops down on the couch and chats away, talking about his time in jail and his plans for the future. How he's going to do better. How he’ll never fuck up again.Jay and I are both silent. I cast glances at him, but he hasn't looked at me since my father walked in the door.As I sit there, silently begging Jay to look at me, my hurt turns to anger.Jay knows me well enough to realize I act out when I’m angry. I excuse myself from the room, feeling the heat of Jay’s eyes boring into my back. He couldn't meet my eyes head-on, but he'll stare a hole in my back as I walk away.Fuck him.I flounce into the bedroom I haven't slept in since Jay and I gave in to our passion. It's become a storage space for my clothes where I come every morning to grab some clothes.I rifle through my garments now, looking for the skimpiest, sluttiest outfit I can find. A micro mini skirt and a V-neck top, both of which are two sizes too small for me. I grew out of them sophomore year, but I can still squ
AURORAMy eyes flick toward the door. Run! My mind screams. I don’t even know what lies on the other side of that door, but the red exit sign lets me know it at least goes to the outside. But then what?I’m in a city that is completely new to me. I don’t know my way around or have anyone to help me. Not that it really matters much. I didn’t really know anyone from the city I grew up in either. The people I did know would be quick to hand me back over to my stepmother, Mara, who would then hand me over to the man who paid a small fortune to have me.For a fraction of a second, I thought maybe I could do this. Arranged marriages aren’t so far-fetched. I think lots of cultures still believe in them. Though I’m not sure if this could be considered the same thing since Edward Blackwood actually bought me. It wasn’t as though our parents thought we’d be a good match or something. I mean, the man is at least twice my age. Hell, he’s almost three times my age.I met my soon-to-be husband at a
“One of these days, you’re going to be carried home,” he grumbles as he cleans up the needles and bandages. He hands me a cloth to wipe my fingers off.I take it and toss the used tissue onto the small pile of garbage he’s collecting. “Today is not that day.” I grin and flex. “Still big and strong.”“And dumb,” he adds as a good little brother should. “For god’s sake. You had a gun pointed at you.”“It was in the middle of the street. The gun was for show. He had no intention of using it.”“You don’t know that.”“It was an educated guess.” I reach over to knock him upside the head as a good big brother should when Marco’s face appears in the doorway.“I’ve got some information,” he says.I fall back into my chair. “Come in. I’m all ears.”Marco steps inside and closes the door. “The license plate is registered under the name of Coal Works, Inc.”“Never heard of it.”“Me neither,” chimes my brother.“The general partner of Coal Works is also the head of a real estate investment trust f
“You want to marry me?” I stare into his handsome face, not really understanding. “And if I do, you’ll give me your house?” I repeat just to make sure I have it right. I mean, I haven’t taken the pain meds today so I’m not hallucinating. All of this sounds too good to be true. It’s a win-win for me. It’s not much of a deal for him, though. I don’t understand what he’s going to get out of this.“If we’re married, what's mine is yours.” He gives me one of those half-smiles of his I’ve grown addicted to. It turns him from handsome to sexy. It should be illegal for him to be so good-looking.“I’m having a hard time following, I guess. Why? What do you get out of this deal?” I’m trying to find the catch here.I didn’t think Mikael looked at me that way. I know I’m supposed to be on bed rest, but there might have been a few times I let his shirt ride up a bit on my thighs to see if he would take a peek. I’d even brushed myself up against him whenever I could. But he always quickly retreats.
“I’ve always prided myself on my control. With you I don’t have it.” He drops his forehead to mine.“You might not like that, but I kind of love it. Thank you for admitting that to me.”He smiles, lifting his head. “You’re far too good for me, but you’ve already agreed you’d marry me.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box. “I should have given you this already. We do the bands at the ceremony.” He opens the lid to reveal a stunning engagement ring.“Mikael, it's too much.” I stare at a giant emerald-cut diamond with a halo of diamonds all around it, making it even bigger.“I wouldn’t want anyone to miss it. The world needs to know you’re mine.” He smirks.“No one is going to miss that.” I laugh.“Give me your hand.” I hold it up, letting him slide the ring on my finger. “Now, are you going to get your dress on or do I have to carry you down in your robe and make the clergy marry us with his eyes closed because he’s not seeing you in only a robe when you have this on undernea
“What the hell?” I mutter when I don’t see my Kindle on the nightstand. I slip off the bed and look under it before I start pulling back the covers.“Looking for this?” My head jerks up at the sound of Mikael’s deep, sexy voice. He’s in his normal suit, but he has my Kindle in his hand. I mean, I didn’t think my husband could look more handsome, but I was wrong.I start to grow wet. The man has trained my body or something. I see him and know pleasure is right there within my grasp if I want it. Mikael is always willing to give it.“Why do you have my Kindle?” I come around the bed.“Trying to see what it has that I don’t.”“What?” I laugh, holding my hand out for it.“You give it more attention than me.”“Are you jealous of my Kindle?”“Yes,” he says simply. I’d actually been joking. “I’m jealous of this robe.” He grabs me, pulling me into him, his mouth coming down onto mine. The kiss quickly grows. Mikael suddenly pulls back. I was expecting him to lift me and carry me back to the
“Knives only?”“It was in the mall parking lot. I guess they didn’t want to create a scene, and gunshot wounds are an automatic report by hospital personnel. Knife wounds are not.”The car is running when we reach it. Another security officer, Randolph, is at the wheel. He takes off as soon as the doors are closed.Marco continues his debriefing. “There were four assailants. One died, two were injured badly. The fourth escaped in an unmarked black Ford. The two that are injured are at the hospital. I don’t know if we’ll be able to question them.”“I take it despite the lack of gunshots, someone notified the police?”“Yeah, a new intern trying to be helpful.”“I’ll call Chief Jones.” I dial up the man that I give a million dollars to every year for precisely times like these.“Ackles, it’s been a while.” The head of the police sounds wary.“I don’t like to bother you as I know you’re a busy man.”“So you only call for important matters?”The chief has always been smart. “Precisely. The
There’s no need to explain things. I did what I had to do. Downstairs, the mistress is in the kitchen wearing a robe and making coffee.“Do you have somewhere to go?” I ask. “Clean-up team will be here shortly.”She taps her spoon against the side of her mug. “Do I have to leave?”I consider her request for a moment. It’s not as if the crew will do anything worse than I’ve already done. They’re just here to erase the evidence. “No.”She gives me a sunny smile. “Then I’ll stay. It’s my home, after all. Why should I leave?”The home was the price of her silence. It was worth it. I give her a nod and make my way toward the door.“The girl you saved—the one Edward wanted—”At the door, I tense. “Yes?” I ask.“She okay? I heard Edward kind of beat her up. He was bragging about it.”I look over my shoulder with a grim smile. “Are you trying to get me to reanimate his corpse so I can kill him again?”The woman laughs. “Nah. I guess I should feel remorse or something that he’s gone, but all I