Chapter 21 #2
“On the flipside, the windows in the homes and cars are bulletproof because at any time or day or night a sharpshooter could attempt to assassinate any member of the… alliance. Guards must be assigned at all times, including when there would be intimate moments. Bella can’t have a normal life.
She’ll be sequestered to remain in a compound, so she doesn’t become the next victim.
And my brother is determined to follow in my father’s footsteps in chasing the thrill of annihilating enemies.
I think the cons outweigh the pros, unless I’ve suddenly develop a warped mind like yours. ”
“Now, I’ll take that as a compliment, Genevieve. I’m a cautious man. That’s why I’ve lived so long.”
She started clapping, shaking her head while she did.
“Then congratulations, Jago. You must be the happiest and most content man in the world. You certainly covet power and wealth. Do you purposely keep a stack of euros in the house and regularly wriggle on your bed over the large denominations? I bet you do.” After grabbing her notes, her abrupt turn and quick walk toward the door pulled on the possessive and controlling nature of my personality.
No one walked away unless I dismissed them.
Sadly, her words hit home. I’d never considered myself happy or content. But in my mind, up until this point the only thing that had mattered was building my wealth.
Where had that gotten me?
“I’ll finalize the contract, Jago, but you are going to sign it before anything occurs.”
“Why, yes, ma’am.”
“Excellent,” she threw back at me.
“Where are you going?” I demanded, somewhat irritated. Not with her directly, but with the fact she’d been able to peel the layers apart and see right through me.
“I’ll await your grand entrance in the very formal and cold living room so we can begin our very fake display of affection. I’m so eager to see how our soldiers and my family take the news.”
Her laugh flowed into the room, somehow managing to echo. What I should do was to pull her over my lap and provide her with another disciplinary lesson. Maybe that would calm her down.
I chuckled, realizing that would never work. Not with a woman like her.
“Incidentally, I asked my men to continue hunting for anyone who had anything to do with my father’s death and the idiots who decided to send us threats. I hear Fassi’s Falcons are in town. I’ll be eager to see the rodents caught in a trap.”
Another moment to be impressed. “And what do you plan on doing with them if they’re caught?”
She spun around just like she had before, adding her flair of drama to the conversation. “Interrogation. My way. Maybe you’ll learn something, husband to be.”
The moment she threw open the door, tossing her head back and allowing her long hair to swish back and forth across her shoulders, my cock pressed against my trousers.
Genevieve just might be the death of me. But what a way to go.
“One last thing,” she offered with another flip of her hair. “I will be president of the combined corporation. Period.”
Why was it I was smiling?
Kruz walked in immediately after she left, shaking his hand in front of him and whistling.
“You heard that.”
“President? You’re going to accept that? Her face was defiant, matching her tough words. She is a tough one. What was the decision?” Kruz asked. He waltzed closer, plopping down in the chair where she’d been seated.
“She’ll surrender to me.”
His shrug was just another irritant.
“The deal is done,” I told him.
“She actually made a deal with the devil. Interesting.”
“It will be worthwhile.”
“What’s first?”
At least a grin was easy. “First, we get married.”
He coughed on purpose as he’d done before. “I don’t know how everyone will take the news.”
“I don’t give a shit, but we’ll find out. Let’s go.”
The last thing I’d expected in my life was to be forced to go through with a fake marriage.
Strangely enough, my father had approved when I’d called him.
He’d also taken it upon himself to assure me I could have a mistress or five on the side as long as my actions were somewhat discreet.
If forced to marry any other woman, I’d have readily and eagerly agreed.
But this was Genevieve we were talking about, a woman whose body I’d not yet been allowed the time to fully explore. Until her full surrender, which would occur, I’d enjoy spending time discovering her most erotic secrets.
As I strolled into the living room, I could immediately sense everyone was antsy. Normal routines had been derailed, security the number one priority instead of completing deals. I didn’t like it any more than anyone else.
Genevieve was standing by one of the windows beside Bella, the young girl staring at me as if I was the enemy instead of the monsters determined to take down her sister.
I was used to hatred coming from every angle, but the chill in the room was annoying.
Even her brother was glaring at me, no doubt calculating when he could make a move.
I gave my bride to be a commanding look and she sighed, squeezing her sister’s arm before heading in my direction.
There was no time for pretense.
I took her hand, forcing us to intertwine our fingers. Her glare was intense.
“I’m not interested in hearing your views or comments. An alliance has been formed between the Torres and Morales empires. You will honor this decision, or you will be eliminated.” I wasn’t one to explain my decisions to anyone, although I’d found myself doing just that with Genevieve.
When I hesitated in continuing with the news, my bride to be cupped my jaw with her other hand, peering up at me as if thoroughly infatuated. Maybe I was the only one who could read her expressions and body language. She was plotting a way out of the contract we’d yet to sign.
“Why don’t you tell them the rest, darling?” The fact she was cooing almost made me laugh.
I tilted my head and switched my hand from hers to the back of her long, beautiful neck. When I squeezed, her eyes flashed, but no one could see her reaction but me.
“The lovely Genevieve and I are to be married.”
Bella gasped from where she stood behind us, several of the soldiers on both sides immediately on edge.
Nothing fazed her until her brother spit on the floor, puffing out his chest. “ Te destruiré a ti y a todo tu mundo .”
His promise of destroying me and my entire world would normally cause an instant reaction with my soldiers. While they had their hands on their weapons, so did Genevieve’s people. I waved my hand as Genevieve pulled away, taking two long strides in her brother’s position.
“This is my decision to make and you will accept it,” she told him directly.
He realized he was being watched carefully, his eyes darting back and forth. “No, I won’t.” As he stormed from the room, I threw out my hand to prevent anyone from following him.
She immediately attempted to follow him, but I stopped her from walking away, pulling her close so only she could hear me. “Let me do it.”
Genevieve wrinkled her nose, throwing a look of hatred toward every one of my men who continued to have their hands on their weapons. “If you hurt him, I’ll kill you. Keep that in mind.”
“I don’t plan on hurting him, dulce ángel .”
She snorted at my reference. I headed from the room, finding Marco standing outside the front door.
I didn’t bark at him immediately or attempt to jerk him back inside.
I simply walked to his right, shoving my hands into my pockets.
I wasn’t usually known as being a diplomat, but right now, it was what was needed.
Minutes ticked by.
The air was chilly after the storm, but at least the sun was out. I don’t know why I cared. I’d never taken more than a few seconds to give a damn about the weather.
He stood stoically, acting as if I wasn’t standing right beside him. What struck me was how much he reminded me of myself at his age. The real difference that I could see was that I’d already killed five men by that point.
“I heard you want to become a soldier,” I told him, trying to keep as much respect in my voice as possible.
“Yeah. I will. And when I do, I’ll kill anyone who stands in my way.”
I chuckled inwardly. Yes, he was exactly like I’d been. All anger and intolerance. And stupidity. “Have you ever killed anyone?”
The slight shift from foot to foot was my answer. “Almost.”
“There’s no such thing as almost, Marco. You were lucky in that you had a father who allowed you to be a teenager.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means my father groomed me to be a killer from the time I turned ten years old.”
At least I could tell I’d gotten his attention.
“My father wasn’t a loving man. He hasn’t changed much either. I learned early on that I was nothing in his mind but a soldier, but he thought me weak and decided to test my skills. I’d assured him several times I was ready to become a soldier. To become a man.”
“So what?”
I laughed. “So, one night he made good on his promise. It was dark, stormy, and I was in bed with the lights off. I was attacked in the middle of the night, certain my father’s house was under siege. The fuckers were strong and pinned me down, but I refused to allow them to destroy my family.”
“What happened?” he asked after a full minute had passed.
“I secured the advantage. I’d hidden weapons in my room and slept with a gun under my pillow. The three soldiers hadn’t been prepared to face a young man with everything to prove. I shot them dead, all three of them.”
He turned his head toward me. “Good for you.”
“Yes, good for me. My father was surprised. He’d underestimated me and made the mistake of sending three of his best hitmen into my room. On that day I became a man. That was also the day I sold my soul to the devil and there’s a no return policy. Is that what you really want?”
“That’s what’s required. I will be like my father.”
I took a deep breath. I’d never been forced to counsel anyone, especially a young man determined to ruin his life. It was all I’d ever wanted and during the last two days, I’d begun to question my choice. “Be careful how you choose to honor him, Marco. Right now, your sisters need your support.”
He snorted. “I guess you have that covered.”
“I’m not going to hurt either one of them, Marco. That much I will promise you.”
“But you can’t promise you can keep her alive. Can you?”
The way he’d turned to confront me at least provided an understanding he still cared about Genevieve, even if he did a pissy job of showing it. “That’s not a promise I’m willing to make and break. But I will do my best.”
“That’s not good enough. If she’s marrying you then you die to protect her. That’s what decent men would do.”
He should know by my reputation alone that I wasn’t a decent man.
Marco walked closer, shoring his shoulders. “Let me make this clear, Lord Torres. You will never become like a brother to me.” He walked away from me and I closed my eyes.
“Marco. If you’re determined to become a soldier, I will help you. But you’ll need to follow my orders.”
He stopped long enough to let me know he was thinking about it. “Yeah, we’ll see.”
As he stormed away, I shifted to watch him leaving, only to find Genevieve leaning against the front wall with her arms crossed.
Staring at me with eyes full of hate and hope.
She shook her head and waited as Marco pushed past her. The bright sun picked up the few auburn highlights in her long hair as the breeze danced it delicately around her shoulders. But she didn’t look anything like the sweet angel I’d called her. More like the goddess of vengeance, Nemesis.
“Keep something in mind, Jago. It doesn’t matter how successful we are or how powerful we become. I will always hate you.”