Chapter 8
Genesis is a bucket of nerves when we sit for the interview.
Derrick’s partner tried to stop me from being in the room with them but immediately shut his mouth when I told him, Fed or not, I’d have no problem slitting his sagging fucking throat.
My statement was before they turned on the camera, obviously.
I never leave traces of my threats.
Had he continued to give me trouble, I’d have waited until he left the building, followed him home, and slit his throat there.
During the interview, I scoot Genesis’s chair closer to mine, and her body un-tenses an inch. I rest my hand on her bouncing leg, and it stops.
They ask her the same questions Warren said they would, and she replies as he directed her.
I’m fucking proud of the way she’s carrying herself. She might not think it right now, but Genesis is fucking strong.
This interview had better get the Feds off her back. I’m worried they’ll keep messing with her, needing to make an example out of anyone they can to scare others from pulling the same shit Carlisle did.
When finished, we return to Warren’s office to discuss the marriage contract.
“Tell him the changes you want,” I direct Genesis.
She recites what she said in the kitchen while also adding a few things.
“An allowance of twenty grand a month,” is her first addition.
“Done,” I reply with no hesitation.
“A monthly donation of five thousand to the shelter.”
“Done.”
“Agreement that I’ll work at the shelter four days a week.”
“Fuck no.” That’s one I’ll put a stop to.
“Three days.”
“One.”
“Two.”
“Fine.” I motion toward Warren to add that pain-in-my-ass clause.
I’ll figure out a way to get her out of volunteering even if I have to pay someone else to take her shifts there.
Maybe I should’ve chosen an easier baby mother. Antonio could’ve arranged a marriage for me that’d give us real estate, power, or money. Possibly all three.
Men in this world have no problem exchanging their daughters for deals.
Just like Genesis’s father did.
A sour taste fills my mouth at the reminder.
I wish I could slit that fucker’s throat. I’d have watched him bleed out with relish.
I never planned to take the arranged marriage route.
Forcing a woman to marry me always felt too Draconian.
My father wasn’t a fan of them either. He made it clear to the Lombardis that Melissa was never up for sale.
I gave Genesis the choice.
She could’ve said no and walked away.
She didn’t.
Fifteen minutes later, we both sign the contract that’ll change our lives.
“I’m starving,” Genesis says when we leave Warren’s office. “After an anxiety-filled day, I either want to eat nothing or everything. It seems today, it’s everything.”
“I can stop and get you takeout,” I reply. “You can also order something at home, and Emilio will pick it up for you.”
Even though he tried to fight it, Emilio will be on Genesis-watching duty until I find another man I can trust.
“Home,” she says around a sigh. “I don’t have a home anymore.”
“My home is your home.”
“No, it’s your home. I’m getting my own, remember?”
“You’re getting yours after you have our baby. In the meantime, you live with me. So, get comfortable there.” I brake at a red light and turn to look at her, my face serious. “Though, after I fuck you, you won’t want to leave my bed.”
She holds out her hand toward me. “Don’t get your hopes up, buddy. Men who gloat about their sexual abilities usually lack in them. Most probably don’t even know a clit exists.”
“Are you forgetting I’ve made you come with only my fingers?” I hold up my hand and wiggle two fingers. “You don’t think I can do that with my cock?”
Her mouth falls open, and I smirk.
I keep my gaze on her, even when the light turns green. “We can test it now, if you’d like?”
The car behind us honks, and I flip it off.
She shakes her head repeatedly. “I need to process all”—she gestures back and forth between us—“ this and figure out which route I want to go, getting pregnant.”
I hit the gas in frustration.
“Want my advice?” I ask.
“Not really, but go ahead.”
“It’s much easier for us both for me to just come in your pussy.”
“Oh, so romantic. We should write that on a Hallmark card.” She sighs. “We also need to discuss what we’ll do if we have sex and I don’t get pregnant.”
“That’s when we’ll try another approach. Might as well try the natural method first. Haven’t you always said you like natural foods? Organic?”
“Oh my God, please never refer to your cock as a natural food again. I won’t be able to even force my legs open to give you a chance to get me pregnant.”
She’s right.
The comment was weird as fuck.
Genesis brings something out in me.
A playfulness.
A man who attempts to joke.
I’ve always felt more comfortable with her than others.
She makes me feel two emotions—comfort or frustration with the need to strangle her when she tests my patience. And as a man who’s not at ease ninety-eight percent of the time, that’s saying something.
“Back to food,” I say. “We can pick something up. I need to take you home and get going.”
“Get going where?”
“Work.”
“What kind of work? Casino or Mafia?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“If we’re having a baby, I think it’s important for me to know your whereabouts.” She slumps her shoulders. “I should’ve put that in the contract, damn it.”
I grin that she didn’t.
She can’t make a fuss about it if it's not in the contract.
That’s why I love contracts so damn much.
She perks up in her seat. “If that’s the case, then you don’t need to know my whereabouts.” The delight of her comeback is clear in her voice.
“I’ll always know every move you make, Genesis,” I grit out. “You are mine now.”
“Does that mean you’re mine?”
“If you want to treat me like your husband, then I won’t touch another woman. If you want to make your pussy mine, then I’ll make my cock exclusively yours. The ball is in your court, baby.”
She bites into her lip, and I love the way her cheeks blush. “I, uh …”
I also love that she’s at a loss for words.
That doesn’t happen often.
Normally, if Genesis can’t find words that make sense, she’ll just say random shit until she finds them.
“I want to go to the casino with you,” she says. “I’ll eat there.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not?” she whines. “It’ll give me something to do. Otherwise, I might find trouble, and we both know my trouble is bad trouble.”
So, it fucking seems .
I decide to go with a different angle. “You’ve had a lot going on. How about I treat you to a spa day with your friends?”
“How about no ?”
“You love spa days.” I know this because I’ve had to take her and Pippa before.
“I did, but there’s this weird sense of guilt now.”
“For what?”
“For spending money after what my father did.”
“Don’t feel that guilt, and you’ll be spending my money.”
“For a while, I’d like to be a normal girl.”
“Fine,” I say, giving in because I don’t have time to argue. This situation has already caused me to lose enough work hours. “But you’re keeping your ass in my office.”