Chapter 10
Zoe
“What do you mean? He knows! How is that possible? We have been so careful to keep a look out for his spies. Should I run?” I questioned Prime after he told me the shocking news.
“I told him. I didn’t want him to hear the truth through some other means. It would only make things worse for all of us,” Prime admitted.
“No! How could you? He will come after you, after all of you! He will drag me back, punish me then marry me off to some cruel old man. Have you suddenly lost your mind? No! This cannot be real,” I shouted back at him. “I trusted you!”
“It’s as real as it gets, Zoe. Don’t you understand there was no other choice.
I can’t hide you forever. We all have too much at stake.
I communicated with Petrov on a daily basis.
He asked questions about your location every time we spoke.
He’d eventually have heard the lies in my voice.
Maybe, he already had and that’s why he continued harassing me.
“Either way the deception couldn’t continue.
With it out in the open I can fight the coming trouble head on.
He’s furious but preoccupied with the issue brewing over ruling Chicago.
There’s something going on there that he won’t tell me.
I sense that it’s dangerous for everyone. So, for now, he’s not retaliating.”
“What does that mean? Why wouldn’t he come after you immediately? I’m his prize possession,” I declared, praying it was still true and I wasn’t to become a victim of his revenge.
“He believes it’s already too late to salvage your true worth.
He believes you’ve been compromised, your virginity taken by me or someone you ran into while you were on your own.
I explained how and where I found you, just not when.
So, he thinks I saved you rather than hid you all this time.
It helped us a lot that he has a slight trust in me.
However, he doesn’t feel there’s any way you could have remained pure. I am a man after all,” Prime explained.
I blushed remembering the kisses and caresses we shared in the hallway. I wanted more at the time and acknowledged to myself that I still did. Prime’s name was a fitting tribute to him. He was what Flame referred to as prime meat.
“If I am worth nothing anymore then what will he do with me? What happens to you if he actually believes you ruined me?”
“I have leverage at the moment. He hired me for a job before all this happened. He wants it finished more than he wants me dead. As for you, he claims he has found you a husband, one who will not be overly concerned about your lack of virginity. He’ll accept damaged goods as long as he is given something else in return.
He wants to be at your father’s side to take his place at his death. Your father is ready to agree.
“His name is Mathias Nikolaev. I only know he belongs to something called the Shadow Order. Otherwise, I’m unable to find anything about him. He is truly a damn shadow,” Prime admitted.
My legs did not hold me. They went numb, allowing me to fall into the chair in front of Prime’s desk.
I knew this man, not personally but by reputation.
He was new to America, Florida to be exact.
Yet his reputation was known by all. He was vicious, cruel and showed loyalty to no one.
He was part of the MC mafia assassination guild, an unsanctioned group that enjoyed toying with their prey before killing them.
“No! No, I will not go back. I will not marry this evil man. He cannot be allowed to take a place at Father’s side.
Does Father not understand that the moment he is announced as the heir he will assassinate him?
This is what he is known for, sneaking his way into a group who has great power and taking it over.
My father is an intelligent man. What has blinded him to this? ” I protested.
“He’s in too much of a rush. All he sees is his chance to take over a larger territory and thwart his brother.
He needs allies and to have you settled.
The other leaders are breathing down his neck over your transgressions.
They doubt his leadership abilities, and Damien taunts him every chance he gets.
He isn’t thinking straight. Maybe, if you go back and agree to an engagement you can make him see reason,” Prime suggested.
“He no longer heeds my advice. He told me I no longer hold a position of power. I am not to be heard or valued as one of his confidants. Now that he believes me to be less than perfect he will toss me to the wolves. He would force the marriage immediately simply to get me out of his way. I will not sacrifice myself for his blindness. Another way must be found,” I replied.
I had him cornered. He did not want me sacrificed to a man who would treat me as a lesser being, someone to just keep her mouth shut and bear children.
He knew I was not intended to be simply owned and ignored, a breeder for future generations.
My intelligence and bravery were part of me and were not meant to be destroyed.
Prime had always seen that in me. It was what drew me to him.
Reluctantly, he gave me another choice. “I have a plan, but you won’t like it. Petrov probably won’t allow it to stand once he’s beaten Damien. But for now, it may stall his idea of marrying you off to this man.”
“What could possibly stall him? He is ready to pass me off, so he will,” I declared with more sadness than I have ever shown him or anyone else.
“A ruse,” he said. “We make it known that you’re mine. We’re in a relationship. You share my bed. It may mollify your father for now because he knows I protect what’s mine, and I won’t allow another man to touch you, not even one he’s chosen as your husband.”
“You are crazy! He will have you killed once you confirm what he already suspects. And I refuse to belong to anyone, even you!” I argued.
“It wouldn’t be real. You won’t “belong” to me any more than you do now.
It simply has to appear that way to others, especially those who are spying for your father.
We’ve done as much as we can to find the spies and keep them out of the bar, but we also acknowledge the fact that we aren’t perfect and may miss a few.
“As to having me killed. I don’t think he will, at least not at the moment.
I told you I have leverage over him. He hired me to assassinate Aguilar.
No one else will take the job. He’s wiping all our transgressions away and paying a huge sum for us to do his bidding.
He really didn’t leave me any way to refuse.
So, he needs me. We’re at a stalemate for now,” Prime explained.
Something inside me exploded when he so calmly spoke of his intention to assassinate Aguilar. It was more of a death sentence than defying my father. He would never make it out of this deal alive, which may be what my father hoped when he gave Prime no choice except to take the job.
I immediately realized I did not want Prime dead, not now or ever.
A switch flipped and a light came on in my brain.
Prime was in real danger, and I cared. He mattered.
Not just a little bit. Not as an ally or a friend.
He meant far more to me than that. I could not define it or understand it, but I knew without a doubt I would never let him die.
I needed him in my life in one capacity or another.
Now it was me that was cornered. If I was going to be involved enough to discover a way to keep Prime alive, then I knew I had to take him up on his plan.
Besides, I wanted more of his kisses like the one we had shared in the hallway.
Maybe even more than that. After all, my virginity was already supposedly destroyed. Why should it not be gone for real?
“Fine. It is a deal. I will go along with your plan as long as you do not treat me as someone you own when we are alone,” I replied.
He looked uncomfortable for a moment, but he lifted something off the chair behind him and said, “Take this. You already have a mark that matches mine, so no one will doubt who you belong to when it’s visible. But when it’s not, please wear this.”
I paled. I had not realized what the snake tattoo meant to those who saw it.
No wonder there were rumors that I was no longer a virgin.
My hands shook as I took the folded denim from his outstretched hand.
I knew what it was immediately. It was a cut that proclaimed me as his by the patches it carried.
“This is not what any other woman belonging to one of your members wears. It will cause trouble,” I stated.
His face darkened with fury and determination. “I do as I please. I need you marked at all times. This is my choice. I might be making a new rule. If others want this, then I’ll allow it. Don’t question my authority especially around others or this won’t work. Do you understand?”
“Of course, but we are alone now. So, I wish to seal this deal my way.”
I slid my arms around his neck. He jerked slightly but did not pull away.
The instant our lips touched the fire burst between us.
Prime squeezed me tightly against his firm body and began to take control.
He deepened the kiss until I thought he was going to devour me.
For me, the pretending was already coming to an end.
I wondered if Prime was getting to that point as well, without acknowledging it to himself of course.