Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
NAOMI
“Is there anything I need to know?” I ask Paxton. His driver, Arturo, is taking us to the event. It’s not far, so time is limited. “I’m not thoroughly prepared.” I take out the cards Mac had quickly made for me, filled with information.
When he doesn’t respond, I glance over toward him, which I have been trying not to do.
The urge to crawl into his lap is strong.
It felt good when I was straddling him, the slight rock of my hips making my sex press against his hard cock.
It not only had an ache forming between my thighs, but my breasts too now feel heavy.
“You have note cards?”
“Yes, Mac found the guest list and pulled the biggest players in the room. I want to know their names and what they do.” Mac’s research never ceases to amaze me.
“Archie Guldner is going to make a play for governor in the next election,” he says. “There is a chance he could win. I need to play both sides until I can get a sense of who is likely to win.”
“You’re good at that, aren’t you? Reading situations. That, or you have a lot of moxie, as my grandfather would say.” He has done things that could have gotten him killed, but he’s come out unscathed. If anything, he’s ahead. He’s got a knack for that.
“Yes, I am rather good at it,” he admits. “It’s a skill set I started working on from a young age.”
“Your father was abusive.” Shit, I said that far too fast and cold. “I apologize. I could have expressed that more thoughtfully.” I have to remember that I’m not around my family, and blurting random things out may not be the best idea. They’re used to my directness.
“Don’t change the way you speak on my account. Yes, he was an abusive asshole. One that thought he had me under his thumb.”
“Making the people close to you fear you more than they respect you will lead to your demise. I struggle with this,” I admit. Not with my family but with the men that work for us. I spoke carelessly about his upbringing. I can give my own issues.
It’s not because I’m trying to cause people to fear me.
It’s simply my demeanor and the whispers about me.
When people think you’re cold and don’t have feelings, it scares them.
Empathy is a tool many latch on to, and if they think you don’t have any, they know no amount of words they give you will stir you.
“I know.” He puts his hand down on my bare thigh.
“I don’t think you should waste time on it.
You’re small and a woman; as much as they shouldn’t underestimate you, they will.
You win people over by being steady. You’re an even force, and predictability isn’t always a bad thing.
It can bring comfort and understanding to many people.
Being reliable holds far more weight than people realize.
Don’t underestimate it the way people do you.
” He gives me one of his charming smirks. “We know where that can get them.”
“Dead.” I place my hand on top of his. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you remind me a bit of my mother. The things you say.”
“I would never take that the wrong way. As your husband, I would hope that in time you could hold me in the same regard.”
“So that I’ll kill for you,” I find myself teasing right back. Everything he told me in the hotel suite is still fresh in my mind.
“I don’t think having you kill for me would be hard.” He actually chuckles, making the conversation lighter.
“You’ve killed before?” I ask.
“I have.”
“How many?” My curiosity is piqued now.
“Is this one of those car games to kill the time?” A small laugh leaves me, surprising me.
“I guess I’m not good at small talk.” I shrug.
“Yes, when I have to. I don’t favor it.”
“You do have a very clean-cut background, considering all things.”
“I killed my father.” I set my cards down. “My second favorite kill.” Oh, this is new information or as Bonte would call it, tea.
“You’re full of surprises.” I swipe my tongue across my bottom lip. Is it weird that this little game of ours is somehow turning me on? “Who was your favorite?”
“Not sure you’re ready to hear that one yet.”
“I am.”
“You’re adorable when you pout.”
“I don’t pout.” I scowl. He kisses my bottom lip.
“Your bottom lip says otherwise.” He kisses it again, and that urge to crawl back into his lap hits again. “Let me get your door.” I glance back out the window. I hadn’t noticed that the vehicle had stopped moving.
When he slips out of the car, I touch my bottom lip. Was I pouting? It’s not the worst thing, I tell myself. Pouting can be a tool to get what you want.
Paxton opens the door for me, offering me his hand. “There are cameras,” he warns before he steps aside, unblocking the view of everyone.
“A red carpet?”
“We’re on the West Coast. The parties are more dramatic.” Nix would love it here.
Paxton slips his arm around my waist, pulling me snugly into his side. I find myself leaning into him, enjoying his warmth and closeness. I tend to like my space, but with Paxton, I want him as close as possible. That possessiveness I have for him is only growing.
We stop and pause for a few pictures. Paxton is charming and polite. I force a smile, wanting to blend in.
“Paxton, who’s the girl?” a male asks from the other side of the rope that is keeping them at bay. He’s dressed down compared to most, a camera in hand.
“She’s—”
“His fiancée,” I tell him myself. The words are slipping past my lips before I can stop them. That has never been a problem for me before. Hell, Paxton was just saying how I think before I speak. This man is ruining me, and the messed-up part is I don’t want him to stop.
“Interesting. You got a name?” I glance up at Paxton, and he lifts a brow, silently telling me he can take over the conversation or I can keep going. This might be a thing I need to get used to.
“Naomi.”
“You got a last name, Naomi?” Is this an interrogation? People are too nosy here. Where I’m from, you mind your own business.
“That will do, Rodger,” Paxton says, cutting in and guiding me up the stairs into the hotel where the event is being hosted. “It won’t take them long to dig your name up.”
“I suppose it was only a matter of time.” I glance around the ballroom filled with pretty people, all dolled up. “Have you thought about what others might think here if you marry a Marino?”
I’m seeing the Paxton image here is rather clean-cut to the public. I’m sure those politicians and people in power prefer that. It makes it easier for them to be seen with him.
“I don’t care. If I need to, I can walk away from here.”
“But you built a name for yourself here.” How could he so easily walk away from that? I have spent my whole life building up who I am to the outside world.
“It’s all pointless if I can’t have you.”
“You’re too charming.” Everything he says is past perfect. This better not be a game; I really don’t want to have to kill him.
“I am wooing you.” He snags a glass of champagne off one of the trays as the server passes by, handing it to me.
“I have agreed to marry you already,” I remind him before taking a sip, my eyes flicking around the room and recognizing a few of the faces I’d studied up on earlier. I notice a lot of people watching us, and most are female.
That green-headed monster tries to rear its head again, but I push it down, not wanting to make a scene. I mean, it’s my first date. I don’t think kidnapping and murdering an attendee would go over well.
“I’m not going to give you a reason to change your mind.”
“Are there any females here I should know about?” I said I wouldn’t murder anyone, not that I wouldn’t ask questions.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you have a thing for blondes?” I notice two women really eyeing him up, and I know one is a senator’s wife. They were on one of my information cards.
“I have a preference for black, curly hair, but in certain lighting, brunette.” What does that mean? He must see I’m not getting what he means. “Your hair appears almost black, but in the light or sun, it’s a shiny dark brown.”
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I, Sunshine.”
“Well, one of your blondes is closing in,” I tell him, taking another sip of my drink. I fight the irritation I have over the way her eyes are eating him up. It’s clear we are together; my body presses against him, his arm firmly around me.
“Paxton, I didn’t think you’d be here tonight. I was told you were out of the city.” She gives him a bright smile, completely ignoring me. Who told her this? I want a name.
“My fiancée took off to California, and I couldn’t help but chase after her.
” He turns his head to look down at me. “She keeps me on my toes.” The woman finally flicks a glance my way, acknowledging I’m standing there.
All the ways I could kill her flash through my mind, but I manage to control myself.
“Nadia, this is my fiancée, Naomi.” Paxton introduces us. I hate that he knows her name, which I know is absolutely ridiculous. I knew it too.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Nadia says, but I can tell she doesn’t find any pleasure in it at all. That goes for both of us.
“The pleasure is all mine.” I give her a smile that says I couldn’t care less that I’m meeting her.
In all actuality, I’m fantasizing about carving her eyes out since they can’t seem to stop eating up my man. I knew I should have spent more time with my Uncle Ronan. He is highly skilled at this.
“I had no idea you were engaged.” She keeps her attention on Paxton. “And no ring.” Nadia makes a tsking sound.
I’ll wring her fucking neck.
“All right, you got me.” Paxton tilts his head down, giving a slight shake of his head, almost bashful at having been caught. “I’m still trying to talk her into it, but I can’t help myself now that she’s agreed to go public with me but to introduce her that way.”
“Go public?” Nadia flicks me a fleeting annoyed glance. That I would have the audacity to hide being with Paxton. I wouldn’t, but Paxton is laying it on thick and making us appear to have been together longer than we really have.
This is that charm he has. It comes effortlessly and is as smooth as one of my blades slicing through flesh. I can’t help but question if I too fall so easily for it. I suppose I already know that answer. I have.
“Sorry.” He smirks. “I didn’t give you her full name: Naomi Marino.” A show of disrespect flicks across her face, but she quickly tries to hide it.
I guess she knows the name, but she is a senator’s wife. One who is more than willing to cheat on her husband, but hey, maybe they have an understanding. It’s not my business until it is, and she’s certainly made it so.
“Well, it was lovely to meet you.” Her shiny lips purse. “But I just saw Marth, and I have to speak with her.” Nadia scurries off. Paxton takes a small but deep breath that I’m only aware of because I’m still pressed against him.
“Don’t worry about her.”
“I wouldn’t.” Worry, no. That’s not the right word. I finish off my drink, and Paxton takes it, setting it down on one of the tables.
“Dance with me.”
“I enjoy dancing.”
“And I think I would enjoy the fuck out of dancing with you.” I let him lead me onto the dance floor.
I get lost in him all through the first song.
I really am enjoying this time with him.
What I don’t enjoy is all the staring, but I suppose it also lets everyone know Paxton is mine, and we need to see to this ring situation as soon as possible.
He should wear one too. That’s only fair, and I don’t think he will protest it.
“You have a few people dying for your attention,” I tell him as I catch something out of the corner of my eye.
“I know. I should do my rounds.”
“You should, and I need to use the restroom.”
“I’ll take you.”
“Paxton, I can use the bathroom on my own.”
“I suppose I’d have to let you go when we got there anyways.” He doesn’t want to let me go. The warmth that only he has the power to fill me with blooms inside of me as he presses a kiss to my lips. “Don’t be long, or I’ll come searching.” He releases his hold on me.
When I enter the bathroom, there are two girls at one of the sinks freshening up their makeup. I turn my attention to the restroom attendant, slipping a few hundred-dollar bills into her hand and nod toward the door.
That’s all she needs to depart. “Ladies,” I call to the other two. “If you don’t mind.” I nod toward the door again. They glance at each other, and I shift my stance, hardening my expression. They both hurry out. I flip the lock on the door behind them.
The second the stall door pulls open, I kick the center of her stomach, sending Nadia stumbling back.
That’s harder in heels. A small scream leaves her as she stumbles backward, tripping on her own feet, but I politely grab her before she can fall and slam her against the wall, my hand wrapping around her throat.
“Don’t give me a reason to cut your tongue out,” I tell her before she can try and open those shiny lips of hers. I bring the small blade in my other hand to her cheek.
Nadia’s expression is one of pure terror, her eyes wide. I can smell the fear that bleeds from her. This isn’t only about the disrespect to me over Paxton but also that snide expression over the Marino last name. Such disrespect must be addressed.
“I don’t want to have a problem with you.
” I press the blade firmly to her cheek, not enough to break the skin.
“But if I need to deal with you, I will.” A whimper leaves her.
“I promise you that your mean girl antics won’t work.
” I grip her throat tighter. “I’m the most vicious female here.
Your husband won’t be able to save you. No one can protect you from me.
” I release my hold on her and step back, letting her slide down the wall onto her ass. “I’m glad we cleared the air.”
Nadia coughs, small sobs coming from her, and that’s how I leave her. When I step out of the bathroom, Paxton is there leaning up against the wall, his hands in his pockets, appearing as though he owns this place.
“Have fun?” he asks with a devilish smile.
“A little.” I return it.
“Good. I want another dance.” He pushes off the wall, holding his hand out to me.
I take it, letting him lead me back to the party.