CHAPTER 12
We’ve spent the past week getting to know each other. I haven’t pursued her anymore, instead giving her time to settle and see what she likes. I also realized she enjoys the outdoors, choosing to sit outside in the warm spring air with a book over being on the couch. She pretty quickly found the bookshelves I have set up down the hallway. I have mostly fiction lining the shelves, including some thriller and romance books. She went straight for a romance written by an indie romance author. I like to buy directly from the author instead of from big box stores. I’d rather that money end up in the author’s pocket. Because of this decision, most of my books are signed. Briar freaked out when she opened up the first book and saw the signature and personalization. I let her think that it meant I was ultra-special and not that I just bought the book from the website.
The more I get to know about her, the more obsessed I become. I need to get moving on my plan before I go any further with her. So, my plans for this evening? Kill my father. I’ve been married for a week now and before I get my dick wet and get too attached, I need to get rid of the person standing in my way. The shady shit he’s doing is throwing our name in the dirt. My hands may not be clean, but at least I’m not taking organs from someone who needs them.
I walk through the door and run to the bed. I leap through the air and belly-flop next to her. This causes her to give me a brief moment of that sweet laugh that I love so much. The more I get to see of her, the more I find little parts of her that are just so sweet.
Just as fast as I got the laugh, she goes back to scowling. Well, at least I know her face isn’t stuck.
“We gotta go visit my dad. I need you to get dressed.”
“Why do I have to go?”
“Because you’re my wife. C’mon, River.”
She looks down at me, and I give her my best puppy dog eyes.
To my surprise, she laughs again. When she laughs, I feel myself melt into a gushy puddle. I break out into a wide smile.
“Wow, I lo—”
She freezes.
“What?” she questions.
“I…” Think, Ezra… “I love your laugh. Seriously, you should really laugh more.”
“Anyway,” I continue. “Go ahead and get ready. We’ll leave in an hour.”
I can’t believe I almost told her I loved her. I barely know her, and I haven’t even fucked her yet. I just love her laugh…and the way she side-eyes me…and the way she takes whatever I want to do and whatever I give her with ease. She gets me. She gets turned on by what I like too, and I have never met someone so compliant. She’s perfect.
She walks out almost an hour later in her classic black leggings that hug her ass perfectly and an oversized band tee. This has been her go-to look so far.
“Damn, River, you’re looking good,” I say after I whistle at her.
She blushes and turns away. “I’m ready.”
I reach over to the side table and pull open the drawer. I pop the latch on the side that opens the secret compartment. I pull out my Walther PPK .380 and pull the slide back to check I still have one in the chamber. I slide the pistol into the back of my pants so it’s not obvious to the average eye.
“Wha—why do you have that?”
I turn around to meet her gaze. You would think that with her father being so involved in the Mafia, she would’ve been around more guns.
“Why do you think I have it?”
“To hurt people?” Her voice quivers.
“Mmmhmm. Good girl. But I won’t hurt you, baby, not unless you want me to.” A devilish grin sweeps across my face.
I walk over to her and place a kiss on her lips.
I quickly deepen it, pushing my tongue to hers and letting them wrap around each other. I grip the back of her head to keep her close as we fight for dominance. I bite her lip and suck it into my mouth and she lets out a groan.
I pull away with a smirk on my face. “Hopefully that wasn’t another poisonous kiss. We’re going to be late. We need to get going.”
We’re almost at my father’s house when she finally speaks up again.
“Why a cabin? Is that your permanent home?”
“No, I have a penthouse in the city as well.”
She nods her head in acknowledgment.
“I wanted to see how well you dealt with my kinks,” I offer her. I see her look at me from my peripheral. “There’s plenty of space around the cabin for me to chase my prey.” I reach over and squeeze her thigh. “Plus, if you try to escape, it’s hard to go anywhere.”
Her mouth opens and she gapes at me.
“What? I’m being honest. That was my first thought when I was deciding where to go after the wedding.”
She gives me a little grin, and that’s enough for now.
“What about the triangle on your ring? What does that symbolize?”
I look down at the thick ring adorning my finger.
“It’s the family symbol, if you will. It’s on every one of our bullets. We all wear the ring. Sometimes, we’ll even carve them into those we kill. I have mine tattooed as well right here.” I proceed to lift the hem of my shirt up to reveal the triangle on my ribcage.
“Maybe you’ll get one too.” I look at her and wink, and her face turns bright red. I’ve never seen her embarrassed, but it’s a good look on her.
I go quiet and start zoning in so I can figure out how I’m going to deal with my father when I see him. We pull up the long drive and stop to park in between two other vehicles that are there.
“I need you to stay in the car.”
“Why? I can take care of myself.”
“I have no doubt, baby.” I grab her hand and brush my lips past the back of it while keeping my eyes on her. “I just don’t want anyone to try anything when I’m in there.”
She stares at me like she’s getting ready to go against my wishes.
“Please?” I ask. “I know we haven’t been together long, but you’re still my wife. I want you to be safe.”
“Okay,” she agrees.
Little did I know what was to come.
I stay in the car because he seems like he genuinely cares for a minute. I’m not sure why he has a gun with him, but I find myself hoping that he’s okay as well. I still have to find a way to kill this motherfucker, so the wishing doesn’t last long.
“What the fuck am I thinking?” I ask myself.
This is my opportunity to get out. He’s inside dealing with whatever he’s dealing with. I don’t have to kill him. I can just run. I’ll figure out the issue of having exactly zero dollars to my name later. I take a deep breath, open the passenger side door, and creep out. I don’t bother to close the door as I stay hunched. I press my body to the side of the car and make my way toward the back. Thankfully, Ezra decided to park in between two cars, so now I have some extra coverage to get away. I turn left once I get to the back of the car and turn to look over my shoulder. I want to make sure that no one is coming. When I turn back to make a run for it, I realize I am looking straight into a black shirt. I look up and don’t recognize the man standing before me.
“Uh, who are you?” I ask.
The man grins and the next thing I know, there’s a bag over my head.
I try to fight as I’m hauled away. I am wiggling, throwing my arms and legs around as they’re trying to trap them by my body. Someone has a hand over my mouth, so although I scream as loud as I can, it comes out muffled. I manage to throw my head back and hit something hard. There is a sickening crunch when I do, so I assume I broke something. If the crunch wasn’t enough of a thought, the “fuck” makes me think my assumption is correct.
Not long after I manage to make contact, the original hand leaves, and something more padded replaces it. I inhale a sweet-pungent smell and then it really goes dark.