Chapter 9 #2
Callahan’s eyes shifted to my aunt, cold and dismissive. “She can rest at my estate.” Then his gaze dropped to what I still held in my hand. He stared at it like a nuisance. “I’m allergic to animals.”
“Well, I’m allergic to syndicate men, but you don’t see me complaining.”
He sighed and bent at the hip to look at Romeo. My cat was such a good boy that he hissed and clawed at Callahan’s face. He knew an enemy when he saw one. “So, he has a temper like you?”
“He has good taste.”
He said it again like he might change my mind, “I’m allergic to cats specifically.”
“Probably time to get some meds, then.” I shrugged. “I can’t go anywhere without him.”
“I highly doubt you’re that attached.”
“I am. His name is Romeo after the man I really loved.”
“You loved?” Cal’s voice seemed higher than before.
“My ex, of course.”
“Your ex?” He repeated after me again, and I could swear his eye was twitching. I named my kitten after my first love and couldn’t bring myself to change the name. “No fucking way are you having a cat named after him in my house.”
“Maybe you’d like to call this off, then.”
“If you want Fitzpatrick after you and can pay us back the billion you owe.”
We were at an impasse. Everyone knew it. The two men at his side even stepped back like they didn’t want Callahan to lash out and strike one of them in an uncontrollable fit.
He was bound to have one with the way I was already acting. I was pushing him too, quite honestly. And I didn’t know why. Other than the fact that I hated him and wanted nothing to do with him.
I knew my life was no longer my own, and I hated that too.
Yet, this was my choice. It was the only way. So, when he finally commanded, “Get in the car, Viper,” I went.
I had nothing to say to him.
Not even when I saw the plane we were getting on together.
I never flew with Paolo. And if I had, I don’t think he would have had this type of luxurious private jet.
Stepping onto the tarmac, I knew my eyes widened and my jaw dropped.
His hand went to the small of my back, and he smirked like he wanted me to fluff his ego when he asked, “Ever flown on one of these?”
I just rolled my eyes and walked past him, putting my Air-Pods in while I tried my best not to look awestruck.
I chose a soft white leather seat in the corner of the plane and hoped no one would come near me, but of course Callahan stood over me and pointed to the cat carrier I’d put on the seat next to me. “Move your ex.”
“Romeo likes to sit next to me. Otherwise, he’ll be scared.”
“Put him by your feet then, Jas,” he said, his jaw ticking.
I grumbled a fine and moved Romeo down by me before turning to face the window and then turning the volume up on my newest playlist. It included only vicious, mean songs. I was about to endure a lifetime with this man, and I knew I would have to amp myself up.
He leaned across the armrest between us and snatched the phone from my hands before he paused the song, frowning at the title. “We should talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I reached for my phone, but he pocketed it.
“You brought a goddamn cat on the plane.”
“So? I’m going to take care of him. He’ll have my undivided attention.”
“Or he’ll end up dead when we have to travel to events, and—”
“He comes with.”
“Get real, Jas.” Callahan pinched the bridge of his nose. “You think I’m going to cater to your every need? I’m not bringing that cat on a trip every damn time we have to go somewhere.”
“He goes where I go.”
“You’ll have meetings. Specifically, I expect you to come with me to ease my partnership with Fuerte Firearms.”
I hated hearing he’d be a part of it now. That business was ours, was the one we had pride in, the one that was actually doing well. “Why are you so interested in that one?”
“Shouldn’t I be?” Callahan lifted a brow at me.
Then he smiled. “I’m not just a pretty face, Jas.
I can read the reports too. That’s the one your family always skimmed over.
We watched it from that point on. And the numbers speak for themselves.
Monte and Perla know that. It was why they offered that with Maribel. ”
Ugh. I hated how well he could read people, how Monte and Perla had discussed it without me.
“I don’t have to go to those meetings or anywhere with you.” I wasn’t going to help him get comfortable with anything. “I’m supposed to be your dutiful wife keeping a loving home while you’re away.” How are we bickering already?
“Exactly what we need to talk about. You read the whole contract?”
“Of course,” I scoffed at him.
“You’re going to be a dutiful bride that goes to meetings with me, plans a beautiful wedding, and then has sex enough to result in carrying my baby by the end of the year.”
That was never happening. “You’re a pig,” I said, making a face so full of disgust, he could have seen it from a mile away.
He laughed at my insult, nodding like it was truly bringing him joy to fight with me. And then he held my gaze and licked his lips. “Don’t act like you won’t enjoy it, Viper.”
My stomach actually fluttered, and my thighs tightened.
His hand went to my chin slowly, and he tipped my head to the side as his eyes scanned down and up, taking in my body, my clothes, everything. “You have weapons on you?”
I chewed my cheek. “No.”
“Bull,” he said quietly, and then his other hand went to my hair I had tied up with needles that were more than a little sharp. He didn’t remove them. He just tapped one. “You won’t need weapons against me or anyone else for the next two years. It’s in the contract. I’m protecting you now.”
“Is that so?”
“I take care of what’s mine. That now includes you.”
“Maybe I just like to be prepared.”
“Yeah.” He nodded over and over again. “You wouldn’t have followed that part of the contract even if your life depended on it.”
That part of the contract? Shit. I should have read a bit more.
He didn’t let go of my chin. His eyes scanned my face like he was searching for answers, and then he asked quietly, “How did you get this cut on your mouth?”
I tried to move, but his fingers held firm. So I answered, “Air’s very dry lately.”
He hummed, and then his thumb swiped at my lip. I winced at the gash and knew some of my lipstick smeared because he wasn’t as gentle as he could have been. “How many lies do you tell through these lips a day?”
The SD card burned in my pocket; the weapons felt heavy on my thigh, ankle, in my hair, and up my sleeve; and my abdomen pounded with my heartbeat.
Even still, I grabbed his wrist and shoved it away from me. “None.”