Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“The Italians paid him,” Hector says through spit and blood. “He was already angry. He heard from Lady Anissa and Lady Sophia about your Italian wife, and after how things went down with Lord Vassilis, your uncle—”
I grab him by the throat. “We don’t speak his name.”
He gags and manages to say, “Yes, sir, Lord Evander.”
I release him and he coughs, wheezing and gasping.
Pathetic. He’s so pathetic it makes me sick. All of this is pathetic—the attempted kidnapping, the betrayal. We’re supposed to be the Kazan family, but my own people turned on me so quickly and tried to take my wife away.
I turn my back on Hector and look at Lycus. “Finish questioning him. But leave him alive.”
“Torturing him more won’t fix anything.”
“No, it won’t. But I am going back home to marry Camille, and when I’m done with that, I’m going to kill Zale and all of his men.”
Lycus’s eyes widen. “All of them? An entire captain’s crew?”
“All of them.” I pin Lycus there with my stare. “They knew about Zale’s betrayal. Maybe Hector was the only one low and cowardly enough to try anything, but they knew and said nothing. They must all die. The family must understand.”
Lycus shakes his head. “You’re going too far, Evander. Just like last time—”
I walk toward him quickly, rage bubbling in my chest. “Go ahead. Finish that.”
Lycus’s jaw twitches as he stares into my eyes. We hold that for a long moment, and rage threatens to make me do something stupid.
Finally, he shakes his head. “Get yourself together, Evander. I’ll deal with Hector.”
“Zale is mine.” I brush past my underboss and head to the stairs. “The family will fall in line.”
Chapter 32
Camille
I stand in my closet, stomach a churning mess, looking at all the dresses hanging on the racks. I move through them, one at a time.
None of them are me. They’re all expensive, designer, the sort of thing that would cost more money than I’ve ever had in my life. They’re all my size and fit like a dream, but none of them are mine.
I close my eyes and try not to think about that big thug Hector pulling me from the alley. I try not to think about Christopher staring at me from the car with that smile on his face.
Like he was going to own me again and couldn’t wait to drag me through hell.
“Wear white.”
I start and turn around. Evander’s standing in the doorway, looking at me. He’s in a black suit with a dark tie, his hair combed back, looking more put-together than he has in a while.
“I thought we were keeping it casual?” I ask, my voice shaking slightly. Nerves jangle down into my fingertips. I’m more nervous than I realized.
“You’re the bride. Wear white.” He walks to me and brushes a thumb against my wounded face. “Are you okay, asteraki mu? You look like you’re on edge.”
“I’m okay. The doctors say I’m fine and I’ll heal. Nothing permanent.” I give him the best smile I can, trying to put him at ease. But why do I care how he feels? Still, I find myself wanting to soothe him.
“Good. Very good.” His eyes burn like embers as he pulls me closer. “For a moment, I feared the worst.”
“But everything is okay now.”
“It will be.” He leans down and kisses me.
I blink rapidly, not sure what to do, but slowly I relax into the kiss. I return it with a slow intensity, needing his taste, needing his touch. But we break apart after a long moment, and it’s like he snaps back into himself, realizing what he just did. He steps back, releasing me.
“Are you sure you want me to wear white?” I ask, feeling dizzy with need and confusion. Why is he kissing me, now of all times? What is this supposed to mean? “It’s not a real wedding, right?”
“Don’t let that stop you.” He nods down at my feet. “And wear the shoes. A little nod to the game we’re playing, and a little nod to yourself.”
I stare at him for a long moment, conflicting feelings warring inside of me. His taste is still fresh on my tongue. “You really want me to wear my sneakers?”
“I do, asteraki mu.”
“I thought you hated them.”
“I really do.” His smile is tight, like he’s trying to hide it. “But you love them and that’s important to me.”
“That… might actually be the nicest thing you’ve ever said.” My eyebrows shoot up. “Are you getting soft, Evander?”
He smiles acidly. “If you want hard, I’ll strip you down and choose what you’ll be wearing myself. But first, I will make you come on my cock, shivering and moaning the whole time.”
“Oh,” I say, blinking rapidly, and have to clear my throat. “We can’t have that.”
“Wear white,” he says thickly.
I reach out and pluck a short dress from the row. It’s relatively conservative, with a tight, high bust and a flared skirt. Lacework curls around the shoulders and neckline. “This one,” I say as I hold it up against me. “What do you think?”