Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“This is unbelievable.”
“I’m sorry. I really am. If I could fix this—” He grips his glass. “But there’s nothing I can do.”
“How did the war end? Where’s her family now?”
“They’re still active, but on a smaller scale these days. They pay tribute to our family, while we provide some logistical support. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, ten years out, but if Jamila heard about me from her father’s side—well, let’s just say that I’m not involved with them for good reason.”
I stand up, walking away. My head’s swimming. No wonder she hates Nolan and is acting like I married a monster.
From her perspective, I did.
“You have to fix this.” I turn to him, hands on my hips. “I don’t know how, but you do.”
“I can’t go back and change history. I did what I did back then and I don’t regret it.”
“Nolan—”
“This is the man that I am.” He comes toward me slowly. “Jamila’s family was not innocent. They fought and killed people I cared about back then, too. Good men, family men. We wanted peace and negotiation. They chose violence and war. You can’t place the blame at my feet.”
“I’m not,” I say, exasperated. “But Jamila hates me now because of you.”
“Talk to her.” He tilts his head. “Tell her you understand. Maybe there’s a way to repair things between you two.”
“I could always divorce you.”
“You could, but you won’t.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because you enjoy being my wife.” His smile is predatory. “Now, weren’t you going to cook dinner?”
“Screw that. Call the chef if you’re hungry.” I turn away, pissed off.
“I’ll see you later tonight then,” he calls out as I retreat upstairs to do some thinking. “You’re not sleeping alone, my something.”
“We’ll see about that,” I mutter through my teeth before locking myself in the enormous walk-in closet to figure out how I’m going to make Jamila forget that my husband is a bloodthirsty psychopath and killed members of her actual family.
Chapter 30
Keely
Nolan was right. I don’t sleep alone that night, even though I want to. He appears in the doorway of the extra bedroom, a black shape in the gloom, and says nothing as he climbs onto the smaller queen-sized mattress beside me.
I turn my back, keeping my mouth shut. He doesn’t speak either. I’m lost in thought about Jamila, trying to reason out how I can make things right, and coming up with nothing. Meanwhile, he’s a presence in the bed beside me, warm and comfortable. He wouldn’t leave, even if I told him to, so why bother? I’m too exhausted to fight him tonight.
“She’ll forgive you,” he says suddenly, making me jump.
“Reading my mind now?” I keep my eyes shut. “I’m trying to sleep. If you wouldn’t mind? Maybe you could go back to your own room.”
“I’d prefer that,” he grumbles. “This bed is too small.”
I laugh, rolling over to look at him. “This bed is normal. Most people don’t have massive boat-sized mattresses, you know.”
“They should.” He glances at me, not smiling. “Jamila knows you aren’t responsible for what I did. She knows you had no idea about what happened.”
“Doesn’t feel like good excuses to me.” I roll onto my back, hands behind my head. “You’re not really helping, you know.”
“I don’t like seeing you this way.”
“Pretty sure I’ve been like this since the moment you came strolling back into my life.”
“Oh, please, my lovely little wife, you’ve been enjoying every second of our arrangement.”
I glance at him. “What’s our safe word again? Beelzebub? If I say that, will you disappear?”
“You’re mixing up our safe word with my family name.”
I laugh and nudge him. “You’re right, you are descended from devils.”
“That’s the only explanation for my otherworldly charm.”
“More like for your pure, rank evil.”
“Devils are only misunderstood angels. If you got to know me, you’d realize I’m an innocent man.”
“Really? So you didn’t murder a bunch of my best friend’s cousins?”
“Not that innocent,” he says with a sigh. “You need a distraction.”
“No, thanks. I need to make better decisions.”
He moves closer in the dark. “I can help with that too.”
“Doubtful. All you want are more mistakes.”
He touches my cheek gently. “Why are you dead set on pushing me away?”
“This is probably a good time to remind you about the whole blackmail situation.”
“That’s in the past.”
“Speak for yourself.”
He leans forward, kissing my cheek. “You’re a frustrating woman, you know that?”
“I’m sorry, I guess I was supposed to forget about you ruining my life.”
“That’s dramatic. But yes, that’d be nice.”
“Sorry, buddy.” I try to push him away, but he grabs my wrists, pinning them above my head. “Seriously, what’s the safe word again?”
“Use Beelzebub if you really think you need one.”
“Now I see why you’ve been single for so long. You don’t know when to quit.”
He laughs, kissing my neck again. It feels good, which is lucky for him. Otherwise, I’d be kicking his ass out by now.