Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Dominik: For a while longer. I’ve agreed to an arranged marriage with Devlin’s daughter so I can get fifty percent of his business.
I watch as she reads, and a second later, it shows she’s typing. Soon, a string of laughing emojis pop up on my screen.
Evinka: Nice one. When will you be back home?
Dominik: I’m not joking. I’ll be here for a few days to arrange the wedding and take care of business. BTW, you’ll have to attend as my best man.
This time, when it shows she’s read it, my screen goes black, and minutes tick by before it lights up again with her response.
Evinka: What. The. Fuck?
Dominik: Fifty percent of Devlin’s business.
Evinka: Still. You’re not the marrying type. You’ll kill the poor woman for breathing too loud.
Dominik: The marriage will mainly be in name. She’ll stay in Ireland.
Evinka: Oh. That could work. Are you sure about this? You’ll be tied to Devlin for life.
Dominik: Again. Fifty percent of his business.
Evinka: I hear you.
Evinka: I guess good luck is in order then.
More laughing emojis follow, making me shake my head before I tuck the device back into my pocket.
I feel the air shift and turn my head slightly as I listen to the soft footfall of steps coming in the direction of the living room.
A moment later, Grace asks, “Where’s my father?”
I turn around to face her while shoving my left hand into the pocket of my suit pants. “He’s gone to talk to your housekeeper.” She turns to walk away, and it has me saying, “Grace.”
As fun as it was watching her stand up to her father, I have to draw a line so she’ll know I won’t tolerate being disrespected.
She glances at me with an arched eyebrow.
Slowly, I walk closer to her until she’s forced to tilt her head back to look at me. I take in the purple and blue bruises on her face before capturing her gaze.
My words are filled with warning as they rumble from my chest. “Just because I’m marrying your sister doesn’t mean I’ll take it easy on you.” I let a few seconds pass so my words can register with her. “Don’t ever disrespect me.”
I watch as her gray eyes grow stormy while they narrow on me. “You’re not marrying my sister.”
I lean a little down, my tone darker as I say, “Over your dead body, right?”
A flash of fear tightens her features even more, and I’m surprised when she sticks to her guns and replies, “Yes. You’ll have to kill me to get to Ciara.”
I’m starting to think she has no regard for her own life. If only she had fought half as hard for herself last night, she might have fewer bruises.
“The marriage will be in name only,” I say, hoping it will calm her temper. The last thing I’m in the mood for is to fight with this woman for the next week or so.
Grace lifts her chin, and my eyes lower to the fresh scab forming on her bottom lip as she mutters, “I don’t care.” Then a weird expression settles on her face before she says, “All it will take is one day with a man like you to break my sister, and I won’t allow it. She will never be your wife for you to do with as you please.”
The weird expression on her face registers, dragging a memory from my past to the surface.
Evinka runs barefoot across the ice-covered ground as if hell itself is chasing her, a terrified expression on her face.
Taking in her torn sweater and missing pants, my heart explodes into a worried tempo. I hardly have time to open my arms before she plows into my chest, her body convulsing with silent sobs.
I shove the memory back into the pits of hell where my soul was formed and say, “I don’t plan on touching your sister. I’m absolutely fine with artificial insemination.”
Grace’s eyes widen with surprise as she gasps, “What?”
“The marriage will be in name only,” I repeat myself for the last time. “I have no interest in your weak sister.”
My last sentence makes the anger return to Grace’s eyes. “If you expect us to respect you, you will watch what you say about Ciara. She’s the sweetest and most caring person you’ll ever meet and doesn’t deserve to be bad-mouthed in any way.”
I should’ve lost my temper already. Any other person and my gun would be drawn and ready to bury a bullet in their head.
But for some reason, I’m calm as fuck as I stand before this woman.
Not only am I calm, but once again, I can’t resist pushing her buttons by leaning down until our faces are a mere inch apart. “But not you? Just Ciara?” The corner of my mouth lifts a little. “Will you let me do whatever I want to you as long as I spare your precious sister?”