Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Short version. Serenity called in a favor because her father was trying to sell her to an allying family.”
A collection of hisses and shaking heads erupted among my inner circle.
“She wanted me to take her virginity to make her unsellable.”
“Fucking hell,” Crossland snapped. “They still do that?”
“I can't begin to break down the political habits of rivaling families,” I explained.
“But you didn't do that, did you?” Asher asked.
“No. I wasn't about to do that to her, not when she was having to make a rash decision.”
Asher nodded. “You did the next best thing you could think of to protect her, which was to marry her.”
“I knew it would buy her time, which is what she needed. And obviously, she's under my protection.”
“Why do I feel like there's a but coming?” Ethan asked.
“I didn’t touch her for a month,” I admitted. “She kept asking, believing that if I left her untouched and annulled the marriage when I thought she was safe, that she'd still be considered a valuable asset to her family. That they’d wait us out. I kept trying to convince her that I was going to find a way out of this where I didn't have to do that, but I haven't found it yet, and it doesn't matter anymore.”
“Fuck,” Wes groaned.
“Yeah,” I said. “What started out as a simple plan to keep her safe has gotten a whole hell of a lot more complicated. I don't deserve her in any way, shape, or form, but we fit. For now, she wants to keep me, and I'm the selfish bastard who’s agreeing to it. I like her too damn much. And not just in my bed, but in all the ways you assholes have kept talking about the last few years.” I cut my eyes to Crossland, smirking slightly. “Goddamn epidemic. Just like you said.”
Crossland gave me a shit-eating grin, then reached out his hand. I clapped mine in his, shaking it. “Welcome to the club, brother,” he said.
“We have to triple our efforts in getting Doyle out of the game,” I said, finally coming to the point.
Western scoffed. “Like we haven't been trying to convince him since the moment he came in. Although, I guess we're happy we didn't succeed, considering your situation now.”
“Right,” I said. “I just can't let this become a monthly torture for Serenity, and I'm not going to leave her behind unless she asks me to. It was hard enough for me to allow her to stay in one of the villas with Brynn, Daisy, Aspen, and Alex, as it is.”
“Allow her?” Ethan asked. “Like you're her keeper now?” His words were playful, but I cocked a brow at him nonetheless.
“I'm certainly not her keeper,” I explained. “But right now, things are tumultuous. Every second we remain married, O’Brien’s family and connections are trying to figure out a way to break us apart. Some of those ways include dangers a lot of you have likely never had to think about, and I'm not saying that's your fault, but we just think differently. We were raised inherently differently.”
“Hence, the four security guards currently standing outside of my villa?” Asher asked.
I nodded. “The only difference between my guards and O’Brien’s are that they're good. Not only will they keep her safe or die trying, but they won't be assholes. If she wants to leave, they'll shadow her. They won't try to stop her. The days of her being a prisoner are over.”
Crossland blew out of breath. “Are our women in danger too?” he asked. “Not accusing, just genuinely concerned.”
Weston pinched the bridge of his nose.
Ethan looked ready to punch somebody despite all his anger management training, and Asher just looked at me with that genius-like calculation only he was capable of.
“No,” I assured him, assured them all. “Doyle is an idiot, but he’s not stupid enough to incite all of your wrath by making a threat against them.”
“Do you have a plan to get him out of the game? I know it's step one on a long list,” Asher continued. “But you know we have your back. We may not be well-versed in the methods of your past, but you have some of the wealthiest people in the world at your disposal.”
“Thank you,” I said, and fucking meant it. This inner circle that had been born of me shedding the ways of my own life meant more to me than some of my own blood. “I don't want to ask you to do anything that's going to put you or your women in danger. Getting him out of the game has always been a priority, but up until now, we’ve been soft about it. It's time to take the gloves off.”
They all nodded, waiting.
“Every bet has to be about him losing his seat. Every single hand he's in has to be about him forfeiting his right to that chair. No other bets exist. Even if he has a lucky streak, he will lose by the end of the night.”