Sighing, I leaned against the countertop. “Not only are you the payment, but the deal involves us getting married. You will be my wife.”

Grace looked startled at once, and she recoiled at the words. An expression of raw, unfiltered horror took over.

“What?”

I had to insist that the reaction didn’t sting slightly.

While I wasn’t anticipating she would jump in my arms and let herself be whisked away, it irked me to know she only saw me as a no-good mobster. I wasn’t ignorant enough to think she would willingly marry a stranger, but it didn’t entirely help my ego.

“You heard me. It won’t be long from now,” I began, swiping at my mouth with the back of my hand. “Contracts will be drawn up, and everything will be finalized.”

Her fear was palpable, but I didn’t dwell on it.

I knew that look well. There were likely hundreds of thoughts racing through her mind, and her pulse was probably quickening. She was panicking and receiving an influx of adrenaline. She would have to choose between fight or flight.

From my place in the kitchen, I could sense that she wanted to bolt. I was too exhausted to deal with any of it.

Standing to my normal height, I took a few steps over to her and reached for her arm.

“I don’t imagine you’re too thrilled about it, but you’re not running. There’s no point. I have cameras everywhere in this building, and if you even try to leave, I’ll have you returned right back here,” I mumbled, pulling her behind me through the condo. “You’re the payment I’m owed, and if you’re compromised, that punishment will fall on your dad.”

While Grace looked resistant to my words, she couldn’t overpower me even if she wanted to. Instead, she let go of a forced breath and trailed behind me.

“The easier you make this, the less restrictions you’ll have,” I reasoned with her. “My cousins were never shy about locking their wives away before they found common ground, but I don’t want to have to do the same. I’m not interested in keeping a prisoner.”

“Then don’t,” she mumbled.

“If you cooperate, then I won’t have to. But only then. In the meantime, you’ll stay here until we figure everything out. Got it?”

Grace said nothing and instead wore a dissatisfied expression.

Not happy with that non-answer, I paused my movements and reached for her chin. She froze, pinned in place as I held her face and kept her from moving. She blinked rapidly at me, likely surprised by it.

“I said, do you understand?”

There was a short pause as many thoughts moved through her eyes, but she eventually swallowed harshly and nodded as best as she could.

“Good.” Releasing her face, I resumed guiding her toward the master bedroom. “I didn’t prepare for this, but you’ll sleep here. I’ll have someone bring you clothes in the morning.”

Grace didn’t say a word as I opened the door and stepped aside to let her in. Hesitantly, she stepped through the threshold and looked around the room.

Standing in the doorway, I watched as she took it all in. Everything was done up immaculately from the wall-to-wall windows on the far side to the king-sized bed, along with the pristine ensuite. It paled compared to my cousins, but it was nothing to sneer at.

As she stood there, marveling at it all, I wondered how much of his money Dominic ever shared with her. I had the feeling she never knew the extent of it.

With the day's chaos diminishing with every minute that passed, I finally had the chance to look at her. The woman I took and intended on marrying, whether it was a business move or one fueled by my pride. Likely both.

Her dirty-blonde hair ran partway down her back with its healthy sheen, and I didn’t mind looking at those forest-green eyes. She was much shorter than me, with a small yet filled-out frame. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she had a past of playing sports.

My impromptu evaluation of her left me feeling satisfied, mainly thanks to those curves her yoga pants clung to.

While my resolve was cracking, along with my confidence in my decision, at least she was beautiful. I hadn’t considered how poorly that could’ve gone in my direction—a reminder to be less hasty moving forward.

“What now?” She asked, glancing over her shoulder at me with her arms pulled close to her body.

With a final scan of her, I reached for the doorknob and pulled it shut. “Get comfortable.”

The door closed behind me, and I sighed as I wandered toward the spare room.