Page 166 of Morally Corrupt

"Of course." I pout my lips. "Why would I marry that stuffy man otherwise?" I feel the bitterness of the words on my tongue as I say them.

"Indeed…" His lips stretch into a dangerous smirk. "You'll have to forgive me if I don't believe everything you say." Hmm, so he's not that dumb.

Fine, I can work with that.

"I wouldn't lie about it. I'm at your mercy, aren't I?" I give him a tremulous smile, showing a hint of vulnerability. I have to make this as believable as possible.

"That you are…" He removes a knife from his back pocket and trails it up and down my cheek. "You're so beautiful… unblemished…" His words are wistful as he focuses on my face.

"Tell me, does it bother you to look at me?" he asks, referring to the glaring scar on his cheek.

"Of course not," I reply, almost too fast. Shit. "I've always had a thing for bad boys," I amend my answer, hoping to stroke his ego a little.

"And you think I got this scar because I was a bad boy?" He chuckles derisively. "On the contrary, I got this because I was a good boy." His gaze moves above my head, and somehow, I know he's not talking to me anymore. "You see… my father said I looked too much like my mother." He laughs at that. "And he couldn't have that… no… not when he raped her so brutally for years that she finally took her own life to escape from him." Shit… that came out of nowhere. "He said I reminded him too much of her… of her screams. So, he branded me."

I don't know how to reply to that, mainly because I don't want to say something that might set him off. So, I let him continue with his soliloquy.

"But do you know what he did for that husband of yours? He personally trained him." I almost frown. Why is he suddenly mentioning Adrian? He clearly has daddy issues.

"You do know, don't you? That your precious law-abiding husband used to kill people in illegal fights." My mouth forms a big O, and I try to show him my most surprised expression.

"What… what are you talking about?"

"So, you didn't know, did you…?" He laughs. "I don't know what he saw in him.Idid everything my father wanted me to.Iled his cartel. It wasmyplan to use the Gallaghers to take over New York. And how does he repay me?" He snickers. "He's still more concerned about your husband. He told me to leave you alone because you belong to him."

He gets in my face, his lips a mere breath away from mine.

"And you know what? I'm done obeying.Youare mine. The empire ismine,"he spits out before his lips are on mine, the pressure almost unbearable.

For a second, I feel like I can't do this, but then I remember his threats regarding Adrian. He hates him. He wants to kill him…

SayingI'm sorryto Adrian in my mind, I return the kiss. He needs to believe that I'm willing to readily switch sides if he'll ever trust me enough to free me.

Then, it's game on.

His tongue sweeps in, and I have to will my body to not gag as I respond. He seems surprised by my easy acquiescence. Ending the kiss, he slyly looks into my eyes.

"I almost believe you meant it."

"I told you," I say, and eyeing the cross at his neck, I immediately add, "I don't owe my husband anything except my allegiance before God. After you take him out, I'm yours." I hope this will work. He takes a step back and regards me quizzically, as if he doesn't know whether to trust my words.

"That so?" he muses. I take this chance to cement my position.

"Of course. I've only ever slept with my husband andonlyafter our wedding vows." I'm banking on him being an honest thief at this point. But seeing that he hasn't raped me until now, or when I was unconscious, I'm willing to bet there's more to him than meets the eye.

He seems pensive as he takes in my words. I'm actively praying to that imaginary God I'd been invoking for him to believe me.

"Kill my husband, and then I'll marry you. Like it was meant to be. I'll be yours."

"Mine…" He tastes the words on his tongue, his lips curling into a wolfish smile. "I like the sound of that. Very well." Yes. One small victory.

He turns his back to leave, and my eyes widen. Wait, why is he leaving? I thought we were on the same page now.

"Wait. Are you going to leave me like this?"

"Why would Inotleave you like this? I have to say, you've been convincing so far, but I've learned my lesson with you." He opens the door and leaves, locking it behind him.

Fuck this shit, I mutter to myself.

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