Page 55 of Merciful Lies

It happens every time I’m away from her for too long. I need my Anna. She’s my light in all this darkness. She’s my good in this world.

With her, it doesn’t feel so lonely. So hopeless. So rotten and dirty.

“Drive to the Den,” I tell Tommy, looking at the tracking app on my phone to confirm what I already know since Angel already texted me.

Anna is inside the Vipers' base of operations, and I know she’s safe there, but I can’t help but twitch at the thought of having her in that place.

I need to get over it, though. Because Anna is mine as much as my crown is. I need to reconcile both sides of my life, and the sooner the better.

Besides, I have yet to introduce my entire crew to my wife, and they need to know. The whole world needs to know who and what she is.

Mine.

Anna is mine. That means she is protected. She is off fucking limits. Untouchable.

Except for me. I’m the only one who gets to touch her, and my blood sings at the truth of those words.

Tommy drives into the alley behind the club, and I open the door before he comes to a stop, leaping out.

I don’t even try to hide how eager I am.

I need my wife. Now.

I can sense her presence before I see her, and I can’t help the intensity on my face as I close the distance between us.

Anna is sitting at my private booth just off the side of the bar. Her face is animated as she talks to an attractive woman with black curls and pale green eyes. It’s her friend, Giselle, the one who tossed beer in Angel’s face, catching my cousin’s attention.

Of course, I already researched her. Hell, I ran background checks on everyone in my wife’s life, including those bakers which I owed her an update on.

But all those things I have to tell her leave my brain when I take in her appearance. I'm aware she’s pregnant.

Of course, I fucking am.

And I know society likely frowns upon the kind of thoughts going through my head about all the filthy things I want to do to her.

But Anna looks so goddamn fuckable in that flirty little dress she’s wearing, I can’t help myself.

I catch a glimpse, a flash really, of exposed thigh beneath the table, and my blood heats.

She probably shouldn't be here. Not in this place. She’s too good for it. Too good for me.

But I can’t help it. I like seeing her there. In my chair. On my throne.

I’m the fucking king of the Vipers, and she’s my undisputed queen.

Maria slides a drink over to her, and she nods at something my pretty wife says. I’m glad they’re getting along.

I was worried the bartender might be a little salty with my wife after she failed to catch my attention. If Maria is disrespectful in any way to Anna, then I’m going to have to fire her.

But it doesn’t look like I have to worry about that, and I’m glad. Good employees are hard to come by.

The Vipers’ Den has an average sized staff, but the main bar is important. I need people there I trust. And Maria is a good, honest employee.

“Nico,” Anna says my name just as I reach her.

Pleasure shoots through my veins and I grip the back of her neck, dropping my head and kissing her with total and complete ownership.

I feel everyone’s eyes on us, and I increase the pressure, earning a moan from my sweet wife’s lips. I bring my other hand up, wrapping it around her throat as I lay claim to her mouth.

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