Page 86 of Brutal Savage

She didn’t take it.

Gently, I lower her onto my bed so I can clean the cut on the sole of her foot. It isn’t deep and should heal quickly. Still, I hate seeing it, knowing she’s hurt because of me.

I pick up her foot and kiss the top of it, watching her face as it lies still on my pillow. “I’ll take care of you from now on. You’ll never have to be scared of anyone again.”

She’s scared of you, especially after today.

I’ll have to change that if I want her to be happy. And she may not believe it, but I do want that.

This is our home. She will have to meet my family. Attend events I’m forced to attend. I can’t let the world think my own wife hates me.

Placing her leg back down on the bed, I head for the bathroom to get something to clean her wound with and wrap it.

Minutes later, it’s clean and covered up as I sit beside her, stroking her cheek, waiting for her to wake up.

Any second now.

“Mm,” she groans, stretching her limbs, her lashes fluttering.

But once her eyes fall on mine, they grow with horror.

“Get away from me!” She recoils, sounding weak from the drugs.

“Welcome home, Ms. Hill.”

“Please!” She shakes her head, pain radiating in her eyes. “Don’t do this to me. I can’t marry you.”

I release a disappointed exhale, reaching into my phone to type something before handing it to her.

“What’s this?” She stares at the number.

Five million.

“The amount you will be paid every year for being my wife. I’ve already set up a bank account for you, and you will get your own card. No one will be able to touch that money. Not even the government.”

She stares at me with tears filling her eyes, and I fight what those tears do to me. The way they undo me.

“You’ll find that I’ve already deposited one million into it to get you started.”

When she glances down at her quivering hands, she gasps. “Oh my God. What the hell is this, Tynan?”

A large solitaire diamond glistens on her finger.

I pick up her hand and kiss the top of it, staring into her wild blue eyes. “It’s your engagement ring. You were asleep when you said yes.”

My mouth spreads into a smirk, but her face only carries disdain.

A tightness hits my chest. “Can you walk? Or should I carry you?”

“Carry me where?” Fresh tears build in her eyes, turning my heart to stone.

“We’re getting married, Elara. Right now.”

“WHAT? You…you can’t do this!” The words tremble out of her. “You won’t get away with it!”

Scooting my arms under her, I lift her up against my chest.

“I already have.” My lips drop to the corner of hers. “’Til death do us part.”

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