Page 17 of Recaptured by the Crime Lord

She nodded. He had a wine cellar with a secret door that led into the red mountains.

“I’ve added extra security measures. Blade will be with you at all times. I don’t want you going anywhere without a security detail. I prefer you don’t leave the house without me,” he said.

Lyla didn’t tell him that she didn’twantto go anywhere without him. Despite the way she felt about Gavin, she knew he would die for her.

“That doesn’t mean you’re a prisoner. Our marriage is real, our life together is real. I want you to do what you want. If you want to go on a trip, I’ll arrange time off from work. If you want to buy a new wardrobe or see your parents, you can. But, Lyla,” he gave her a very direct and predatory look, “don’t run from me again. We can work this out.”

“Work what out?” she snapped.

“Our relationship.”

“We don’t have a relationship.”

“The ring on your finger says different.”

“Oh, this?” she asked sarcastically.

Gavin was off the lounge chair and in her face before she could pull the damn thing off her finger. He clasped her hand between his and dipped his head down so their faces were less than six inches apart.

“Don’t take it off.”

The angry tone made her eyes narrow.

“You forced me to marry you,” she spat.

“Yes, I did. You’ve taken off on me too many times. You need to get this, Lyla. You’re stuck with me. Legally.”

“I had my reasons fortaking off.” Lyla yanked her hand from his. “You've hurt me more than anyone else. I don’t know how I feel about you. Every instinct tells me I can’t afford to be with you again. My heart can’t take it. You flip flop between the ruthless crime lord and the man who says he can’t live without me. Which man are you?”

“Both.”

“That’s what scares me,” she said quietly. “You can’t separate those men and I never know when the other is going to take over.”

“I’m not a crime lord any longer. The only man I am is the CEO of Pyre Casinos, but more importantly, I’m your husband.”

She could feel his will pressing on her. It made her tilt her chin defiantly. She looked evil right in the eye. She wouldn’t be intimidated by Gavin Pyre even if he was a murderer.

“Before Vinny died, you and I made promises to one another. I admit it. I lost it when he was murdered and I took it out on you. I refused to leave the underworld after Vinny’s death because it would make me look weak. I needed to put them in line. I thought they wouldn’t retaliate, but it backfired. I left you in the hospital fighting for your life and unleashed hell in the underworld. I worked out my demons, but it wasn’t enough. When I surfaced, the cops were waiting. Thank God my men are loyal to me. They covered my tracks so there wasn’t a single crumb of evidence. You woke from your coma. I wasn’t completely sane so Blade sedated me so I could talk to you. That’s why I was such a bastard that day. I focused on my objective and ignored what you went through because I couldn’t handle it.”

Gavin cupped the back of her neck and squeezed. When she tried to shrug off his hold, he pressed his lips against her temple.

“I need this,” he whispered and there was such pain in his voice that she froze. “I’ve needed to say this for so long.”

Lyla closed her eyes as the hand on her neck slid into her hair so he cradled the back of her head. His other hand swept up and down her back as she trembled. His touch, his scent roused her emotions to a fevered pitch. She was torn between throwing herself into his arms or punching him in the face. Instead, she stood there with her eyes closed, trying to keep herself from reacting to anything he said.

“I can’t begin to understand what you went through that day,” he murmured, warm breath feathering over her face. “I don’t blame you for running from me. I don’t blame you for hating me. After I walked into the house and I saw you and Dad on the floor, covered in blood, not moving... I don’t remember anything after that.I blocked it from my mind. You don’t have that luxury. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Her head dropped and landed on his shoulder. Tears slipped down her cheeks. She fisted her hands in his shirt to stop herself from screaming.

“I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. I don’t know what you went through. I can’t imagine and I don’t want to. I know the extent of dad’s injuries and yours.” His hand swept over her as if reassuring himself that she was whole. “You survival is a miracle and I’m not going to waste it. Whatever you need, I’ll give.”

Lyla couldn’t hold back a keening sob. Gavin’s arms wrapped around her, tight and strong and she began to shake uncontrollably.

“I made promises to you that I’ve broken. I’m remaking them now. I love you. I want children with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” When she tried to push away, he made shushing sounds and rubbed her back soothingly. “I want to make you happy. I want you to teach me how to laugh again, how to feel without going off the deep end. I need you to let me take care of you. I need to see you heal so I know I haven’t destroyed the most important person in the world to me. I need you to give me hope.”

Lyla shook her head against his chest.

“I love you, Lyla. I’m fucked up and you always seem to pay the price. Not this time. I’m out of the business and walking a straight line right to you. Only you can get me through this. Blade’s been sedating me since I got out of jail so I stop breaking things... and people. I can only act normal for a few hours at work before I have to leave or get sedated again. I need you to ground me. You don’t need to love me back, you don’t even need to like me. I just... need.”

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