Page 15 of Ruthless King

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll tell you when we get home.”

The drive is quiet. I’m desperate to ask Nico what he meant, but I know I have to be patient. I’m playing the long game.

The gate closes behind us as Nico drives up to the house, locking us inside. Well, lockingmeinside.

Andrew is nowhere to be seen once we’re in the house, for which I’m grateful. The way he was looking at me unsettled me.

Nico leads me to the master bedroom. It’s then I realize I’ll have to share the bed with this man. I’ve never shared a bed with any man before.

“Don’t worry,” he says. “I won’t fuck you right now.”

“What?”

“I can see the fear on your face. I just want to talk.”

“Oh. Ok.”

“You’re my wife now, Aurora, but again, that doesn’t mean I trust you. You’ll have to earn my trust.”

“How?”

“That will take time. But there’s something I’ll tell you. The reason I’m extra heavily guarded right now is because the police are looking at me.”

I stand up straighter. “The police?”

“Yes. A man has gone missing recently, and the police thought it might be connected to me.”

“Is it?”

He doesn’t answer my question. “So, that’s why I have the extra guards. I need to be careful right now.”

“So, then, why marry me, a stranger?”

“Because I’m not going to let the police stop me from living my life. I wanted a wife, so I got a wife. Now, I’m trusting you with this information. This is one way to prove I can trust you going forward. If anyone asks you any question, don’t answer.”

He means the police. If I’m ever approached by the police.

Is the missing man my father? I was never questioned by the police back in LA, but then, neither I nor Beatrice told the police my father went missing.

I know I won’t get all the answers I’m looking for right now. Those will have to come with in time.

“I’ll do as you say,” I tell him, knowing that’s what he wants to hear.

“Thank you. I told you I liked you for a reason. Now, I’ll leave you be. I have more work to get done.”

“Shouldn’t we … spend time together?”

“This isn’t a marriage of love, Aurora. I’ll see you later tonight. Maybe then you’ll be ready to fuck.” He leaves the room.

Dazed, I sit down on the bed and take in the room. There’s nothing I can use in here as a weapon. Sure, there’s the light on the nightstand, but I don’t have the strength to bash Nico’s head in. At least not in time before one of the guards was upon me.

No, I’ll have to wait and bide my time.

I just don’t think I can give Nico what he truly wants. How can I sleep with a man like him? A man who doesn’t believe in love? A man who marries for practicality and not emotion. A man like Nico is dangerous. If he never learns to care for me, he’ll never trust me.

And the only way I can kill him is by gaining his trust.

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