Page 58 of Resisting Royal

He nodded. “Correct. Shaw and Roman should be there with Dot and Emma. Most of the boys won’t file in until tonight.”

“Emma?” The name peaked my interest. As long as I had known Roman, it had always been all the men and his mom on his compound. Sure, they fooled around, fucked some women, but nothing that would require his men to know the woman’s name.

His man just smiled at my inquiry. “You’ll see.”

“I’ll be damned,” I muttered.

“We are all a little baffled,” he admitted before tapping the side of my car and pointing to the road.

I drove forward and when we were through the gate, I tried to remember where our conversation left off. Bianca watched the gate’s keeper curiously as we drove by. “Why the gate and guard?”

“They live a different life than we do. Less secure. There is a lot more rivalry here, maybe more violence. He likes to keep the people in his circle safe. I don’t blame him. If I lived in an area like his, I probably would, too.”

“It’s the middle of nowhere. How dangerous could it be?”

Remembering my hand was on her thigh, I stroked my thumb in circles. “It’s what you don’t see that’s the danger, Amore.”

“Why do you never act afraid? You always go into a situation certain everything will be fine. Do you not play out every possible outcome? Think of everything that will go wrong instead of assuming it will go right?” I felt her thigh tense at the thought of everything that could go wrong. She overthought everything.

“If you’re asking if I assess the situation before jumping in? Always. I always know my chances, and I always expect the worst but hope for the best. But, despite the worst in a situation, I don’t let the fear hold me back. If I did that, I would have never met Greta. Or Roman. Or Shaw. Hell . . . or even you.”

“I’m pretty sure you met me out of necessity.” I glanced at her as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked so angelic that I had to fight to keep my hand steady instead of traveling higher up her leg.

“Maybe you’re right, I did need to see a dentist. Badly. I put it off too long and that caused a necessity. But, it was my decision to make a deal I never had before and take you as an offering. Keep you as my own.”

For once, she didn’t even tense when the deal was mentioned, and that little bit of acceptance had me releasing the tension I hadn’t known I was carrying. “Why did you?”

“Why did I what?”

“Make the deal to trade for me?” This time when she moved, she turned her whole body toward me, waiting intently for my answer.

“I didn’t know it was you, you know. When I first saw the picture. I just saw an old photo of someone who looked vaguely familiar, but when I saw you that evening, I knew I had to have you. If I’m honest, and as my wife, I hope you always let me be, I was lonely. You know, most of my men have spouses . . . a family, and it's all they can talk about. They walk around like lovesick fools and after a while, I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell I was missing.”

I paused as my vehicle rocked over a particularly rocky piece of road.” I can have anyone, Bianca, but that gets old. Being used for my money and looks and status, it wasn’t pleasing. Then your father came and offered what I wanted, what I so desperately craved, and all you had to do was say yes. I know I can be a strict man. But I never wanted to kill your father. I never enjoy killing anyone. But when people borrow money, they are under contract. If I let everyone slide, I’ll be broke and lose everything I’ve ever worked for.”

“You did it out of principle, then? To prove a point that you get what you want and people can’t fault on a contact?” Her giant green eyes were watching me, making me feel weak and exposed.

I parked the car and watched as the door opened to the building in front of us. “Make no mistake Bianca, I may have fallen into this situation out of contract, but that was a convenience that worked in my favor. I made the contract because I wanted you. The moment I saw you in person, I knew no other truth and unless I made the threat, I would have never gotten a chance to prove I can make you happy.”

I didn’t wait for her to answer. Hell, I didn’t care much for what she had to say. Her questions made me feel exposed and raw at a time when I should have my guard up and be completely alert. I opened the door and got out, allowing myself a few moments to calm down before jogging to her side and opening her door, gesturing for her to join me.

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