Page 60 of Poisoned Roses

“Where is she?”

“The house.”

“Poetic justice.”

He grins. “Exactly what I thought.”

“Is she talking?”

“I suspected you would like to conduct the interrogation.”

He knows me so well and as I nod slowly, my evil grin causes his own expression to mirror my own.

“Arrange the car. We have a passenger.”

He arches his brow. “Is that such a good idea?”

I don’t care that he has questioned my decision. He is right to do so and I shake my head, a deviant smile accompanying my words.

“It’s about time she met the devil she lies beside at night.”

“Of course.” He accepts my probably unwise decision, but I’m curious to witness the unveiling of the rose-colored glasses Tia wears around me. There will be no secrets in our marriage and she is about to learn an invaluable lesson that will make her—or break her. Either way, it won’t change the fact she will be my wife by the close of business tomorrow.

I text Ana to deliver Tia to the car, suitably dressed for interrogation, with none of the details.

Her return text causes me to chuckle softly.

You’re a fucking bastard, Titus.

I leave her on ‘read’ because I can’t argue with her. I am.

Tia is nervous.I knew as soon as she met me at the front of the house, Ana glaring at me behind her. I ignore my sister at my peril and expect I’ll experience the force of her anger when we return. None of my family understands how my mind works. Not even I do sometimes, and only Simeon has the balls to call meout on my decisions. Sometimes I listen, but then do what the fuck I want anyway.

My decision to bring Tia into my madness is for one reason only. When she walks down the aisle to join her soul to mine, she must accept me for who and what I am. I want her to understand while she has the chance to back away from the deal, at least she will consider she has that option. She won’t. I have planned accordingly and her agreement is desired but not necessary.

She is dressed as instructed. A black ensemble of a hoody and sweatpants, sneakers on her feet, her blonde hair tied in a ponytail behind her. She is pale, ashen even as she senses danger.

Her hand is clasped tightly in mine as we ride through unfamiliar streets—to her, anyway.

This is my dark home. The one where I unleash the monster who lives inside me. The one where I am most at home. The one where the devil controls my soul.

We pull up outside the suburban house that is dressed in darkness.

“What is this place?” She says in a frightened whisper and I turn to face her, my black soul evident in my eyes.

“It’s where I interrogate my prisoners.”

“Your what?” She snatches her hand away and I grip her hand and tighten my hold.

“The people who attempt to take what’s mine. To cause pain and suffering to my business—to my family. The scourge of our society who believe they stand a chance against me and this one is more personal than most, Tia, because this is your revenge.”

“My what?” Her eyes widen and as Simeon opens the door, I say with a twisted smile, “We found Nadia.”

A shocked gasp accompanies her as I pull her reluctantly from the car and as I walk fast, dragging her behind me, I caress the burning ball of retribution inside me that I love so much.

This will be interesting. I can’t wait to begin and at the end of it Tia will understand exactly what she has signed up for.

My men stand watching, their grave expressions set behind mirrored shades despite the gloomy lighting in the dingy slum.

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