Page 45 of Tainted Ties

The veins on my uncle’s hand protruded as he tightened his hold, causing her to hiss.

My hand shot out, fisting his sleeve, and forcing his hand off her.

No one was allowed to have her pain and misery except for me.

Dismay crossed his features as he glared at me before stalking off.

Aurora stared at the back of my uncle’s frame with a blank expression, and I didn’t like that I couldn’t read her at this moment.

The taut tension suffocated me as she turned and walked away without a glance in my direction.

This woman knew how to strike a nerve.

It shouldn’t have aggravated me at all that she was giving me the silent treatment, but itdid.

This fascination I had for her was incessant. I wanted her in the palm of my hands, baring herself to me and when I had my fill, I’d get rid of her.I would.

The party droned on, and I hadn’t spoken to Aurora since she started munching on delicacies.

“How many shipments are going through next month?”

The events held at the Underground Club were more for networking purposes than enjoyment.

While Nicolai continued blabbing about the market and how it was the perfect time to invest, he didn’t have my attention.

My gaze was fixated on the alluring creature across the room, and I found myself constantly searching for her even when I didn’t mean to.

When Aurora’s head tipped back in laughter, my eyes narrowed on the man across from her at the bar.

“Roman,” Nicolai drawled, failing to get my attention. I assumed he followed my line of sight because he asked, “That’s your wife, right? Oy, she’s stunning.”

My jaw tightened at his words. Nicolai was one of the youngest in my crew. The night I had found him—frail and scared—I was drawn to him. Something in me told me he needed saving, so I had. At twenty-one, he had been more useful to me than most of my men. He was family—a brother.

I knew he meant no harm with his comment, but it still aggravated me. “Nico?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I said, leaving him behind as I strode toward my target.

Aurora must’ve sensed me near because her smile faltered as she turned her head in my direction.

She’d never smiled at me, and that fact alone made my blood boil. I didn’t care if she hated me or if I didn’t deserve it. I wanted it anyway.

“Leave us.” My command was directed to the foolish boy while my gaze bore into the side of my wife’s head.

A moment later, I took his spot, standing before her. “Indulge me for a moment. Do you enjoy pissing me off, or has the ache between your legs become too much to bear?”

Her eyes narrowed at my crudeness while her lips thinned, refusing to utter a word to me as her nose flared. I knew exactly what that meant.

I leaned in and whispered, “The answer to question one, yes, it does. And two, I’m right here, baby.”

A scowl etched across her features as she took a swig of her drink before slamming it on the bar’s island.

Gathering her dress, she turned away from me, ready to stalk off.

Before my mind caught up to what I was doing, I grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her onto the dance floor.

Her body crushed against mine like the missing piece of a puzzle.

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