Page 13 of Merciless Proposal

I glance at the guy I shot. He’s still alive, but barely. I’ll deal with him in a minute. Right now, my focus is on Jen.

“Depends,” I reply, my gaze flicking to the girl in Red’s grasp. “What was your role in this?”

The girl spits on the floor, her defiance clear. “Like I’m talking to you.”

Before I can respond, Natalia speaks up. Her voice is small, fragile, and it makes my chest tighten. “Jen was the one luring women for their trafficking ring.”

My eyes snap back to Jen. She freezes, and I can see the panic flash across her face when she realizes Natalia’s spoken.

“Jen,” I say slowly, watching the way she stiffens. “You were helping with that trafficking ring we busted last night, weren’t you?”

Jen looks at me with a twisted smirk. “So, what if I was?” she challenges. “You telling me that you’ve never done anything questionable for your job? You’re not a saint, Jace.”

I laugh, though it’s not out of humor. “Wow, you know my name. Impressive.”

She huffs, jerking her head away from me, clearly irritated. I wonder what her role really was in all of this. Why does she feel so comfortable challenging me like this? It’s likely she was being groomed for a higher position in the ring. People trust women more in this world. Having her as a front could’ve given them an edge.

It makes me sick to think about it, though. Throwing someone like her into that world, pushing her into a position of power where she doesn’t belong—it’s slimy. And part of me feels sorry for her… almost.

But then I remember Natalia, and that sympathy evaporates.

I look at Red, who’s keeping a tight hold on Jen. “I’m not really sure what to do with you,” I admit, my mind racing with options.

Our men are already moving the guy I shot, handling him with cold efficiency. They don’t need instructions—they’ve dealt with situations like this before.

I turn my attention back to Jen, my gaze cold. She deserves punishment, but there’s a part of me that refuses to be that monster. No matter what she’s done, I can’t bring myself to hurt her the way I want to. Not when she’s a woman. It’s a line I won’t cross, even for someone like her.

“You’re lucky I’m nicer than those men you work for,” I say, my voice low and threatening. I feel Natalia’s grip on me tighten, the fear in her body mirroring my rising anger. “Because if I were anything like them, you’d be paying with your life for what you did.”

Jen turns her head toward me, eyes narrowing. She opens her mouth like she’s about to speak, but I wait her out. Whatever venom she was about to spit, she seems to think better of it and clamps her mouth shut.

“So, what do you want me to do with her?” Red asks, a rare moment of deflection in his voice. As the leader, he knows when to back off and let me take the reins. He doesn’t challenge me when I’m like this.

“We’ll give her back,” I say, my fingers absentmindedly rubbing Natalia’s back as she makes a soft sound of surprise. “But she’s going to send a message for us.”

Jen scoffs, her voice dripping with defiance. “Like I’d do that.”

“I think you will,” I reply, my temper starting to flare. “Otherwise, we’ll come after you. And we’ll make you regret being alive. I’m giving you another chance because of the environment you were raised in. Because I’m a good guy. You only get one chance, though. Understand?”

Her silence stretches on, thick with tension. Then, after what feels like an eternity, she mutters a grudging, “Yes.”

“Good,” I say, the weight of my words settling in. “We’re taking you back to your family. And you’re going to tell them that Natalia is off-limits. She’s our family now. If anyone touches a hair on her head, we’ll go scorched earth. You’ll lose everything—your money, your territory, your loved ones. We’ll wipe them all out. Understand?”

She doesn’t respond, just glares at me, her eyes burning with defiance. It’s a stare that reminds me of a stray kitten with its back arched, but there’s nothing cute about it. The anger in her eyes makes me want to break something.

When her silence continues, Red tightens his grip on her. Jen squeaks, finally relenting.

“Yes, yes, okay. I’ll tell them, just let go of me,” she groans, her body going slack as Red loosens his hold.

“That’s right,” I mutter under my breath, my focus now entirely on Natalia. She makes a noise in my arms, and every part of me craves to be alone with her. “Go ahead and take her, Red. I’ll meet you back at headquarters.”

Red nods, pulling Jen away as she puts up a weak fight, knowing she’s no match for him. I stay rooted to the spot, my gaze fixed on them until the door clicks shut. Then, I slowly pull Natalia away from me, needing to see her face, to confirm she’s truly alright.

Her eyes meet mine, wide and filled with trust. The sight of them hits me hard. I lean in, pressing my lips to hers in a soft, tender kiss, hoping to convey everything I feel. But even as our lips meet, I know it’s not enough.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” I tell her, smoothing her hair out gently. “I love you, Natalia. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” she replies, a sheen of tears collecting in the corners of her eyes. “I love you so much that I think my heart might explode from how much I do.”

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