Page 21 of Bound to a Monster

“What’d you think?” Adriano seems genuinely curious. “She’s pretty, isn’t she? Told you I wouldn’t screw you over.”

“She’s pretty,” I agree, which is an understatement. She’s fucking gorgeous. She’s incredible. She’s a tanned goddess with luscious dark hair, a lithe athletic body, and an ass that makes my dick hard. He doesn’t need those details though.

“I think she’ll make a good wife too. I hear she’s a decent girl, you know what I mean? She follows the rules.”

“I can appreciate that.” Though I know my wife isn’t always the perfect little mafia princess she pretends to be. No, she had one night of sin. It just happened to be with me.

“Take care of her. She’s my cousin, and I want her to be happy.”

“I’ll provide for her.”

Adriano studies me. He frowns, and I can tell he doesn’t like my answer. But fuck him. That’s all I’ll promise.

Anything more would be a mistake.

I had one night with Carmie. One fucking night. And now she’s deeply stuck in my head. I’m goddamn obsessed with the girl, and what’s going to happen to me if I let loose with her while we’re actually married?

I’ll drown in her, that’s what.

Which is why I’m keeping her at a distance. For now, at least.

Adriano shakes my hand and leaves after that. I head back to Fed Jeweler, even though there’s not much more work to be done. It’s just that this is the only place in the world where I feel comfortable. This business practically raised me like a second father. I sit in the back, pour another drink, and start going through inventory even though everything’s been logged already.

I’m not surprised when the door opens. I look up, expecting Alex, but instead it’s Natalya. My sister slumps down into the chair across from me with a sigh, her pregnancy just barely starting to show. She rests a hand on the top of her belly and studies me, not smiling.

She’s the image of our mother. Blonde, petite, and pretty. Also, a pain in my fucking ass. I love her to death, and I’ll kill for her, but my god, she has caused me so many headaches over the years.

“I hear you finally met her,” Nat says. “How’d it go?”

“I’m sure Dad will tell you all about it.” I grin at her, and she snorts, shaking her head.

“I think Dad would rather throw me off a bridge than have a civil conversation with me.”

“Yeah, well, you ditched out on a wedding, ruined his plans, and got pregnant by my best friend. He’s understandably still coming to grips with it.”

“Seriously, what’d you think of her?”

I glance down at my drink.I thought she was perfect. That’s the problem.“She’s Italian. She’s pretty. She’ll be a perfectly acceptable wife.”

“Wow,” Nat says, eyebrows raising. “The sparks are truly flying.”

“Says the girl that ran out onherarrangement.”

“Fair enough, but come on. Did you guys hit it off at all?”

“She seemed fine. We didn’t exactly have enough time to get to know each other.” Which is only partly true. We had time that night; only we used it fucking like devils instead. “I’m okay, Nat.”

Her expression cracks. “You know how guilty I feel. If I had married Adriano like I was supposed to?—”

“It’s behind us now. Carmie seems decent. We’ll get along.”

We’ll fucking have to because I need her cousin’s muscle. But after my father’s dead? And I’m the head of the Federov family? I’m not so sure if we’ll need to stay together forever.

But that’s a problem for another time.

“If you need anything, you know you can come to me, right?”

I roll my eyes and throw a watch at her. She catches it and throws it back. I let it clatter to the floor. “You’ve been married for like a few months and suddenly you’re an expert.”

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