Page 66 of Devil Mine

Tess

The Rolls has two opposing sets of bench seats that face each other. I stumble onto one, crawling to the other end of it in my dress until I’m pressed against the door on the opposite side.

I’m surprised to find a man sitting facing me. He looks as startled by my sudden appearance as I am by his, but gives no clue as to his identity.

I notice he has a white collar, but don’t have the time to process him or that information before Thiago follows me into the car and slams the door shut behind him. The windows are blacked out and that, combined with his massive, stormy presence, makes the space feel like it shrinks down around us.

“Father,” Thiago says, ignoring me. “Proceed.”

“Father?” I question.

My head whips back to the man. More precisely, my gaze drops to his collar and the dots finally connect in my head.

“Jefe,” he says, inclining his head deferentially.

“What’s going on?” Panic stretches the edges of my voice, a hint of mania shining through.

“Get on with it,” Thiago clips impatiently. “Just skip to the important part.”

The man clears his throat.

“Do you, Thiago da Silva, take this woman, Tess Noble, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Horror dawns as my suspicions are confirmed. This is a priest and Thiago intends to have us married this very instant.

“Hold on—”

“I do.”

I gasp, my gaze pinging back and forth between the two men. “No!”

Thiago’s hand wraps around my wrist and he tugs me until I fall against him. My chest touches his, my wide eyes clashing with his narrowed, angry ones.

“Remember your promise,” he orders.

I’ll come willingly.

“Do you, Tess Noble, take this man, Thiago da Silva, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

I hadn’t known what I was signing up for.

I thought I’d have more time.

“Why are you doing this?” I plead.

Thiago’s hand wraps once more around my throat, the tattooed collar literally and figuratively closing with the gesture and shackling me for good this time.

“So you never run from me again,” he growls. “Now say the words.”

I feel like I’m on fire. The air is both insufficient and suffocating. I’m gasping for breath, considering my options and fighting against the inevitable even when I know it’s a losing battle. There is no escape.

“I do,” I whisper, barely audibly.

“Louder.”

“I do!” I snap, eyes blazing with fury as they fly up to meet his.

But I only find deep satisfaction burning in his irises. “Yeah,” he purrs. “You do.”

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