Page 17 of Wicked Angel

“Too bad for you,” I replied testily. “I am not one of your men, Miss Price.”

It’d be quick. Just a snap of the neck and she wouldn’t be able to annoy me again. Then again, she was Raff’s daughter and the sister of my betrothed. So, regardless of her irritating and licentious manner, I clenched my fists and remained still.

“You know, you might be engaged toEvangeline.” She sneered her sister’s name, practically cursing it. “But you should know, she’s nothing like the type of woman that can handle you.”

“And just what would you know about that?” I snapped.

With a grin, Jackie sauntered forward to close the distance between us. “A man of your experience,” she began, “needs a woman who can give you pleasure. Evangeline is hardly a woman at all. She's a virgin, and if you're as good as I’ve heard you are, then you know very well a girl like her wouldn’t make a very good wife to a boss. This business is cutthroat. You need strong alliances. And mysister?” She scoffed, waving a hand. “She's going to get eaten alive.”

One thing was clear from Jackie’s words—she saw the Price Family as something that didn’t belong in her sister’s hands. Jealousy, pure and simple, swam in her dark eyes. Hunger. Greed. Everything that I could understand. Jacquelina Price desired power of her own and she was bone-deep pissed that her sister had been chosen instead of her.

There was a bloodthirstiness in her. This attempt at seduction reeked of desperation. She was, no doubt, as likely to stick a knife in my back as she would an enemy and I quickly realized just how different the two sisters truly were. I’d seen it before, both during the funeral all those years ago and in Raff’s office, but this? This was up close and personal. It was for all the stakes.

“I have no intention of choosing a different wife,” I spoke the words slowly, letting each one land as she stared back at me. The rejection was clear and her lips twisted when my meaning hit. I leaned down closer, my hand snapping out when she tried to take a step back. I gripped her wrist, tightening until her lips parted on a hiss.

“I won’t let anything happen to her.” The words were as much a warning as they were a declaration. “If anyone tries to harm her—to try and take my pawn from me…” I twisted her twist and jerked her arm, spinning until Jackie’s back was to my chest. She yelped as I pulled upward, straining the muscles of her arms as I pressed her thumb to her spine. “They will regret it.” Her chest pumped up and down as she breathed harshly. “Are we clear?”

A moment passed and then another. Jackie tipped her head back and looked at me. Surprisingly, there wasn’t fear in her gaze but more interest. “I would never think of hurting my sister, Mr. Belmonte.”

Lie. “Answer me,” I commanded.

After another moment, and with a deep breath, she nodded. “Of course, Mr. Belmonte, all clear,” she said, stepping back.

I released her abruptly and took my own step back, straightening my suitcoat with a scowl. Her perfume was tingling in my nostrils, too sweet to be attractive. “Good.” I turned, not giving her time to respond as I walked away, leaving her standing in front of the Price Mansion. Alone.

* * *

The breeze waswarm as it whipped around me. Neither Raff nor I had spoken yet, willing to peruse the streets for a while. My gaze was focused on Angel as she scanned the different stalls with a curious gaze and soft frown. As she walked, her hips swayed back and forth. Her round ass was molded by a skirt that swished around her thighs—thighs that I very much wanted to get between even then. Unlike her sister, I found her movements to be naturally enticing. Jacquelina tried hard to be the seductress, but Angel was tempting without the effort. Her brows were knitted together in thought, almost as if she were contemplating each item for sale, but her attention continued to dart back to me.

Good,I smirked,I should be what’s on her mind.

“So,” Raff started, cutting off my train of thought, “you seem to be quite content with your choice.” He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

“Not sure what gave you that impression,” I stated, knowing full well that I wasn’t hiding my staring.

He burst out laughing, his left hand pressed into his stomach as if that could contain the loud chortling. “Yeah, you're about as obvious as a brightly painted wall in a funeral home,” he challenged. “I am quite glad to see that she will have someone to protect her.” His words were so quiet that no one but me could hear him.

“What makes you say that?” I asked, already knowing the answer. It was apparent when I first laid eyes on her, but hearing it from her father was different. More personal.

“Angel is not like others in our family or those we do business with. She's soft and caring, and I know that that kind of innocence can get ripped away by the wrong people.”

“Does that include from her own sister?” I inquired. Her earlier attempt at seduction was still seared in my mind, my anger still simmering from her games. Raff sighed softly, rubbing a hand on his jaw.

“Jacquelina is … well-versed in what this family is and what we do. She’s always been ambitious and she doesn’t quite understand why Evangeline tries to distance herself. Though to be fair, I believe I may have made the mistake of letting my youngest live as sheltered as she has in her own bubble. Not only from the brashness of her sister but for her own safety as well. It was too difficult after losing my wife to bring our Angel into such a … violent lifestyle. She was pure and unhindered from the dangers of our enemies, but I think it was more my own selfishness to keep her that way.”

“Is that why you chose me?” I asked, a sliver of anger building in my veins at the thought of someone putting their hands onmyAngel.

“One of the reasons, yes. But I also know that you wouldn’t hurt her. Not like a lot of other men,” he clarified when I cocked a brow at him.

There were sick thoughts that had popped into my head when I was first offered her; now that she was mine though, I would rather mold her willingly. To have her crave my cock like I already craved her sweet pussy.

“You know, speaking of being the head of the family,” I started, tucking the thoughts about Angel away. For now. “I did hear some gossip from two of your guards when I was leaving the estate earlier.” I gave him a run-down of what had happened, recapping what I had heard. “As I’m sure you can guess, I would rather not risk any possible threats to our deal.” Raff’s lips had thinned the longer I talked, his friendly demeanor vanishing. As soon as I finished explaining, he leaned over, whispering to his bodyguard low enough that I couldn't hear him.

“With a family like this, there are always enemies,” he offered after he was done speaking to one of the three bodyguards. The bulky man turned to make a call. “And while I trust my men implicitly, you might be correct in the transfer of power rattling some cages.”

“Better to be safe than sorry, I can imagine.”

“Don’t worry, it will be taken care of,” Raff told me firmly.

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