Page 25 of Broken Saint

9

Ronin

"Ronin Kavanaugh.” She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips in obvious disdain. “So that was you I saw earlier."

"You don't seem surprised." And she got straight to the point. That was a trait I could admire in anyone I encountered, but especially in a situation like this. The woman who greeted me at the door, however, did not fit with anything Anthony Cullotta had imparted to the family. He'd described a mild and meek girl who'd practically run away from home under the disgrace of giving her virginity away like some worthless trinket.

I saw no meek and mild. But the rest of it…

Well, after what I'd witnessed downstairs, it had me rethinking this whole arranged marriage bullshit. At least when it came to her. The rest of the assignment I'd carry out—in due time.

A trip to Vegas had seemed trite at first, but now I was seeing an opportunity to play a different level of game than this city usually offered.

"I'm not. I googled you before you got here. You are Ronin Kavanaugh, right?"

I nodded. "And you're Catherine Cullotta. Or should I call you Nova?" And more beautiful in person than on her extremely active Instagram. Her status as a public figure was enough to make her a target, but if the press got a hold of her real identity, her career could turn into her worst nightmare. I'd done my research, too.

"For obvious reasons, I prefer Nova." She stepped back and motioned for me to come in. I didn't know whether to be impressed or offended. "You are too trusting. You will need to take better precautions with your safety."

"Would a security system or a hotel lock stop you if you wanted to come in?"

"Of course not. But that doesn't mean it won't help with others. Every extra layer can be a deterrent."

"I guess. Only I was expecting you, and I can't exactly keep you out. So, are you coming in or what?"

I shook my head. I wasn't expecting she'd be happy to meet me under these circumstances, but she was riding a fine line between disrespect and downright hostility. Both of which would be unacceptable in a wife. If I were to change my mind about a marriage, then there would have to be lessons. One taste of my hard, cruel ruthless nature would put an end to that. With that task filed away for later, I followed her into the suite and closed the door behind me.

Catherine—no, Nova suited her much better, and reminded me less of where she came from—was far more beautiful in person than her online pictures revealed, and those were pretty spectacular. Banging body, too. The clothes she wore were expensive and high quality, but as a fashion designer and part time/former model I expected no less. As she led me into her living room, I catalogued all of this information. As well as the layout of her large suite.

The Sinclair spared no expense at their hotel, and especially for their stars, it would seem. I'd had to dig deep to get details on the hotel's finances, but as I refused to make the trip here without knowing every detail about this woman, including her personal financial situation, I'd found what I needed and more.

The more I'd learned, the more I'd been intrigued. I'd also found no information that corroborated her father's story about a boy in high school who stole her innocence. That had been hotly denied by all who remembered her.

Although they did remember quite clearly how her eighteenth birthday party had ended abruptly.

"Feel free to take a seat where you'd like. I assume we will have a lot to discuss. Would you care for a drink?"

I wasn't sure how much I wanted to talk, but I wanted to hear her story. I liked to gather all the information I could before I implemented my plan. From what I had collected to this point, I hoped she didn't end up as collateral damage. But things happened and there were no guarantees. Well death and taxes still came to mind, but those were cliche.

"I'll take a scotch. Something good, if you have it."

She nodded and crossed over to the wet bar. As she poured several fingers into a glass, he watched her carefully. Her perfect body, perfect hair, perfect posture, hell, perfect everything. It all seemed too good to be true. I was already waiting for the catch. I’d had no intention of collecting a bride on this trip. But this woman intrigued me. Especially after what I’d seen in the auditorium this morning. Like me, she was a risk taker. And sexual as fuck. Not to mention submissive.

These were all traits I looked for in a woman. So no, I had not made up my mind about what I was going to with her. Although keeping her, for at least a while, was beginning to appeal. She seemed to have quite the chip on her shoulder and an attitude to match. Breaking her could prove entertaining. I undid the button on my coat and took a seat in one of the club chairs that sat against a wall.

There was also the matter of the man she'd been with this morning. The report on him that I had ordered had not yet returned. But I had no doubt that with the facial recognition that his security firm utilized, it would not take long to know everything about the man who was fucking my supposed fiancée. Either way, this trip was shaping up to be more interesting than I’d first thought.

I might have to spend some time here in the desert. I liked the heat. And the city had decent energy. A little cheap and flashy most of the time, but even I knew there was a lot more to Vegas than met the eye. If I dug deep enough, I would find the underbelly where the real entertainment lived. But first...

She handed me my drink, and I couldn't help but notice the swell of her tits above the top of her dress. I didn't normally leer at every woman who served me a drink, but after what I’d witnessed that morning, I was having a hard time looking at Nova and not seeing the woman with her eyes glazed and her mouth open as she came. Maybe it had been too long since I’d gotten laid or something. Or maybe I just liked knowing that this woman had more to her than I'd expected.

"So, Nova," I started, taking a swallow of my drink and silently approving of her liquor choice. Another point in her favor. "Are you ready to become my wife?"

If not for the color draining from her face, I might have thought the words didn't faze her. However, they did, and I smiled along the edges of my glass as I took another drink.

"Okay, so we're getting right down to business. I appreciate that," she said. Still her face remained stoic, but the slight hesitation in her voice that others might not notice gave her away. Nerves of steel but wrapped around a gentle core. She would be an enigma to figure out and unravel along the way.

"With the way this transaction has been handled, I don't see any reason for us to dance around the topic or bother with certain traditional trappings. Do you?"

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