Page 9 of Ashes of Sin

“What do you expect of me? We have nothing in common. You’re decades older than me. How is this going to work?” I try to pull out of his arms, but he holds me firmly. Then laughs, sticking his tongue in my ear.

Ugh, gross.

“Whatever I want. You’ll attend events with me, show the world you’re a happy and dutiful wife, and let me fuck you whenever I want.”

My eyes dip to the floor as my heart sinks. This is worse than I thought. Pierce is cruel and doesn’t see me as a young woman with my life ahead of me. In his eyes, and in my parents’ viewpoint, I am his to maneuver and use for his benefit.

“You can’t force me. I have rights,” I argue.

His teeth bare as he grabs my chin and forces his lips to mine.

“Keep up this attitude and I might even demand you give me more children from this cunt of yours.”

He has children?

As my eyes widen, Pierce releases me, drags his fingers over my breast, fondling my cotton covered nipple until it hardens.

“Good. Your body already reacts to me. Youwillenjoy our fucking. Whether you want to or not.”

God, please save me from this torture.

Tears fight for dominance against the nausea rising in the back of my throat, but Pierce simply smirks and walks away.

When I’m alone, I let out a short, guttural noise as I fall back down into the chair. I cannot marry this man my parents are forcing on me. I think I’d rather die.

Little do I know, I'm about to meet his son.

CHAPTER THREE

MADDOX

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I wipe my mouth on the napkin and lean back in my seat. “So, are we going to ignore the elephant in the room or can we just get right to the fucking topic?”

I know they’re dying to bring it up.

So why haven’t they?

Killian lifts his brows as he slices a piece of bacon in half on his plate. He doesn’t bother glancing at me.

Parker sips his coffee, watching me with zero expression. Yeah, he’s an excellent poker player.

Just not as good as me.

Zayne and Travis frown.

I can’t understand why they are pussyfooting around the news. It might not be on the front page ofThe New York Times, but I know they all saw the announcement of my father’s upcoming nuptials to Kyra Fox.

“So, Pierce is getting married. And to a woman more than half his age. Are we surprised?” Killian replies after swallowing his bacon.

He has a point.

I lift my coffee cup and swallow the last of it down while I hold his stare. “No.”

“So, there’s no elephant,” Parker says, silencing his phone when it starts buzzing. “You hate the asshole. It’s clear the woman is a trophy bride for his midlife crisis. That’s what rich, middle-aged men who already have two Lamborghinis and ten Rolex watches do. Your father needs a new toy to show off.”

Is that what this is?

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