Page 50 of Beautiful Scar

“Does it have to be like that though?” I ask, genuinely curious.

“Everywhere we turn, we have enemies. There are people who want to tear my family to pieces. The Brotherhood is the pinnacle of power in Baltimore, but it wasn’t always like that. We clawed our way to the top and pissed off a lot of people in the process.”

I look away and remember the blast of the car bomb, the screech of ripped steel, the shouts and alarms. “Is that who tried to kill me?”

“The McGraths,” he says with deep disdain. “They’re a relatively new Irish clan. Their father was a powerful politician who built himself a little criminal empire. When he died ten years back, he left it all to his sons, Liam and Seamus. Liam’s the head of the business while Seamus runs their street-level muscle. Similar to the way Arsen and I split up the Brotherhood.” He shifts closer and puts a hand on my leg. I stare at his fingers, thick and callused and strong, crossing the line into my space. “You don’t have to worry about them,” he says softly.

And I believe him. I don’t know why—clearly someone’s trying to kill me—but he makes me feel this strange sense of safety.

Like he’d die to protect me.

A rush of desire comes over my body. Screw being sore. Let it hurt. I want my husband, and what’s wrong with that? There’s nothing improper about having sex with him whenever I want to. That’s the whole point of marriage, right?

To fuck like rabbits without any shame?

I mean, there’s probably more to it, but right now I’m not thinking clearly.

But before I can open my mouth to invite him into my room, he pushes himself to his feet with a soft grunt.

“Vito tells me you did a lot of work tonight,” he says, gathering up my things. “You left your room to help him carry packages. Thank you for doing that.”

“Oh.” I blink in surprise. “It’s not a big deal.”

“He won’t ever ask you for help, but he’s not as young as he used to be. I really appreciate you, and I’m happy you left your room.” Tigran smiles slightly and turns away. “That’s just between us, by the way. The man still has his pride.”

“I won’t,” I whisper, pulse hammering between my legs.

Why don’t I say it? Why can’t I tell him to come into my bedroom? I know he’d do it—he made it clear that he wants me. Physically, at least. I’m sure if I said I was ready to sleep with him again, he’d throw that tray on the floor, drag me to the bed, and fuck me mindless.

I just can’t do it. I can’t say the words.Please come fuck me tonight, you big scary monster. I’m too embarrassed and weak to open my stupid mouth. Instead, I watch him walk off into his apartment, disappearing around the corner, and then he’s gone.

“Ah, shit,” I groan, bumping my head once against the wall. “Ouch, you idiot.” I get up, close the door, and rub my skull, grumbling to myself.

I really need to find a way to yank the stick from my ass.

Otherwise, I’ll never be able to just ask for what I want.

Chapter 14

Tigran

“Honestly, Tigran, is this really necessary?” Aunt Sona scowls at me as she empties her purse on the dining room table. “This is beyond paranoid.”

“Can’t be too careful,” I grunt as I go through her stuff. “That’s a lot of lipstick. Six tubes? Nine? What the hell do you need all that for?”

“If you’re going to invade my personal space, at least try not to embarrass me as well,” she snaps, shoving her things away. There’s nothing interesting aside from a weird makeup obsession.

“If you’d prefer, I can have one of my men do this search?”

“I’d like to see you try,” she says, glaring hard. That woman may be aging, but she’s still got a damn fire in her. I’m having fun, even though she wants to kill me.

“Would you two stop?” Arsen says, sounding exhausted. “Can we please get this over with?”

I roughly pat my brother down. He shakes his head the whole time, his jaw working with frustration.

“My wife was nearly killed by a car bomb a few days ago. She was on her way to a meeting with you two. Security is understandably fucking tight right now.”

“We’re the last two people in the world that want her dead,” Arsen points out when I’m done frisking him. No weapons, as requested, which is actually kind of touching. My brother doesn’t like going anywhere without at least a gun.

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