Page 27 of Twisted Contract

There is a disconcerting look on his face, and I already know the answer. He wanted to hold it against Saunders. “This is all about revenge, isn’t it?”

“I just can’t right now. I need some air.” Claudia walks away toward the front door and opens it, but she’s fucking crazy if she thinks this is over between us. Nothing changes our contract. If any of this is true, it only adds a little icing to the cake. I have my arm hooked around her waist and yank her back.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

“Connor, I just can’t. I need air.”

“Excuse us.” I led her outside toward the back. “Then I’ll go with you, Wife.”

“What? You don’t trust me?”

“I don’t trust your safety right now. I just learned that your father might have done something terrible to my mother. She was loved by everyone here. Do you know how many people would love to see revenge on him? You’re a prime target. As my wife, you’re protected, but I need to make everyone aware of it first.” I pull her into my arms and hold her close.

“I’ve gotten mixed up in more than I can handle, Connor.” God, sometimes her tenderness reminds me of my mother. Unfortunately, my mother was born into this, but luckily for Claudia, this marriage is temporary. She doesn’t belong in this dark world, her delicate beauty and creativity suffocated by our violent darkness.

“Once we reach our goal, our marriage will crumble like many do during complicated times, and we can part ways.”

“Good,” she says with a hiccupped sob.

I hold her until she’s calmed down and then we return to the house. The only one still there is Ian.

“Hey, everyone. I thought you guys could use some time alone, or rather, Jack demanded it. I’m just here to deliver the message. He said that dinner will be prepared at their house at seven to celebrate.”

“Thank you, bro.” Ian pulls me in for a hug.

“And you look beautiful, Claudia. Temporary or not, my brother is a lucky bastard.” He leaves, and I know I’m right because she’s a special woman and if circumstances were different, this might not have been a charade.

Chapter Eleven

Claudia

It’s been hours since our wedding, and Connor has disappeared as if it isn’t our wedding night. Not like it matters. He took me this morning and our marriage was a sham created on a twisted contract of vengeance, but that doesn’t mean I want him out all night screwing other women. In fact, we had a deal. I swear, I’ll rip his huge dick off.

I swiped my phone off his ass when he hugged me outside in the backyard. The fucker thought he was slick, but I noticed the pretty pink case sticking out of his pocket. He chuckled and said he wanted to keep track of my father’s whereabouts so he didn’t disturb the wedding. I understand that because it would have made it difficult too, but he could have just asked for it. Still, I locked the fucker and then tucked it away afterward.

Connor doesn’t call me once while he’s gone. No, he left me in his enormous house with at least two guards that I noticed and a hot young housekeeper in tight black yoga pants who has given me strange looks since I arrived.

I don’t like her one bit. A gnawing feeling hits the pit of my stomach, and I wonder if he’s banged her, and she’s pissed because I’m here now. Right now, I can’t worry about that because I’m scrolling through all my damn emails and messages. Ugh, it’s insane how much stuff I have to do in the next few days. I hear the front door downstairs, and I wait for my piece-of-work husband to make it up here.

It’s five in the morning, and Connor’s finally strolling in. I try to contain my anger and the simmering jealousy that he’s probably been out with someone else. He opens the bedroom door gingerly so as not to wake me, but I’m sitting in the chairby the window with my fingers steepled. “I need to go back to work, Connor. I have obligations that don’t require just keeping my legs open only for you.”

“Did you just say only for me? I’m your husband. Your legs are only open to me. Anyone else will be a dead motherfucker.” His hand wraps around my throat and I’m off my feet, pinned to the bed in seconds. “Who the fuck do you think you’d run off to now that I popped that fucking cherry?” His eyes darken and his lips are firm. “Mirren?”

“I misspoke. I’m tired and grumpy because I’m all alone with nothing to do when I have a career that needs attention with less than two days left before the orders are due. Besides, so what if I said what I said? We’re not really married, and you’re not keeping to your vows.”

He tugs on my hair, staring deep into my eyes with a deadly glare. My arousal is spinning all over my body.

“You’re pushing it, Claudia. This fucking ring says it’s real. Just because it’s temporary doesn’t mean it isn’t real. As long as it’s on your finger, neither of us is fucking anyone else. Do you understand? I work, so keep those claws tucked in. My hard dick might as well have your name tatted on it because it’s yours.” He rolls his hips, rubbing his length along my seam, causing my body to shake.

“I work too, and I have people counting on their orders being delivered.”

“Look, I get that, but it’s not like I can let you just go back to the bakery. They’re watching and waiting for you.”

“I have three orders pending and many more waiting for me to respond to them about my availability. Apparently, the pictures of you and I on the internet have created a stir.”

“Plus, you have another cake to make.”

“I haven’t forgotten Nora’s cake.” I roll my eyes at him.

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