Page 25 of Devilish Prince

I follow behind him, thinking of how Sofia’s medical training just flips on like a switch as soon as she sees someone hurting. It’s a gut instinct that most first responders probably have. Hell it’s probably a knee-jerk reaction of humanity, except for people like me. I stand back watching them squirm like the insects they are, wondering if their suffering is so painful it’s leaving mental scars too. It’s what sets people like her apart from people like me. She’s a good human.

I’m a beast.

“Our doctor has a mouth on her, doesn’t she?” Dad enters the living room and his dark features are cast in light again. The room is in a state of chaos, probably from the flurry of activity when my men brought the dying Russian into the home. No one told Sofia the man wasn’t loyal to us. We simply told her to fix him and pointed her in the right direction. This is how I know she’s a good human.

“That she does,” I agree, joining him for a splash of bourbon, a nice dusty from the mid twentieth century, aged in a wine barrel at a vineyard on the west coast. The first sip is sweet but the bite warms my throat. “And when I fuck her and she fights back it’s sensational.”

“Well, I prefer my women docile—obedient even.” He turns to watch me over the rim of his glass with guile in his eyes. “Are you certain she is the one? There are a dozen more prospects across the country.”

When my father presented me with the idea of healing my reputation and fixing the family name by marrying into a good reputation I thought he was insane. My reputation of being a killer and a ruthless businessman is all I need. I control the players in this city the way a master plays chess, but it doeshave its downsides. It’s expensive paying off these reporters and police officials constantly. And behaving is out of the question.

But if I were married to the right person, a person who had something to offer besides money, I could keep my money and build my reputation as the benevolent overlord. Not the sadist who pulls strings. Sofia will change everything for me when we inevitably wed because all of humanity dies someday. Every human is vulnerable and fragile. And the only thing more expensive than paying for silence is paying for medical care.

“It’s a win-win…” I sip the bourbon again then continue. “Sofia wants a career. She wants to support her brother. She wants to cure humanity. When she sees the benefit behind doing as we say, she will comply.”

“But there are others,” he says, raising an eyebrow.

I’ve seen the others, middle-aged frumpy women who are either unattractive or already married. Sofia is a gem. “She is the one.” I nod at him, my decision made for me the instant Norman delivered the good doctor to that warehouse to save me. They targeted her because of her expertise in medicine and on the word of a half-dozen other medical professionals already stolen off the street. Her name was on every tongue.

And when I opened my eyes to her beauty, I knew she was the one. There is no one else I will accept. And now that I know how fantastic she is through and through, I will settle for nothing less.

“So be it.” He downs his drink and sets the tumbler on the counter. Turning toward the window, he asks, “How long until you enforce her cooperation then?”

I clear my throat. I’ve been patient with her for a long time now. I never intended to force her into marriage. I believed she would accept the agreement and everything would naturally evolve. I had to go and pick the one woman with a fucking moral conscience who wants to save everyone, even at the cost of her career. Her hangup over Holder losing his job isn’t something I anticipated. Any other human would jump at the chance to have that position at her age, and her refusing it is a curveball.

“Give it time.” I keep my back to the window but watch as the shadows darken his face even with the sunlight bathing his expression. My father is a shrewd man. He doesn’t mess around, and he’s taught me not to mess around either. But Sofia is delicate. There is a way to handle her that doesn’t involve the same brute force tactics we’ve used on others.

“Make her comply, Lorenzo.” He turns to stare at me, imposing his harshest expression. “This is not how we operate. You’re growing soft on me.” He narrows his eyes and I raise my chin a notch. He taught me respect and honor, but he also taught me to not take shit from anyone. And that “anyone” right now is him.

“I will handle this my way, and it will be done.”

His nostrils flare as his jaw tightens. I expect a smack or even a harsh rebuke, but neither one comes. He’s preparing me to lead and if he wants to have confidence in my ability to lead, he has to give me space to make these choices on my own. He’s testing me, seeing if I will follow in his footsteps, but I’m not a follower. I blaze new trails and I know how to handle Miss Sofia Carter well enough.

Dad walks out without another word and I finish my drink. The way to Sofia is always through her heart or her pussy, but sex isn’t working to convince her of the right choice, so it has to beher heart. I know this because when I put a bleeding man in front of her she acts swiftly, without coercion—or with minimal coercion. And the only thing that I know means more to her than anything else is her brother.

“Norm!” I call out, then I wait. I know he’s busy, but this can’t wait. A dead man can.

Moments later, Norman walks into the living room to join me. “Yeah, boss.”

“Prepare the guest room as quickly as we can. We are going to have company soon.” I turn to face him and he nods.

“Got a lot of cleaning. I have to call our guys. How quickly is quickly?” He stands with shoulders squared as usual. The man is painfully loyal. If I asked him to clean that room by himself in one hour with his own toothbrush he would, and then he’d brush his teeth with it when he was done. It’s a funny thing—gratitude. He believes he owes me his life, and I am content with that.

“Forty-eight hours will suffice.” I look down my nose at him. New mattress, new linens, new carpet. No trace of death. And get rid of that horrible scent.”

“Of course, sir,” he says as if making mental notes on what I’m saying. These are all standard things, but I learned a long time ago to never make assumptions that people will follow instructions blindly. Everyone needs a reminder.

“Anything else, sir?”

“Yes…” I breathe in deep and lay out my plan for him. “I’d like you to stop by Dr. Carter’s apartment after she is safely at work.” I wave my hand as I talk. “Leave Josh or Elden there to keep an eye on her… You focus on the brother. I want him packedup and brought here. Now, don’t forget anything he needs. His medications, medical supplies, bed—whatever his nurse tells you he needs.”

“We’re kidnapping her brother?” Norm narrows his eyes at me. This is a gutsy move for sure, but it is the only play I have left that doesn’t require force. Sofia must see that I am in charge and the only way to do that is by making her believe it in her heart.

“Yes, but they won’t think of it that way.” I grin. “You instruct his nurse that Calvin is being moved to my property at Sofia’s wishes so he will be closer to the finest care. We will spare no expense to make him and his nurse comfortable for the transportation. We will provide the best medical supplies and such.” I press my fingers together as I see the lights come on in Norm’s eyes.

“Yes, sir. Anything else, sir?”

I walk toward the window and look out, picturing what it must have looked like to my neighbors when Sofia’s tits were pressed against this pane of glass overlooking the street. All the things I’ve done to this woman and she keeps coming back for more. That’s how I know Calvin means more to her than anything in this world. If she refuses to take that job for me, I know she’ll do it for him.

---