Page 98 of Devil's Bride

“We’ll be fine for a couple days.”

He grinned and his eyes reflected amusement. “She got to you. Didn’t she?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Didn’t she tell you she feels like the castle is a prison?”

I stared down at my drink before sucking down the entire amount. “Some prison. She has everything at her disposal including a staff who’ll do anything for her.”

“Uh-huh. With thick cinderblock walls. I can see how she’d feel that way, but suddenly leaving town is a dangerous stretch.”

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

“In hopes of her being compliant. Right? That’s what this is all about? You’re playing with her.”

“That’s not my intention.”

“Are you certain about that?” He stared at me and I looked away, shaking my head. He couldn’t understand. “I might be wrong, but from what I’ve seen, she plays a damn good game of chess. Maybe the best thing to do is to be honest with her.”

“I have been honest, more so than I’ve been with anyone. She’s in control of half my goddamn company.”

“As you are with hers, but that’s not the honesty I’m talking about.”

Why did I have a feeling my lieutenant was baiting me almost the same way she’d done several times? “Spit it out, Kruz, because I know you’re dying to do that.”

“Tell her how you feel.”

“I have,ad nauseam. She won’t listen to me.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

Kruz got in my face. “You care about her.”

“Only her safety.”

“Why are you lying to yourself? Why bother? If I can read you like a book, she certainly can. That woman makes mincemeat of our men and that includes you.”

“Fuck you,” I hissed.

“I’m just saying you’ll go a long way if you tell her the truth versus acting like some brooding head on a dick.”

His expressions were annoying as fuck but made me laugh. “If you were any other man, you’d be on the floor bleeding right about now.”

“Good thing I’m not another man.” He pushed my shoulder. “Go dance with her. Allow her to see the softer side of you.”

“I don’t have a softer side.”

“Bullshit. Every time that woman walks into a room, you light up like a firecracker. You can deny it all you want, but you’ll just be continuing the lies. Besides. She cares about you too. You two fight like cats and dogs but peel away the layers and you are perfect for each other. Of course that’s unless you keep lying to her and she ends up hating you for the rest of her life.”

“It’s better if she hates me.”

“Why, so you won’t be forced to endure the pain if something happens to her?” Kruz asked.

I stared at him.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Benito and I will take you to the airport when you’re ready. Right now, I need a drink so I can claw my way through the thick bullshit.”

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