Page 78 of Devil's Bride

“Excellent.”

“Am I missing anything from your end?” she asked coyly.

“Not that I can think of.” I sat back in my seat and thought about her question. “One thing. You’re a very smart girl. You know you have a target on your back. You will learn to follow rules.”

“Your rules?”

“My rules because I know what happens to pretty girls with doe eyes.”

She frowned and leaned over my desk. “I don’t have doe eyes. They were opened wide a long time ago. Besides, I thought you said if I became your wife, I’d be safe.”

“To a point. But trust me, that point will be challenged.”

The way she sucked in her breath and glared at me made me think she was going to change her mind. She had no idea how far I was prepared to go to keep her safe or what I’d need to do. She also couldn’t understand that there were several men who would stop at nothing to find a way to get under my skin.

I hadn’t lied to her that she would have a certain protective layer around her, but not for an extended timeframe with theMoroccans. They couldn’t care less about the sanctity of a single rule played by most cartels and crime syndicates. Not that the various leaders and members hadn’t broken that seal of honor from time to time, but marriage was usually held in high regard.

Sadly, I had a feeling that was all about to crash and burn throughout Spain and perhaps other countries as well. Yes, times were changing and not necessarily for the better.

“Then we’ll both have rules, Jago. I’m not going to sit around and play your dutiful wife. I don’t cook very well and I certainly have no intention of waiting for you when you handle the deals or the issues with anyone who comes up against us.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning, I’ll be by your side. Partners completely. One hundred percent.”

I leaned over my desk far enough she almost flinched. I almost reached out and grabbed her by the throat, jerking her over the surface, but I resisted. She wasn’t in the mood for sexual games and we didn’t have the time.

“I’m curious, princess. You can wield a knife like a professional killer, but what happens when you’re confronted with someone who refuses to give needed information? Will you flinch? Will you ask me to handle the situation? Do you even know how to handle a gun?”

Her smile was cunning. “Let me see. As you told me last night, killing will become easier. While using a knife is messy, it’s also personal and I think there are times that personal is exactly what’s needed. You can ask my men how I handled being talked down to. I think I broke the soldier’s wrist… As far as a gun,why don’t you try me since my father deemed me a prodigy marksman.”

Her statement should rile me, but it had the opposite effect. I was pushed into a moment where I wanted to take her up on her offer after fucking her across my desk.

However, having her by my side during the more tactical aspects of business would make it seem as if I’d lost some control to my wife. “I don’t know if allowing you to be involved in the day-to-day field operations is in either of our best interests.”

“Field operations? Is that what we’re calling it now?” She laughed heartedly. “As I said, if that’s not acceptable then neither is our alliance. It’s entirely up to you what you decide. But don’t take too long. I, like you, have no patience.” She rose to her feet.

“You’re a spoiled brat.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should.” I sensed she still had more on her mind. “What is it?”

“I’ll want a dress. I’m not suggesting something formal and long, but I refuse to get married even to you in a pair of jeans.”

While the beautiful woman was more of a badass than a significant number of men I’d worked with or had the pleasure of killing, at the end of the day she was still all woman.

“We can arrange that.”

“Arrange. That’s how life in thisprofessionwill always be, right? We need to arrange me going anywhere with guards and guns.”

“Think of the pros instead of the cons. You have money. You’ll never need to worry about putting food on the table or paying your bills. Our combined holdings will include four resort homes. We can go anywhere at any time without worrying about transportation issues. We’ll have power and influence that will allow us to control anyone in the country.” I tilted my head, waiting eagerly for her reply.

“On the flipside, the windows in the homes and cars are bulletproof because at any time or day or night a sharpshooter could attempt to assassinate any member of the… alliance. Guards must be assigned at all times, including when there would be intimate moments. Bella can’t have a normal life. She’ll be sequestered to remain in a compound, so she doesn’t become the next victim. And my brother is determined to follow in my father’s footsteps in chasing the thrill of annihilating enemies. I think the cons outweigh the pros, unless I’ve suddenly develop a warped mind like yours.”

“Now, I’ll take that as a compliment, Genevieve. I’m a cautious man. That’s why I’ve lived so long.”

She started clapping, shaking her head while she did. “Then congratulations, Jago. You must be the happiest and most content man in the world. You certainly covet power and wealth. Do you purposely keep a stack of euros in the house and regularly wriggle on your bed over the large denominations? I bet you do.” After grabbing her notes, her abrupt turn and quick walk toward the door pulled on the possessive and controlling nature of my personality. No one walked away unless I dismissed them.

---