Page 12 of Fierce Vows

Chapter Four

Secrets Of Cyprus

Willow

Am I a pawn in my husband’sgames?Yes.

Does he use me to throw anyone and everyone off kilter when he wants to get his way?Yes.Is my sexuality just another weapon in his arsenal?Yes it is, and yes, I am.

Do I care?Not one fucking bit.My husband is his own man and as the Don of the Gallo Familia he has to do whatever it takes.And I’m his ace in the hole, the one thing that no one ever expects.It tends to unnerve his competitors and his supporters to find me in every meeting whether I am clothed or naked, and Rafe uses that to his advantage.

It helps that he allows me to make decisions for myself and repays me in orgasms.I know if I ever said I was uncomfortable with a situation, Rafe would go to the ends of the earth to rectify whatever was bothering me.

He uses me the same way I use him.My sexuality is constantly put on display to throw his enemies and his cohorts into disarray, and I use the fear it provides everyone else for him to gain the upper hand whenever needed.Both of us give and take from the other to ensure that our families remain at the top where they belong.

“I heard you met some of the wives,” Regina says as she walks into the lounge where I am reading a book on a ridiculously comfy wine-red sofa.

I take her in.It’s been a while since everything happened and Devon died.She is looking better and finally speaking to me again.Her baby bump grows by the day and although I know she is terrified, she is taking it all in stride, though I suspect the only person who knows is me.Rafe remains oblivious.

“I did.What do you know?”

“Not much.But I always thought that the women in our world knew more than they were saying.”

“That’s an understatement,” I reply with a sigh.“If Armand were still alive, Cyprus would be burnt to the fucking ground.”

“That bad?”

She takes a seat beside me before grabbing one of the chocolate chip biscuits off the tray on the table.

“Worse.The men here have been running rampant.Brothels, drugs, gun running, and more, without paying a tribute to the Gallo Family.”

“Have you told Rafe?”

“Not yet.He knows I know something,” I explain, “but he is giving me time to figure it out.I need to work out how to handle the men without the women or children ending up as collateral damage.”

For the longest time, we sit in silence, both of us trying to figure out a way to fix a mess we didn’t create.

“What would Armand have done?”I ask softly.

Regina laughs, a sad smile crossing her features.“He had a flair for the dramatic as you well know,” she muses.“He would have thrown a party, a ball perhaps, and made an example of those who thought to cross him.”

“That’s perfect!”I jump up and head out of the room in search of Rafe.“Thanks for the help,” I call back as I walk out.

Heading to the den, the one Rafe has commandeered as his office, I knock softly.He doesn’t like working out of his father’s office and I know it’s something we will have to discuss eventually.For now, I leave him to his own devices.

“Enter!”

Opening the door, I take in the two men before me as well as the woman from the brothel.She is dressed much differently, demure.A grey knit dress hits just above her knees with pretty red peep toe heels.Her hair is in a sophisticated updo and her makeup is more natural.

“Wife,” Rafe says with a smile beckoning me to him with a crook of his finger.“This is Suzan.She will be marrying Eduardo.”I know I am supposed to act like I have never met her before.

I smile at her before turning to the man in question.“Marriage?”I ask Eduardo as I stand behind Rafe.

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