Page 74 of Savage Promises

My jaw tightens. “I would’ve done what was necessary.”

“Oh,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

I step closer, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. “But I would have been thinking about you. Wishing it was you. Now I got my wish. And in one week, I’ll show you just how much.”

I leave her standing there stunned, as I walk away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Shane

The morning of my wedding, I’m in Griffin’s home office, seated in front of his desk next to Kai Powers, thefamilylawyer.

The air feels thin and it’s hard to breathe. But not from the dread of marrying a woman I don’t want. Just the opposite. Today, I’m getting the woman I’ve always wanted. I’ve beenwaitingfor this day to happen. To become a reality.

But first...business calls.

Griffin stares pensively at me. “Shane, you can’t marry Lennox until we address a few things.” He nods at Kai, who places a stapled set of papers on the desk in front of me.

The thickness of it makes my jaw tick and I curse inwardly.

“A prenup?” I ask, my voice colder than I intend.

“Aye,” Griffin replies, unflinching. “It’s standard given our wealth.”

I glance at him suspiciously. “Ava didn’t sign one.”

“That was different.” Griffin sits back and studies me, like he’s surprised I’d bring up his wife in the same context. “Ava and I married to stop a war. You’re marrying to protect and expand our empire.”

My fists clench on the armrests of the chair. I don’t like the insinuation that my marriage is anything other than permanent and the fulfillment of an ache that nearly unraveled me. “What are the parameters?”

Kai flips the pages since I haven’t touched them. “It’s straightforward. You both keep ownership of what you bring into the marriage. If things don’t work out, she’s entitled to a very basic settlement. Nothing excessive,nothing that will tempt her loyalty.”

They’ll call me a gold digger.

Lennox didn’t want to take a necklace. She’s not in this for the money.

“That’s not happening,” I say curtly, motioning for a pen. “Noneof that is happening. Lennox is mine. And she’sstayingmine.”

I grab the pen and quickly sign both copies. Shoving them inside my suit jacket, I say coldly, “I’lltake this useless piece of crap to her.”

“Good.” Griffin looks relieved as I stand up to leave. “And Shane?”

I pause at the door. “Aye?”

“Have fun tonight.”

I slam the door behind me, not bothering to respond. I plan to have the best fucking night of my life.

With my wife.

THE DRIVE TO THE HISTORICchapel in The Cloisters feels like it’s taking longer than it should. Since Trace and Shea were married here, it’s been added to Shea’s Diamond Wedding Package. I didn’t care anything about the particulars when I was supposed to marry Neve. Then with the last-minute change of my bride to Lennox, I requested this small and intimate setting to show what she means to me.

I’m getting everything I want.

I think.

When I arrive, I get out and shake the hands of the guests who are waiting outside the nave. I find out where Lennox is and ignore the discouraging looks about seeing the bride before the ceremony. At the door, I knock butdon’t bother waiting for an invitation to go inside.

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