Page 10 of Thorns of Deceit
There was no response, just a light snore, and I knew there’d be no getting through to her tonight. She probably wouldn’t notice I was gone. It’d taken her three days to realize that I’d moved back home for the summer.
I just wished, more than anything, that she had been sober and truly present today. I’d needed her more than I ever had before. I was so lost and terrified. I’d witnessed a mayor beaten, was forced into an unwanted marriage with a stranger, and now, I was trapped in his grip. What would Aiden Callahan do to me? How the hell was I going to escape this nightmare?
I was just a teenager with big dreams, and now those dreams had been shattered, replaced by the stark reality of survival. Staying alive was my only concern now.
“Ready?” I startled at the voice directly behind me and shot to my feet, then whirled around. Aiden towered over me, eating up all the space between us, an unreadable look on his face.
I gnawed on my bottom lip, the sting of his bite a reminder that I was now his wife.
“I think I should stay here and?—”
“No.”
I blinked at his curt tone and repeated slowly, “No?”
“You heard me,” he said with a slight grind to his teeth. “You’re my wife now and you’ll be sleeping where I sleep.”
My cheeks heated and my mouth parted in shock. It took several moments for my mind to stop spinning wildly inappropriate images and for me to come to my senses.
“We don’t even know each?—”
“I’m not talking about sex, Raven,” he cut me off impatiently. “You’ll sleep under my roof and that’s final. Now, let’s go.”
“But my mom?—”
“In her state, I doubt she’ll notice what planet you’re on, never mind which home. Whatever you need, I’ll have it purchased and delivered.”
And with that, he turned on his heel and headed out, clearly expecting me to follow.
AIDEN
I guided my wife out of the shitty apartment and toward my waiting car.
To her credit, she didn’t falter or utter another peep.
I opened the car door and she climbed into the vehicle, neatly tucking herself against the door while waiting for me to join her. My chauffeur set off the minute I clicked my seat belt, the privacy and soundproof screen coming up.
Tapping my fingers against my knee, I studied Raven across the center console. Despite the fact that her face was tilted down and away from me, I couldn’t help but notice she was a natural beauty. Too fucking young for me, but a heartbreaker nonetheless.
After learning Raven’s identity, I’d looked into her family history. In my defense, it was important to be aware of one’s potential threats and weaknesses. Her family history was relatively blank, but only if you didn’t know how to dig.
Lyons wasn’t even listed on her birth certificate. And her mother… well, who knew the story between her and Duncan, but it was clear he hadn’t stepped up to the plate.
“Why were you working at my strip club?” I hadn’t meant to ask the question, but there was no taking it back now.
She stiffened and then responded with a question herself. “Why does anyone work? Obviously, I needed money.”
“Well, you don’t need to work there anymore. Whatever you need, just ask.”
Her nostrils flared. “I don’t want your money.”
I almost smiled because it was quite refreshing to have a woman refuse money, let alone get angry at the offer.
“And I don’t want my wife working at a strip club,” I stated matter-of-factly.
“I was a waitress,” she protested, undignified.
“Around men who like to ogle and touch. Besides, you’ve been taking my money already. Who do you think funds the employees’ paychecks?”
