Page 14 of Dance with the Devil

Maria didn’t believe that.

“To answer your question, a lot of the rumors about Draven are true. You can ask me for examples and I’ll do my best to answer them, but there are some things I don’t speak of.”

Did she want to know the truth from him, or from Draven?

“Is he really from Hell?” Maria asked. That was one of the most elaborate rumors, that he had come straight from the depths of Hell, and that he was sent here to cause nothing but chaos and destruction. It was all a little far-fetched, and she struggled with what to believe.

The Boss’s laughter deepened. She felt her cheeks heat as he slapped his thigh.

She waited.

“Wow, Maria, you don’t start the questions small, do you?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Draven believes he came from a living hell, how is that? We all know he’s not the Devil. That he’s not some kind of otherworldly being. He’s a man. A man on a mission, that’s all. Loyal as well. It’s why you’ll always be safe, Maria. You swear your loyalty to me, to Draven, and he will make sure you live like a queen.”

“I don’t need to live like a queen.”

The Boss nodded. “Again, another reason youwillbe. You don’t expect anything more than your fair share. Don’t worry, you’ll do good.”

Maria stared at him and still couldn’t quite put her finger on what was so familiar and strange about him. When he looked back, she forced herself to avert her gaze so she didn’t appear rude.

“Is that it?”

“I already figured when people said he could kill people with his bare hands, that it was true.”

“Yes, that is true.”

There was silence. Maria was used to silence, she liked it. It was peaceful and gave her a chance to think.

“Do you have any other questions for me?” he asked.

She opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again.

“What? Just spit it out. Let me have it.”

This all seemed strange to her. The Boss was a man of power. He was not a man to be trifled or messed with. In most circumstances, she would rather avoid him. “I want to be a good wife to Draven,” she said. That was the truth. He’d saved her.

He could have ignored her, walked out, left her to die, but he hadn’t. Not only had he saved her, he had punished that woman who’d hurt her. She wanted to be a good wife to him so he wouldn’t regret taking a chance on her. It was silly of her to even think about it, but she couldn’t stop.

“Then be honest with him. Give him the space he needs, but not too much. Don’t allow him to be alone for too long. Try and make him smile.”

“He smiles?” she asked.

The Boss nodded. “When he feels comfortable. Above all else, treat him like the king he is.”

Maria frowned. She had no idea what he meant. Draven would always be the king in his home. People feared him.

“Don’t fear him,” The Boss said. “Talk to him. Treat him like the man who is your husband.”

Maria didn’t know how she was going to do that, but it was a start. She had to treat Draven with respect, loyalty, and possibly, if he would accept it, with love.

She didn’t know if he was capable of love, but she was going to try.

****

It was a fucking soldier. An arrogant, piece of shit soldier, who’d escaped the first attack twenty years ago. He’d disappeared into the streets. He had a drug problem, and once he heard the rumors about the new boss and the family, he’d done some digging.

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