Page 29 of Captive Bride

“In general? Maybe. With the Capulet’s little princess? Fuck no.”

Merc’s eyes find me intensely, staring daggers. He says, “You need to think this through, man. You’re fucking playing with fire.”

Merc doesn’t know the half of it.

I’m not playing with fire; I’m fondling a fucking atom bomb.

The smallest slip-up, the whole city goes up in flames.

I nod my understanding to Merc, unsure of what else to do. He knows as well as I that this is a recipe for disaster. What he doesn’t know may be even more important.

The depth of my feelings for her feel tightly bunched in my chest.

I bite my tongue, keeping any further thoughts of Isobel Capulet to myself. There’s no point in voicing the maelstrom raging inside my mind. I can’t make sense of it, so they damn sure won’t be able to.

All I know is that the moment I laid my eyes on her, she belonged to me.

Even one kiss was enough to make me feel possessive beyond all sanity.

I can feel it—white-hot fire spreading through me. It tells me that I have to have her. She has to be mine.

Otherwise, I’ll be consumed entirely.

I finish my whiskey in one long drink, feeling my thoughts click into place as I do.

“I have a plan.” I say, my voice dripping with a confidence I don’t quite feel.

All eyes are on me again as I lean forward, face set in determination.

“Tell us,” Benny says, conspiratorially.

“We’re going back tonight.” I say, plan solidifying even as the words leave my mouth.

“To the Capulets’’?” Benny asks in surprise.

“Why?” Merc demands.

“Because,” I say, feeling a grin spreading across my face. “We’re going to kidnap their princess.”

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