Page 6 of Suck

I never take my gaze off of Macy while we move. “Make sure one of the housekeepers is there before the guys leave.”

“Already confirmed. Claudia’s brewing her favorite tea and preparing to settle her in for the night.”

Thank fuck. Now I can give my full attention to my girl, who watches us and then just me once I climb inside. Before she has the chance to ask anything about Ryker or back out of her willingness to accompany me, I clutch her small hand and hit the accelerator. “Had to make sure my grandmother gets home safely. She’s feisty but still needs to be looked after.”

My dedication earns me an approving smile. I’m a bastard about a lot of shit, but I take care of family. At least those who deserve my affection. But I guess I took care of Antonio too, albeit in a different way.

With her a little more relaxed, I dive into one of the two questions I need to know. “Why’d you chose me over your friend?”

Jerking back against the seat from shock, she lets out a surprised laugh. “Wow! You’re direct, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

She seems to mull that over. Staring out the window as we drive to my house. Ironic that she has no clue where I’m taking her except that she wants me to.

“Savannah knows the truth and–”

Shame floods her tone, and I can’t stand her embarrassment over that moron. “What’s the truth?”

Her focus remains on the glass which I normally don’t allow. Demanding full attention from whomever I converse with, but I let the slight slide after the night she’s had. I also fight to keep my mouth shut because I don’t like to be kept waiting. But I know the story will come out. She just needs to let go at her own pace and in her own way because despite how flustered she is, she knows who I am and that no one denies me. After three blocks, her shoulders finally droop and she sighs.

“I’m payment for a debt my father owed Antonio. That’s why I was forced to marry him.”

Fucking motherfucker. I should’ve killed my cousin my damn self.

“She’d try to make me feel better that he decided not to go through with it. She’d say that I should be happy even though I’m humiliated.”

I fucking hate that she thinks he dumped her. Now I have to lie which I despise but can’t avoid. Her admission is what I need to focus on rather than his murder. “No reason for you to be humiliated. His complete loss. He never deserved you and never should’ve blackmailed you into marrying him.”

Her nod lacks the enthusiasm I expect. Of course, she has to know she’s better off. Until I realize the reason behind her pain. She was just a damn pawn. Her father is the one being blackmailed and who I should have killed. “Your Dad’s a piece of shit for agreeing to this.”

“He didn’t have any choice.” Defeat rather than anger strains her words. “Antonio would’ve made him pay some other way.”

Obviously, she loves him or she wouldn’t have sacrificed herself. Otherwise I’d send Ryker to take care of him too. I can’t take the chance. Can’t risk losing her from slaughtering him although he deserves so much more. I’m even going to forgive his debt to release all of her doubts. “Antonio won’t do jack shit.”

“How can you be so sure? What if he comes back? What if he makes me keep my promise?”

Now her voice shakes with fear along with her body. Fuck that. I steer the car over to the side of the busy road, ignoring the furious honks from my impromptu stop, so I can stare at her for as long as it takes for her to understand she’s under my protection now and she doesn’t have to worry about him or anybody else ever again.

My finger slides under her tucked chin, lifting up her face and turning her to look at me, exactly the way my queen should. “No one’s ever going to make you do anything you don’t want to do. I won’t allow it.”

Gorgeous lips part, and I stroke the smooth skin with the pad of my thumb. She instantly blushes and her breath hitches, which is so much better than any argument to the contrary. I receive a tentative smile in response to mine, and as much as I don’t want to, I release her. Touching her at home will be so much better than here. My fingers will be so many more places than just her seductive mouth. “Ready?”

I nod toward the windshield, but we both know I mean way more than driving.

“Yes.”

Not quite as confident as I would hope, but at least agreement. My scrutiny must be too much, and she drops her gaze to her hands in her lap. Smoothing down the silky fabric until she stills. Suddenly jolting and yanking the cheap diamond off her finger. Trash. My rock for her will be huge and stunning and perfect. Uncertain what to do she looks up at me with the band clenched in her indignant fist.

“Give it to me.”

Uncertain if she can understand my request through my growl, I hold out my hand. Attempting to be patient while she deliberates what we both know is the answer. Frowning and stewing for a minute until she slowly places the ring in my palm. Yanking her hand away as if glad to be rid of the jewelry but worried she’s not free of the shackles the stone symbolizes.

Me on the other hand, I have absolutely zero qualms about where the garbage belongs. Pushing the button, I wait the three seconds necessary for the window to slide down and hurl the trinket toward the trash can on the corner. Indifferent if the junk lands inside the bin or not.

After pulling back into traffic, I grab her hand again. Making sure she knows how much I fucking love touching her. Fuck me if she doesn’t wrap her other hand around mine. Cocooning my thick fingers between her dainty ones. Confirming, despite any lingering doubt, that being with me is exactly where she wants to be.

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