He doesn’t even answer me; he just turns and heads to the kitchen. Deep mahogany bleeds all over the place with steel appliances. It’s not as big as the one I got back in Chicago, but it’s cozy, warm, and there’s everything needed to cook.
“Sit,” he orders, showing me the stool next to the big island. A metallic light fixture towers over us, creating a warm ambiance around us. I walk to it, but instead of sitting like he commanded me, I stand next to it, unwilling to obey him like a puppy.
“Do you always do that? Boss people around as you please?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“It’s my home, ‘course I do as I fucking please.” He mimics my posture.
“Well, as far as I know, it’s my house too now, and if you think I’m gonna follow you around like—”
“Mia.” He shuts me in, resting his elbows on the counter in front of me, his muscles threatening to tear his black shirt apart.
Stay focused, Mia. He left you all alone. He doesn’t deserve kindness right now.
“I wasn’t done.” Locking my eyes with his emerald ones, I watch his gaze widen at my answer.
Yeah, he isn’t used to people pushing his buttons, well nice to meet you, big guy.
“You can order your staff around all you want, act like the king of the castle at your club, but here, in this house, with me, you can keep your dickhead attitude and shove it up—”
“Careful, Mia…” His lips rest in a thin line as he frowns.
“You left me all alone.” My tone is full of resentment and a hint of sadness.
“Wha—” Furrowing his brows.
“YOU. LEFT. ME. ALONE,” I say louder, putting both of my palms on the counter, anger coursing through me like a waking volcano. The silence in the room is crowding the air like a toxic substance about to suffocate us.
“I didn’t think you’d want me here.” His voice is low, as if he was taken off guard.
“What?” It’s my turn to be startled.
“You’re telling me you wanted me here, princess? Really? When you’ve been escaping our bedroom every fucking night since our wedding? C’mon, give me a break.” He shakes his head while my cheeks turn a full crimson shade.
Yes, no, I mean, I didn’t want to see him but at the same time, damn it. I didn’t think I would be alone here all the time. I thought he would come back and, I guess, talk to me. Is it that crazy to expect your fake husband to have a conversation with you every now and then? And I want to go out, go to the mall, grab a matcha latte, but how can I do it without bodyguards? I expected him to give me protection by now. I was raised the daughter of the head of the Irish Mafia. I never had the luxury of security, if he doesn’t give me one, then my life ends at the doorway. Or maybe wives of MC club presidents don’t need security, what do I know? Everything seems so different here.
“It’s not—” Shutting my eyes for a second, I gather my thoughts. “You haven’t given me any protection. I can’t go out and risk getting shot, Ares. I don’t know anyone here, but I’m gonna die of loneliness if you keep me in here like a damndamsel in distress. I need to see people. I need company. I need to go out.”
“Out?” He lifts a brow while I try as hard as I can to ignore his handsome ice-cutting jaw and light stubble.
“Yes, out. I can’t stay here all day. I’d lose my mind.” I raise my palms on both sides of my face.
“I don’t like you going out of the house,” he mutters blankly.
“Yeah, well, big news, I’m not a piece of furniture you bought and can keep in here forever. If you don’t let me out, I’ll go by myself and good luck finding me then.” Rage takes over me. I don’t plan on escaping, but if he doesn’t give me the option, I will.
“Listen to me, Mia.” Ares' low tone hits me right in the belly, his body moving toward me until his hand grabs my wrist gently, just like on our wedding day.
“You try running away… I’ll catch you so fast you won’t even have the time to step outside the gates.” His green gaze drips into mine. “You want more freedom. I can deal with that. But escaping? Don’t even try, princess. If you want this,” he moves his index finger between us, “to work, then you better learn that I don’t go easy on people who don’t hold their end of the bargain. You married me. I didn’t have to put a gun on your head for it. So stop acting like I fucking did.”
A thousand cursed words are begging to flee from my lips, but I keep them in. He’s right. I agreed to marry him. Only he doesn’t know that I did it to save my sister. I have to stay here with him. It’s the only way to protect her. Like a bird locked in a golden cage. I sigh, thick tears stuck in my throat. I won’t cry in front of him, God, no. He doesn’t deserve to see me vulnerable.
“I told you to come here because we’re having some movement at the club. I won’t tell you much for your safety, but families might be targeted so that’s why I didn’t give youprotection the past weeks.” His emerald eyes narrow like he’s coming clean from his awful behavior.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, princess, oh.” A slight grin dancing at the corner of his lips. “You’re gonna have to wait a few more days before I settle a team for you, then you’ll go out as you please as long as you stay in our territory and always with them,” he explains, flexing his hand after letting my wrist go. “It’s not usually necessary but we’re having a bit of an…issue with a gang and I can’t take any risk with you.”
Threats and gangs, words I’m all too accustomed to since my early days.
