I thought about waking her and seeing how she’d react, if she knew how to defend herself and how to fight like any mafia princess should.
I thought about leaving her a note, telling her someone had been there, watching her.
My mind was scattered that night when it usually is so fucking clear that it took me off guard. Just got mesmerized by the sight of her, not just her beauty and the way her feminine curves were on fucking display like I had been giving my own private showtime.
Nah, she got me when she cried and put herself together like a fucking queen and this, damn it, this took my breath away.
So when the sun rose and I knew I had to get back to Knoxville, I stepped away from my shadows with the image of her empty gaze haunting me. I knew this look all too well because I had carried the same for so many shitty years. And for some reason, watching her broke me open that night and built me back into a new fucking person.
No one ever had that effect on me.
Not my father, not my men, no one.
She had managed to sneak into my mind like nobody had ever done before.
So I thought, fuck it, let’s do this. I shoved away the want to expand and looked at my future wife one last time. I needed retribution from O’brian anyway, might as well take what I wanted.
And it turns out, she was exactly what I wanted.
You’re securing your line, I told myself. Maybe I needed an excuse to rationalize this decision because if I’d looked too much into it, I’d see that it had no logic behind it. She had ignited a fire in me, a curiosity I needed to fulfill, even if we would never become anything resembling a real marriage.
I just needed her closer.
So I came back to Knoxville, agreed to the deal and made new arrangements for her in my home based on what I had seen from that night. Bought her new clothes and shoes thinking she would like it. I knew I wanted her to feel good here.
But I never thought she'd be like this.
Able to shake me to my core with her razor wit and breathtaking beauty. Her anger boiling so beautifully under her skin, I wanted to cut it and watch it bleed all over me, covering my ink with her fire.
My dark and twisted heart was running too hard and too fucking fast toward her, and that’s why I had to slow down. Stay away from her; stay at the club as much as possible.
Out of sight…
I had waited two months to come here and watch her fall asleep. I didn’t have to go to the club that much. That’s the thing in our business, whatever I do, my enemies will still be there when the sun rises. But with Nero around, my chest aches from being away from home that much.
Which is why I’m here tonight, my arms crossed under my head, layed on our bed while Mia’s finishing her bedtime routine like we’re some kind of normal couple.
Two months spent coming in here when she was already asleep.
Two months of picking her up at night when she escaped into the guest bedroom.
Two months of waking up to her body curled against mine as if her body couldn’t stay away from me, even when she was out.
The sound of the door opening breaks me out of my thoughts as I watch Mia getting out of our shared bathroom, head to the side, drying her red hair with a towel while I watch the smallest purple silky shorts and top float over her.
She’s not making this any easier.
“Why are you here tonight?” she asks blankly.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I answer like a jerk ‘cause she has every right to wonder why I’m acting differently, but I hate when I have to explain myself to anyone. She sighs, “Whatever,” before dropping the wet towel on the back of the chair next to our bed.
My hand twitches.
“Can’t you just put it back on the drying rack?” My voice sounds harsher than it should. She doesn’t even answer me. I fucking hate a mess. Can’t she be just more thoughtful? A growl roars from my chest before I stand and quickly grab the wet towel and lay it properly in the bathroom.
Everything at its right place. As it should be.
“You’re a psycho.” She chuckles, her book open in her hands as I watch her tucked under our sheets.
