“Focus on business. I will focus on my private life.”
“Your private life is my business.” When I narrow my eyes, she only sighs like I’m the one being annoying. “Alright, I’ll just pretend like you didn’t abduct your blood-covered wife from her own wedding.”
“Good choice.”
We continue going over business, and I do my best to focus on what she’s saying, but my attention keeps getting pulled away. Allie stares out the window, her body tensed and hunched around our daughter, looking like one wrong word will make her crumble to pieces.
Maybe Lucy has a point.
My wife will need to be strong.
I’m a powerful man. I have money, guns, soldiers, and the loyalty of efficient and skilled killers. I’ve done my fair share of murder over the years.
But I have enemies too.
A man doesn’t ascend to the Dragon throne without causing problems, and I fear our wedding will only fan some of those flames.
Life isn’t going to be easy for her.
Try as I might to give her everything she’ll need, she’s still my Dragon queen, and that comes with a cost.
Only she doesn’t know that yet.
When Lucy’s done speaking, I gesture for the flight attendant. The young woman hurries over, hanging on my every word. She seems a little too eager, and I make a mental note to have her removed from my plane in the future.
“Yes, Mr. Cardone, sir, what can I do for you?”
“Clean towel. Bowl of water. Bottle of soda. And a blanket. Place it there, on that seat.” I indicate a place two over from my wife. “When you’re finished, return to your area and close the curtain.”
“Right away, sir.” She hurries off, practically bouncing with excitement to serve.
It’s disgusting.
I stand languidly and make my way over to my wife. She pretends like she doesn’t notice as I slowly sink down into the seat beside her. We’re separated by about a foot of empty space, but it feels like she’s right up against me again like we were that night.
I keep thinking about her mouth on mine. About her body writhing and moaning, the sweat speckling her skin, her spine arching as she reached climax, her cries of pleasure, and herbegging for more. I think of that night fondly all the time. I haven’t been with a woman since her, and I never imagined I’d have her in my life again.
The flight attendant returns with my items, leaves them where I indicated, and quickly hurries away.
“Why are you doing this?” Allie asks very quietly as I take the towel from the pile and hand it over to her.
“You have blood on you.”
Her face pales slightly. She doesn’t take the towel from me. “Where are you taking me?”
“You might be more comfortable if you clean yourself.”
“I don’t care about that,” she says, some of her anger leaking through. “I want to know where you’re taking me.”
“You’re going to my home. I refer to it simply as the Fortress.”
She shakes her head. “Butwhereis that?”
“It wouldn’t help even if I told you.”
“Give it a try anyway.”
I shove down my annoyance. My wife is mouthy and pushing hard already. Any other woman in her position would likely be very scared right now. And Allie is definitely terrified. But she’s not letting her fear rule her.
