Thoroughly annoyed by his flippant attitude about it all, I refuse to move from my place, arms crossed over my chest. “Then explain it.”
He exhales, more like I’m inconveniencing him now, then he pops the passenger door open and braces a hand against the frame. “Get in the car.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what I just signed.”
Wyatt’s eyes darken. “This isn’t the place.”
“And I don’t care,” I return sharply, allowing my voice to rise, which is a rare thing for me. “I’ve been abducted, tied up, shot at, and almost sold by a man I’ve never seen before in a span of a few hours. Now, I’m leaving a lawyer’s office. You don’t get to decide what I can handle.”
We stare at each other for a long moment, and the air between us sparks more intensely than before. His eyes narrow just enough to reveal that he’s gauging who will move first.
Finally, he lets the words escape him.
“It was for a marriage license.”
At once, everything comes to a screeching halt.
I swear for a moment that the parking garage shifts around me, and the concrete floor almost rushes towards me before I keep myself from stumbling.
That single word echoes in my mind, leaving me feeling hollowed out.
Marriage.
“A…what?”
Wyatt doesn’t flinch, and he doesn’t even look away. “A marriage license. Binding you to me.”
I want to laugh, but the sound refuses to even leave me.
“You’re joking,” I mumble, holding his gaze as my heart squeezes. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
Before I can stop myself, something in me twists, and I snap.
Shoving his chest hard, I finally let the frustration and anger out with an irritated sound escaping me. Still, he doesn’t move an inch.
“You psychopath!” I shout, hitting him again, but it’s more like ramming my fists against a brick wall. “Have you lost your mind?”
Wyatt just stares down at me, face far too neutral for my liking. “Lower your voice.”
My eye twitches, and I do the opposite.
“No! You don’t get to force this on me and expect me to comply.”
“You signed.”
“I didn’t know what I was signing!” I shout back, torn between wanting to run and wanting to hit him again. “You entrapped me.”
Wyatt takes a step closer, towering over me with his impassive expression, but I don’t back down. My hands tremble with fury and panic, chest heaving for more air.
“You think you can just decide these things for me? Like I’m just a chess piece to be moved around as you please?” I ask, incredulous as I feel moments away from actually having a breakdown.
“This will keep you alive,” he says, voice a bit harder than before. “The Grimaldis and The Balakins can’t touch you if you’re mine.”
“You know what would also keep them from touching me? Letting me go back to my life,” I retort, eyes blazing now. “And I’m not yours.”
“You wouldn’t be safe going back, and you know it,” Wyatt utters, clenching his jaw. “The others won’t care about the details. As long as you’re untouchable by law, they can’t use you.”
