Page 117 of In the Dark

She’d ruined me. In just two months, I was so madly in love with Jasmina that I would have sent every single person away and said fuck all the business ventures we had together if I didn’t think it would piss her family off and put them in a worse position. And I didn’t even care about them.

I cared about her.

Her thoughts. Her feelings. Her pain. Her pleasure. All of it.

“What type of display was that up on the altar?” Jameson elbowed me in the arm as we watched our wives out on the dance floor.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’ve never hidden a woman before, Cal.”

“It’s a respect thing. Her family didn’t want this.”

“When’s the last time you were respecting women, too, by the way?”

“Fuck you. I always respect them,” I huffed, but the argument was thin at best. “Plus, she’s my wife now. I have to at least act like it.”

“Seems to be more than acting.”

“You should see him at home.” Archer chuckled.

“Why haven’t we killed you yet?” I glared at him.

“Because it would take more than a few Knights to murder me, and you both know it.” He shrugged. “Plus, the women you love love me, and Mia might spare Jameson, but Jasmina would kill you if you hurt me.”

“Not true,” I grumbled.

“She’s making me another sweater.”

“What the f—”

“Daddy?” Fran spun around in a deep-red dress and pulled at Jameson’s slacks. “When are we giving Mia her ring? Can we have the bunny do it like the kitty did at the wedding for Auntie Jas?”

“Auntie Jas … wait … a ring? What the hell is going on?”

“Meant to tell you, now that your marriage charade is over, I’m proposing to Mia.”

“Took you long enough.” I chuckled.

“I was letting you have the attention,” he said.

As if either of us wanted it.

“And now, you’ll get all the attention when she says yes and you have a grand wedding, and then you make out with her in front of everyone. The videographers will get her every movement, and they’ll all analyze how she—”

“Shut up,” my brother growled, getting my point. “She’s the love of my life, Cal.”

“So, then you get it.”

“I get it?” He looked at me dumbfounded. He probably couldn’t believe I was admitting it, but I didn’t care anymore.

“She’s the love of mine, and I’m keeping her, Jameson. I’m keeping her.” I tipped my head her way when she turned and smiled at me.

Fuck, she was pretty in that dress, but I wanted her out of it and out of this estate, away from all the cameras and the eyes and the people.

I wanted her all to myself.

“Better go with Fran to make a big splash with that proposal.”