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“Do you know what else will look good on you?” River asks as he gets out of bed. I appreciate the view.
“I swear to God, if you’re trying to sell me guns while we’re in bed, I’m going to shoot you with it.”
“Not that.” He chuckles again.
He pulls out a red box. I get excited and clap my hands at the present. Cartier. My favorite.
“It matches the set I bought you,” he says.
“Which one?” I ask as I open it, and my heart stops. It’s a Paraiba tourmaline from the set of matching earrings and necklace he gave me, but it’s a ring. I snap the lid shut.
“What the fuck?” I grit out.
“Calm down,” he says, and I fight every instinct not to run out that fucking door. “I’m not asking you for some fancy ceremony or even a marriage certificate. I just want every person on this fucking planet to know that you’re mine, and that if anyone makes a pass at you, then I have free rein to shoot them in the head.”
My breathing is erratic.
“I’m not the only one here who gets jealous, Anya. I need the world to know you’re mine.”
It’s the earnestness in his tone that has me looking between him and the box. “And what do I get?”
His eyebrows raise. “Besides an expensive, shiny fucking ring?”
“I have plenty of those already. I’ll make you an deal. I’ll wear this fucking ring if you get my name tattooed on your forehead.”
He chuckles as he lies back beside me. “That’s a big fucking no.”
“Then no can do,” I say but find myself opening the box again and studying the ring because it’s fucking beautiful.
“What if you thread it through a necklace and wear it around your neck as a collar until you come around to the idea?” he says as he grabs the back of my neck and pulls my face to his.
His voice vibrates over me and gives me tingles in their promiscuous promise. “It better be a really nice necklace.”
“Don’t you have a beautiful necklace from the set I’d bought you that you haven’t yet worn?” He challenges.
“I want another one.” I say trying to hide my smirk.
His lips crush mine as he smiles. “Anything for my queen.”
CHAPTER 49
Anya
I’m not surprised by the lack of people who attend Meredith Forks’ funeral. It’s a ceremony only—no viewing or casket—because I know all they were able to get out of that house were her bones. Such a tragedy that half of her décor was paper walls. Went up in flames within minutes, the reports say.
I watch from a distance as someone pays their respects and leaves. River’s hand is on my lower back as I begin to move toward her photo. When I stop at her grave, I spit on it.
River’s eyebrows arch. “You came all this way to spit on someone’s grave?”
“In the same way you make me wear a fucking engagement ring around my neck when we’re not getting married. We all do what others might consider unnecessary.”
He laughs as I stare at the grave for a little longer. I hate this woman, but she was still the person who built me into someone capable of running an empire and an army.
I have mixed feelings, and they’re not something I wish to delve into.
The snapping of a twig wakes me from my stupor, and I turn around, ready to pull out the gun concealed on the inside of my jacket. River already has his pointed as he stands in front of me, guarding me.
My eyes go wide in disbelief. “Alek?”
