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His chuckle as he carefully placed me inside the middle SUV sounded so sexy that I hated him even more.
“What about Anna?” I questioned when he followed me inside.
“They’ll look after her too.”
“You mean Lucas? Yeah, he seemed really eager to keep her safe.”
“He is.” A large hulking man appeared and stole Angel’s attention. “Let’s go,” he ordered. The man didn’t hesitate to disappear, and seconds later, we were moving.
“I don’t understand how you can allow Lucas to act like such an ass to her.”
“He’s a grown man, baby.”
“I don’t trust him with her.”
“He doesn’t trust himself,” he replied matter-of-factly. At my perplexed look, he sighed. “He wants her. If she stays here, she’ll be back under him, and he’ll hate himself for it.”
“Then maybe we shouldn’t leave him alone with her.”
“He can control himself for a few hours.”
I sighed and forced myself to relax. The estate was deep in the countryside of Illinois. For miles, there was nothing but open space whose beauty I couldn’t bring myself to appreciate. I was far away from the apartment I was sure I didn’t have any longer, and now I was forced to trust a man who caused me to lose everything. Angel drew my attention when he slid out of his suit jacket, leaving him in the waistcoat.
“Where are you taking me, Angeles?” His eyes cut to the side, watching me warily.
“Angeles? You don’t call me Angeles.”
“Maybe it’s time I do.” His jaw tightened, making me grateful for the space between us. “Where are you taking me?” I demanded more forcefully.
He forced his gaze from me to stare out the window before answering. “To meet my family.”
“Why?” I was genuinely curious why he would do such a thing.
“Because you’re my wife.”
“In whose reality?”
His head swiveled to face me, and his eyes burned with promise. “Ours.”
“You forged that certificate.”
He chuckled, but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. “You don’t believe that.”
“I believe you’re a criminal who would say and do anything he could to get his way.”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, wife, but I’m a powerful man. I don’t trick. I take.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “And fortunately for me, I didn’t need to take you. Your precious father handed you to me on a silver platter.”
“Because he thought he could trust you.”
“He wanted to be rid of you.”
“He loves me.”
He nodded slowly as if he regretted the truth. “I never said he didn’t.”
Pain clawed at my skin to get inside. “You’ve had a hell of a time implying it.” I stared at my empty ring finger. “Why do you torture me?” It was an answer I’ve wanted every day for nearly ten years.
“I wish I knew,” he answered after a lengthy silence, his gaze and voice soft, unlike his heart.
“Do you love me?” He jerked. His eyes widened. I held my breath.
Waiting.
It wasn’t hope that made me ask.
Once upon a time, I loved him, and he avoided me. Now he couldn’t let me go.
He sat back and tilted his head out of curiosity. “Would you believe me if I told you I did?”
“No.”
“Neither would I.”
“That’s not an answer.” Wasn’t it possible to love and not believe what you’re feeling?
The shrill ring of his phone broke the silence. If I were bold enough, I’d chuck it out the window and demand my answer. Instead, I watched as he pulled his phone from his pocket. I was deeply surprised, however, when he ignored the call and tossed the phone on the seat.
“Who was that?”
“Lucas.”
“Don’t you need to get that?”
“It can wait.”
“You sure? Rich men with dirty secrets are waiting.”
“Does this mean you don’t want your answer?” His lips twitched. “By the way, I have female clients too. Three months ago, I made a wealthy woman richer by killing her cheating husband. He was actually a good guy, I’m told.”
“Ironically, it seems beneath you to be a mercenary for disgruntled spouses.”
“Her money was good, and she may have been having an affair of her own with one of my biggest clients.”
“It’s amazing how well you sleep at night.”
“Lately, I’ve had you to thank.”
An uncharacteristic grunt came from me. “And the answer to my question?”
“Do I love you?”
“Yes.”
“I sold my soul just to have you, and I would sell it again to keep you. Wanting you made me a monster, so tell me, Mian… does love compare?”
“You can’t discount how love feels if you’ve never felt it, and don’t kid yourself. I didn’t make you a monster. You sold your soul for power, not for me.”
He simply smirked and scratched under his chin looking defiant. “Perhaps. Do you love me?”
His question tortured me, and he knew it. “I thought I did.”
“I heard good girls like bad men.” He grinned. “Tell me the truth. I’ll know if you lie. Did it turn you on when I treated you like shit? Did it make your pussy wet?” His smile turned secretive, and damn me for finding him tempting. “All those years, I thought you were the forbidden one…”
