Page 32 of Vow to Claim You

The wife I never wanted, but mine nonetheless.

“A man who gambles with my wife’s life signs his own sentence.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Aric

My men shove Luca into the underground room. He crashes into the metal chair bolted to the concrete. The impact rattles through the floor. His wrists already cuffed behind him, his cheek split from when he decided to grow a spine too late.

I circle him, slow and measured, my boots echoing against concrete like a countdown he can hear but can’t stop.

Eero lingers against the wall, arms crossed. Tassilo stands by the door like a demon wearing human skin.

Luca tries to lift his chin when I stop in front of him. His jaw shakes despite the effort.

“So.” I let the silence stretch. “You came all this way.”

His throat works. “For Ayanna.”

“Not a smart reason.” My head tilts. “But at least you’re honest.”

I drag a chair forward and sit across from him. I rest my elbows on my knees, my posture almost casual. Calculated calm has always scared men more than shouting.

“You arranged the shooting.”

He swallows. “I did it to free her⁠—”

“No.” I cut him off. “You did it because you couldn’t stand the idea of her with another man. You couldn’t stomach someone else owning what you lost.”

His lips part, but I don’t let him speak.

“You came to my wedding. You breached my home. You brought a gunman into my territory.” I lean closer. “And then you put my wife in danger.” My voice drops. “That’s what ends you.”

“Ayanna wasn’t supposed to get hurt⁠—”

“She could’ve died.” The words cut deeper than I care to admit. “I’ve buried men for less.”

“I swear, the shot wasn’t for her⁠—”

“It was meant for me.” I ease back against the chair. “Yes. I know.”

His jaw sets, and something desperate flickers behind his eyes. “I love her.”

“She’s not yours to love.” The sentence leaves my mouth sounding far more territorial than I intended. Eero’s gaze snaps to me, but I ignore him.

Luca shakes his head as he hisses through clenching teeth. “She doesn’t belong here. She’s not like you. She’s not built for this world.”

“You’re right. She’s not.” I rest my elbows on my knees again and clasp my hands. “But this world bends for what’s mine.” My neck cranes. “And she is mine.”

Something snaps in him, and his desperation curdles into rage.

“Fuck!” He spits the word like venom. “If only the shooter had killed you, she’d come home with me.”

A ghost of a smile crosses my face. “The man you hired to kill me.” My eyes dart between his. “We caught him.”

Luca goes pale. The kind of pale that means he’s doing the math.

“He didn’t talk. Not even after we gave him every reason to.” I pause, letting his imagination do the work for me. “Either he didn’t know who sent him or his loyalty outlasted his body. Either way, he’s no longer breathing.”