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“Look at me, little one.” That got her attention. “You’ll sit here while I cook something to feed you. Got it? And try not to fight with Caleb too much,” I instructed, turning to start the burner. I needed to find something to do with my hands before I ended up sinking my fingers into her pussy and watching her writhe on my island.

CHAPTER 15

CALEB

FUCK. I HAVE A WIFE

The minute the elevator doors opened to our penthouse apartment, I’d tossed my suit coat onto the nearest piece of furniture and hunted down a drink. Honestly, I’d needed about five drinks and to fuck something up—or someone. My feet carried me to our kitchen while I dragged my hands over my face in frustration.

I hadn’t even heard her behind me until she asked about food. It pissed me off that my first reaction was concern that she hadn’t eaten. Then, as if my resolve wasn’t already being tested, her tanned flesh taunted me as Niko kneeled between her thighs, his saliva leaving a glistening trail on her skin. The scene had been fucking erotic and only made my irritation flare higher.

Now Kenji was piling a selection of meats and cheeses on the countertop for her to choose from.

Of course he liked her.

The scent of sauteed garlic and onions wafted in the air from where Niko stood at the range, preparing her dinner like she was fucking family. I guess that was exactly what I’d made her when I announced her as my wife. I still couldn’t wrap my head around why that word had slipped out. I’d meant to call her my fiancée, and then we’d keep the same plan as we had for Adriana.

“My wife.”

I closed my eyes again, trying to rein in my conflicted feelings. “We need to talk about rules and how this will go,” I gritted out.

“Of course my new jailers have rules,” she responded, rolling her eyes.

“Rule one, no leaving the building without one of us accompanying you,” I said, making my way back to the bar cart because I needed the entire bottle of cognac to deal with this shit. “In fact, don’t do anything without telling us first.”

“I am not a fucking toy to be yanked around, Callahan.” She leaped off the counter and prowled forward, stopping when we were only inches apart. “Let’s cut the bullshit. I don’t have time to play games. You aren’t going to move me in here, ignore me for weeks, and ice me out. I won’t wallow and try to gain your attention. So tell me the fucking plan, because I have better shit to do.”

My fucking molars were going to crack under the pressure of how tightly I had my jaw clenched. This woman thought she was calling the shots? She choked out a breath as I wrapped my fingers around her throat. My grip was notably softer than I’d grant anyone else who spoke to me the way she did. This was more along the lines of the pressure I’d give while fucking someone.

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, and images of her swallowing my cock filled my mind. I scowled and pushed away the thought, trying to focus on the defiant woman in my grasp. I smiled at the fluttering of her pulse. I didn’t want to admit it, but her demeanor was so damn cold that I couldn’t get a read on her other than her hate for me.

But the thumping of her vein under my thumb didn’t lie.

My dick hardened because I didn’t think fear was causing her reaction. No sane person glared at me while my hand was wrapped around their throat. No one but her.

I leaned in so my lips were against her ear. “Scar, I’ll make you sit and wait for as long as I fucking want. Be a good girl and learn that lesson early.” My cold smile faded at the distinct pressure of a knife’s edge. I peeked down to find a switchblade at my balls.

Where the fuck had she gotten that?

“I make my own rules, Caleb. Be a good boy and learn that lesson early,” she parroted back.

Smart-ass bitch. This woman didn’t know who she was dealing with. We weren’t to be messed with—I wasn’t to be messed with.

“Don’t inflate your worth, Scar,” I cruelly spewed out, my anger flaring further at being challenged. The blue of her eyes seemed to deepen, and the look of determination and loathing had me hesitating.

“Caleb.” Niko’s deep tenor pulled me from my spiral. “We can use her help with our plans, and our goals align. We all want the don dead.”

I took in calming breaths, forcing my fingers to loosen around her delicate throat. “How do we know she actually means that and isn’t playing us?” Even as I said them, the words tasted like ash. Anyone who’d spent even a second with her and Dominick would know that the two hated one another. But I still didn’t trust the woman.

In my soul, I knew she was more than she let on.

Scar’s head was cocked to the side, eyes slightly narrowed, analyzing me. The way I did to others. It felt like I was being dissected—studied. It had me feeling exposed.

The blade’s pressure disappeared, but even as I lowered my arm, she didn’t move away.

“I know my worth, Callahan. Now, as the big guy over there pointed out, we have the same goal. So fill me the fuck in, or I’ll walk my ass out the door.”

She stepped away, her eyes never leaving mine as she hopped back onto our island.