Wife (Betrothed Book 1) Read online

  His eyes contracted slightly as he digested that insult.

  “The whole reason I went to university was to do this…and now I can’t. My father wasn’t evil, but he wasn’t good either…though I didn’t realize how dark he was. I didn’t realize my mother has been aware of this since the beginning. I didn’t realize this was my life. Even the man I’m sleeping with is a top-tier criminal. It’s all around me, and I never noticed…because I didn’t want to notice.” I lowered my gaze and felt the emotion strike me in the gut.

  “The world isn’t black-and-white. Not all criminals are evil, and not all law-abiding citizens are good. There’s so much gray area there. You’ve been living in that shade for a long time, so you understand exactly what I mean. Your family may be laundering money and facilitating criminal meetings and the drug trade, but that doesn’t make them bad people.”

  “Wow…that’s rich.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I’m the biggest drug dealer in this part of the world. I get shit done by rewarding those loyal to me and torturing those who aren’t. Cross me, and I’ll push you out of a goddamn window. Test me, and I’ll make you shit your pants. But I stay in my lane and mind my own business. I don’t touch innocent people. I don’t touch the police. Your family is the same way. The other guys who grow through that hotel have the same agenda. We live in the underworld and don’t touch anyone outside of it.”

  “And none of these men rape and traffic women? You think I’m stupid? I know that’s the biggest business out there—”

  “I don’t do business with those kinds of men. I don’t do business with men who do business with those kinds of men.” He held my gaze, seeming genuine all the way down to his core. “I kill those kinds of men. Selling drugs or some other product is one thing. But selling a human being is disgusting—especially kids.”

  His speech shouldn’t soften me, but it did. He couldn’t be that evil if he actually meant that.

  “I’ve been at war with the Skull Kings for a long time because they practice that bullshit. They stopped a few years ago, and while tensions are still high, I’m not as inclined to fire first…unless they get in my way.”

  “Who are the Skull Kings?”

  “Doesn’t matter,” he said quickly. “My point is, I’m not a good man…but I’m not evil. When I’ve paid for sex, it’s always with a free woman.”

  “You’ve paid for sex?” I blurted. “You’re gorgeous. Why would you have to pay for it? That’s gross.”

  His eyes narrowed slightly at the insult, but he didn’t strike back. “It’s just easier sometimes. I know exactly what I want, and I can pay a woman to be what I want.”

  I pushed his hands off me. “I’m screwing a man who’s screwed prostitutes?”

  He let me step back. “Judge me all you want. I’m not ashamed of it.”

  “Well, you should be. That’s disgusting.”

  “A lot of men do it. If they tell you otherwise, they’re lying. At least I have the balls to look you in the eye and say it, even if you’re looking back at me with disgust.” He held his ground by keeping his strong posture with defiance in his eyes.

  I knew so little about the man I was screwing. The more I learned, the less I liked him. That was exactly what I’d feared would happen. I crossed my arms and turned, unsure what my next move was. I was too drunk to think clearly.

  “Baby?”

  I tried to look away, but I gave in at the tone of his voice.

  “I know this is a lot to take in, but after you take some time—”

  “Get out.”

  He held his position, looking at me with the same confidence. He was quiet as he let my command sink in. My hotel was overrun with criminals, and the man I was sleeping with paid for sex. I’d been living in the underworld for so long, and it was my fault for not realizing it. “Get out. Don’t come back.”

  He stayed rooted to the spot, as if he might ignore what I said. He had all the power and I had nothing, so he could do whatever he wanted. I wouldn’t be able to stop him. But he bowed his head and headed to the door. He put on his jacket then left without looking back at me.

  I was alone, somehow feeling worse now that he was gone. I was chilled to the bone, lonely. He took all the heat in the room and sucked it into his muscular frame, leaving nothing behind. He was bad for me in so many ways, but I was miserable without him. Maybe I’d just been drinking too much, but I was devastated he left. I couldn’t think logically with him. I couldn’t have a reasonable thought when it came to that man.

  Minutes passed, and I knew he would be down by the sidewalk by now. Even if I wanted to catch him, I probably couldn’t. But I slipped on my sandals and went after him anyway.

  He was standing on the doorstep—as if he knew I would change my mind.

  I hated him all over again.

  He didn’t gloat in victory, didn’t crack a smile. His eyes were still full of apology.

  Just as I did earlier, I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him back inside. Our lips came together like two halves of a whole, and we kissed like that conversation never happened. The door shut, and our clothes dropped to the floor right in the entryway. He lifted me with his strong arms and pinned me against the wall, his cock sliding into my wet pussy like it belonged there.

  “Don’t leave me…” My fingers dug into his hair, and I kissed him as he thrust inside me, as he hit me so deep, I moaned with every thrust. “I’m not ready.”

  He ended our kiss so he could look into my eyes. “Never, baby. Never.”

  I stopped working in the office with Gustavo because I wanted nothing to do with the hotel anymore. But I did keep working as a concierge…because I had bills to pay. I stood at the counter and wondered when a shady guy would walk inside, intending to use my hotel for a back-alley meeting.

  I was so bitter. I was so foolish.

  Stupid.

  The large doors to the entryway opened, and a petite woman in a black jacket stepped inside. In designer boots with a ten-thousand-euro handbag, she looked regal. It took me a few seconds to realize this prissy woman was my mother.

  I’d been dodging her calls all week.

  Her heels echoed off the tile as she came my way, carrying herself like a queen instead of a regular person like everyone else. Black gloves were on her hands, and once she pulled them off, her ridiculous diamond ring was visible. Her ears were adorned with the same luxury, and her clothes reeked of wealth.

  I didn’t fake a smile. “Checking in?”

  She gave that fake smile that drove me crazy. “Honey, how long do you plan to ignore me?”

  “Forever.”

  “That’s a long time to be bitter. I suspect I’ll outlive you.”

  “Bitter?” I hissed. “You and Father lied to me…my entire life.”

  “No. We just decided to tell you when you were old enough. You took an interest in the hotel even when I encouraged you to stay away. Now, you’ve forced our hand, and we can’t protect you any longer. If you had listened to me from the beginning, none of this would have happened.”

  This wasn’t the time or the place for this conversation. Our voices carried easily in the large room, bouncing off the tile walls and the open spaces.

  “Let’s talk about this later.”

  “No. You’ve had plenty of opportunities to name the place and time. We’re doing this now.”

  Bitch.

  “Let’s have dinner.” She pulled on her black gloves once more then tightened her coat.

  I didn’t want to make a scene in public, so I let her win—this time.

  We went to my favorite local place and shared a bottle of wine.

  Actually, I hogged it while she had a couple of sips.

  Our food arrived at our table, and we still hadn’t said a word to each other.

  Mother picked up her fork and stirred her pasta around. “I’ve given you ten minutes to say your piece. Since you haven’t spoken a word, I’ll talk now.”

  I stared
at her food.

  “When your father opened his hotels, he didn’t have a lot of money. He needed investors, which is where the board comes from. But even then, it wasn’t enough. That was how he began offering special services to special characters.”

  “And that’s never bothered you?”

  “No. When I looked at your father, I saw an ambitious man who would do anything to make his dreams come true. I never loved him, but I considered myself very lucky that I got to marry someone with that kind of success.”

  “You married him for money.”

  “No,” she said with a laugh. “Power. That’s why I married him.”

  This wasn’t brand-new information to me, so I didn’t judge her for it. Their loveless marriage had a pragmatic beginning. There was tension over the years because things weren’t always smooth.

  “Power is better than money.”

  “And you were never worried some of these men might hurt you?”

  “No. We’ve formed an alliance with them. All we do is facilitate a location for them. We’re untouchable, and it’s been a pleasant experience for nearly thirty years now. If anything, I feel safer knowing exactly where the bad guys are.”

  “Because they’re under your roof,” I jabbed.

  She placed her fork in her mouth and sucked the pasta off the end. Her mouth moved slowly as she chewed. “I’m sorry you’re disappointed, but this is the real world. You either adapt or you die. The partnership has been a very successful one.”

  “You’re breaking the law by laundering money.”

  “Who doesn’t?”

  “Lots of people,” I snapped.

  “But not rich people.” She drank her wine.

  Was I the only sane person in the world?

  “I’m not sure what you want me to say, honey. I’m sorry you’re upset, but it’s not going to change anything.”

  “One day, that hotel will be mine.”

  “And it’ll also belong to your husband. You’ll choose the right man to handle it.”

  My eyes narrowed it. “I don’t need a man to handle anything—”

  “Yes, you do. If you want that hotel, then yes. If you want to go work somewhere else and live a simple life, then no.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Those are my terms. It’s for your protection. Your father and I agreed on that.”

  “The man who used to hit you?” I asked coldly.

  She stilled at the accusation, like she had no idea I knew that.

  When I was growing up, I caught glimpses a few times. He seemed to stop when I got older, probably because he wouldn’t be able to hide it anymore. My feelings for him were conflicted, because it seemed like he genuinely loved me and would do anything for me, but he wasn’t so kind to others.

  She set her fork down on her plate. “I think you’re confused—”

  “I’m not confused. I distinctly remember you falling to the ground after he punched you. Then he kicked you.” I could replay it in my mind so easily…all these years later. There were other moments I could recall, when my parents wouldn’t look at each other over dinner, when they would only smile when other people were around. Sometimes, it seemed like they respected each other, even had affection for each other, but it took a very long time for that to happen. Being around other figures in society showed me how fake relationships were, how no one was truly happy.

  She stirred her pasta. “We worked through it. He stopped.”

  “I know he did.”

  “I wish you hadn’t seen that. I don’t want you to think badly of your father.”

  “Too late.” I didn’t hate him. I just…didn’t respect him. I guess I really didn’t know him.

  “He was a good man. I know that’s hard to believe, but he loved you so much. He never loved me, but he adored you.”

  “I know he did.” That much was true.

  “So, he wanted to make sure you had the right man to keep you protected. I admire you for being smart and strong-willed, but this is something you can’t handle on your own. You need to trust me on that.”

  “I agree. So, I’ll cut ties with all those men and start fresh. I’ll run it as a hotel—a real hotel.”

  Her eyes fell in disappointment. “That won’t work either. They won’t be happy.”

  “I’m not running the hotels this way.”

  “And if you hope to achieve that, you would need a powerful husband to do it. Because they’ll laugh in your face and run you off your own property. You still have years to enjoy your youth, so don’t worry about it right now.”

  That was impossible.

  “Take some time to process all of this. I’m sure you’ll feel differently…eventually.”

  Unlikely. “That was why you married Gustavo?”

  She nodded. “I don’t have what it takes to handle men like that. I wanted nothing to do with it, so Gustavo was a good choice. The business keeps running, and I keep being rich. Everyone wins.”

  Except me. “Just when I think the world can’t get bleaker…it does.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your first husband beat you until he got help. Your second husband married you so he could run the hotel. Our family’s legacy is a con. Everything looks pretty on the outside, but it’s so dark on the inside.”

  “You’re looking at it the wrong way, honey,” she whispered. “My first husband got help because he hated who he was. My second husband wants to protect me and my wealth. My hotel is flourishing, giving us the life your father would have wanted us to have. Everything changes based on your perspective…so get the right perspective.”

  11

  Hades

  Tuscan Rose was hosting a formal dinner for all the local businesses in the area, notably those who contributed to the hotel in some way. Running an establishment like that created lots of relationships, some better than others.

  Damien and I were attending. I wasn’t sure if Sofia was. She was upset with her mother and stepfather for their approach to running the hotel, and since she was a sassy little thing, her attitude wouldn’t die out easily.

  “She gonna be there?” Damien asked as he drove the Ferrari down the narrow streets.

  “Don’t know.”

  “You didn’t ask?”

  “I assume she’s not. Probably would have mentioned it if she were.”

  “And you didn’t mention it to her?” he asked in surprise.

  “It’s a sore subject…”

  He turned down the street then approached the valet in front of the hotel. “You think there will be pussy at this thing?”

  “There’s pussy everywhere, Damien.”

  “Then maybe we should have driven separately.”

  “I can get myself home if you’re so lucky.” The valet took the car, and we walked inside. We made it to the top floor, the same exact place where Sofia and I met for the first time. When I saw hundreds of people crowded into the ballroom, nostalgia hit me and I was taken back to four years ago, when Sofia was barely legal. It was a cold night just like this, and people were so absorbed in conversation, they didn’t notice the young couple slip outside.

  Damien took a look around, his hands in his pockets. “This looks like a snooze-fest to me.”

  “What are you expecting? Strippers?”

  He snapped his fingers. “Now that would be awesome.”

  A waitress came over and offered us champagne.

  Damien took a glass then stared at her ass as she walked through the crowd.

  A flashback of our time in Morocco came back to me. We’d been walking through the bazaar when a group of pretty girls passed, and Damien immediately turned to watch them, making an identical expression to the one he did now.

  I’d been thinking about that night a lot recently, that purple tent with the gold vases in the corner. The gypsy wore a blue-eyed pendant from her necklace, as if that was the source of her all-seeing power. I’d been just a boy at the time, turning twenty-one and so
hard up that I spent all my cash at the brothel. When she read my future, I didn’t care so much about the results. But my feelings for Sofia were only growing…and the height of her walls never changed. That prophecy couldn’t be true, right?

  “How about you do the mingling?” Damien asked. “There is one fine piece of ass sitting all alone. I should go over there and ruin her night.” He handed his half-finished glass to me like I was the help.

  “Could you act professional for once in your life?”

  “I’m a drug dealer.” He said it with a grin, like he didn’t care who overheard him. “I’m definitely not professional.”

  Thankfully, another waiter passed with an empty tray, so I placed his glass on top.

  I moved through the crowd and made small talk with a few people I knew. My eyes scanned for Gustavo and his stepdaughter, whom I eventually found.

  In a red dress with a high slit, she stood in five-inch black pumps. Her back was turned to me, but I recognized that deep brown hair anywhere. So thick and easy to fist. Her hourglass figure was noticeable too, especially since it made me hard in my slacks. She stood beside her stepfather and spoke to another man in a suit, someone else associated with the hotel.

  My eyes fell to the petite woman beside her. She had similar features and the same green eyes, and I knew that was her mother. I’d seen her before, but it’d been so long that I probably wouldn’t have recognized her. She aged with immortality, somehow defying wrinkles and keeping her complexion beautiful. She was still exceptionally slender, taking care of her figure like she might hit the runway soon.

  I understood where Sofia got her looks from.

  I swam through the crowd, slowly making my way toward them so I could get a better look at her. When I faced her direction, I got to see her full appearance, see that curled hair pushed back over her shoulders to show off her beautiful face. Red lipstick outlined those plump lips, and the dark shadow around her eyes gave them a smoky look. She was the Tuscan Rose, the red flower that always bloomed.