“You don’t know me.”
“Actually, I do. I know deep down you’re a good person and the shit you know about me scares you. Or at least, what you don’t know about me scares you. Grow some balls and ask me. If you’re ready, that is.”
She gritted her teeth and shook her head. “I’ll have whatever you’re making.”
“You’re going to chicken out. You don’t want to know?”
“I didn’t ask for any of this.”
“You asked for this the moment you married Sean and wanted to divorce him.” He stepped around the counter. “I know every single time I get my hands on you, you can’t believe just how fucking hot this is.” He grabbed the belt of her robe, opening it up. “Even now as you want to hit me, you’re also wet and begging for my touch. It’s what you want.” He cupped her hip.
She was completely naked beneath the robe. He didn’t believe in clothes to bed and any she did wear, he often got rid of by ruining them. It wasn’t like she missed wearing pajamas. Rose cried out as his hand touched her pussy. He slid a finger inside her and he groaned.
“You have no idea how hard it is to resist fucking you. I’m hard as rock right now, but I need you to get dressed. I’ve got places I need to be and it’s important. You’re not going to like the truth about me, Rose. I’m not a nice guy. I don’t play by the rules everyone else does, and I never will.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “But you’re my wife. I respect you and I’ll treat you right. You got anything you have to say or ask, do it. I won’t bite, unless of course it’s what you want me to do.” He pulled his fingers from her, licking them clean. “Go.”
She took a shaky step away from him, going to their bedroom. A suit was already waiting for her. It was ironic to her that he’d pulled out a pair of cream pants, a white blouse, and a cream jacket. Heels complemented the ensemble.
Not once did Jared mention love. It was stupid of her to still be thinking of love. What kind of woman changed men within hours and still wanted love?
Wrapping her arms around herself, she felt weak, pathetic, and above all else, somewhat hopeful that there was a chance for her and Jared.
Stop it. Just stop it.
Love is for children.
There were no panties; of course there weren’t. She quickly got dressed but the love question was still in the back of her mind.
****
With his wife outside at the main bar far away from him, Jared pummeled the man who would dare to steal from him. In all of his years of being the one and only crime lord, he’d learned to rule with an iron fist. There was no room to allow people to take what didn’t belong to them. If they decided to smuggle their drugs, he dealt with him. If they thought they could pimp out their women, again, he came for them. If they borrowed from him without the intention of paying him back, again, he dealt with them swiftly, efficiently, the only way assholes needed to be dealt with.
This man had decided to not only sell his drugs, but claim the baby powder he’d wrapped in a bag hadn’t sold, and stolen the couple hundred grand he’d made. Now, he never stooped so low as to organize these backstreet deals. He had men in control of each element, men he trusted, all of whom were loyal to him. When anyone tried to manipulate or rob him, they got to deal with him. It was only fair.
“I’m sorry.” The sound became gurgled as he smashed his fist into the guy’s face, breaking teeth. At some point, he heard bones give way.
To make sure his suit wasn’t covered in blood, he wore a coverall. With his wife in the car, he didn’t want to startle her with the harsh reality of who she was actually married to. That would be a little too much for her to deal with right now.
His wife.
Even now, he found himself in the middle of the night watching her sleep. Rose was a beautiful woman. She deserved someone a lot better than him but now that he’d had many tastes of her, he didn’t want to give her back or let her go.
Sean wasn’t a problem. The slimeball had moved on to other prey. He was currently trying to marry an heiress to get at her fortune. When the right time came, Jared intended to warn the heiress of her suitor.
He didn’t know what it was about Rose that had drawn him from the single picture. The way Sean had spoken about her, it hadn’t exactly been flattering. Sure, the words coming out of his mouth had been. How she was a great cook, amazing in bed, and lovely to stray animals. They had all been genuine. It had been the look in Sean’s eye as if he couldn’t stand her. As if her good nature offended him.
Jared had wanted to take her from him then and there. It helped that her background check had also confirmed everything Sean had told them. She was a good person.
Stepping away from the unconscious man, Jared cleaned his hands in the water provided. “He’s got a week to earn back my money,” Jared said. “If he doesn’t, he’s dead.”
With his hands cleaned, he removed the coverall and smoothed out his shirt to put his jacket back on. Leaving the back rooms, his men followed him as they got to the main bar. Rose sat at the bar, a cup in front of her, and she was snacking on some peanuts. The barman kept a wide berth, which he’d ordered him to.
Joining her at the bar, he took a seat. “What are you watching?”
“The band. They sounded like crap a second ago. He can sing. He’s really good.” She swung her legs back and forth. She was so adorable.
“Did you get what you needed to do done?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Seconds passed. Her swinging feet stopped.
She spun around. “I want to know what it is you do.”
He raised a brow. “You do?”
Nibbling on her lip, she nodded. “Yes. I know it’s not…” She glanced around the bar. “Legal.” She mouthed the words. “I, I want to know.”
“You really want to know?”
She nodded. This time there was no hesitation.
He clicked his fingers, and a coffee was placed in front of him moments later. “What you need to understand, Rose, if you go to the police, if you try in any way to ruin me, it will not end well for you.”
“Wow, seriously? I want to know who you are and you’re threatening me? How does that even work?”
“People try to lock me away every other week. I’ve got cops in my pocket and people who watch me. Of course nothing can ever be proven.”
“You’ve killed people?” she asked.
He stared at her.
“You have.” She nodded her head, pressing her lips together. “Are you like the mafia?”
He laughed. “No, I’m not. I’m not so strict with my rules. I’m everything and nothing at the same time. I own cafés, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, casinos. I have an entire résumé of companies under my belt. It’s what goes on inside them that is less questionable.”
“Like the gambling Sean was part of that you won me from?” she asked.
“Exactly.”
Rose glanced around the room, frowning. “Drugs?”
He nodded.
“Fighting?”
Another nod.
“Erm, what about, women? Do you steal them?”
“I’m not into trafficking. It’s one area I have been approached about that I don’t agree with. I have brothels where women fuck clients with my protection and I take a cut.”