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“What about what I want?” I demanded.
He cocked his head slightly. “I am what you want.”
“I don’t want a murderer.”
“And I don’t murder people.”
“But you cast the death sentence, which makes you just as bad.”
“Really?” he asked. “So the judges in America who put criminals on death row…are they murderers?”
“Not the same thing.”
“It’s exactly the same thing, Beautiful. I own this city, so I’m the judge, the jury, and the people. I control all things because I’m the only one who can. Some people die. Some people live. It’s just how it goes. If people followed the rules, there would be no need for punishment. Unfortunately, people are just too stupid for that.”
I had no idea what to say. No idea what to do.
“If you were some other woman, I would let you go without a fight. But you’re very special to me. And I know I’m special to you. You want to run from me, but by my side is the safest place you’ll ever be.”
“Then why do I feel so scared?” I whispered.
“You aren’t scared of me,” he said confidently. “You’re scared of the way you feel about me.”
Maybe that was partially true, but I would never admit it.
“So this is how it’s going to be.” He rested his hands on the table and leaned toward me, his hard jaw clenched because he was still annoyed. “You’re going to tell Vanessa that you broke it off with me. I let you go. In reality, you’ll be packing your things and coming to live with me. And instead of being a woman I’m casually seeing, you’ll be mine exclusively. You’ll share my bed every night. You’ll be the woman on my arm. In exchange, I’ll offer you anything you could possibly want. Any car you want, any set of diamonds, any—”
“I don’t want your money. I told you it doesn’t impress me.”
“Then what do you want, Beautiful?” he whispered.
“My freedom.”
“You can’t have that—”
“Fuck. You.” I rose to my feet and snatched the empty bottle, prepared to slam it over his head.
His eyes narrowed at my outburst, but he still seemed slightly amused by my words.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” I demanded. “You think you can just do whatever—”
“Yes.”
“Well, you can’t do that with me. I don’t care about the men outside this apartment or how much money you have. I’m not a slave, and I refused to be a slave. I will not come quietly. I will not submit willingly. I will not give up on the life that I deserve—”
“Then let me give you the life you deserve.” He slowly rose to his feet and came close to me, his eyes shifting back and forth between mine. “I told you I would give you anything. You want a husband and four kids? Fine, I’ll give that to you.”
“You’ll let me marry another man?” I asked incredulously.
“No.” He took hold of the back my neck, touching me gently. “I’ll be your husband. I’ll give you four kids. Problem solved.”
My eyes flashed in shock. “You’re crazy.”
“I’m compromising with you. That’s the one thing you want, and I’m giving it to you.”
I pushed his arm away. “No.”
He lowered his hand and didn’t try to grab me again. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Trust me, you don’t want to do it the hard way.”
“You know me, Bosco,” I said coldly. “I’ll always take the high road. I don’t accept this, and I never will. I don’t want to be involved with a man like you. You kill people—”
“And you think Bones is any better? He killed people for a living, and now he’s your family. What about Conway and Carter? Buying women from the Underground? What about your father and uncle? Running one of the biggest weapons companies in Europe. And you’re gonna sit there and say what I do is wrong? Fucking hypocrite.”
I was speechless because there was no argument against that. He had me cornered.
“You want me, Carmen. I see it in your eyes every time your legs are spread and you’re underneath me. I feel it in the way you kiss me. I feel it in the way you come around my dick. Stop pretending otherwise.”
“Yes, I like sleeping with you. But that doesn’t mean I want more from you.”
“That’s too bad,” he said coldly. “Because you’re getting more from me.”
“I refuse,” I said quietly. “I refuse.”
“You don’t get to refuse. If you do, I don’t need to tell you everything I’ll do to your family. I’ll wipe them all out at the same time, send a hundred men to each place and destroy your family legacy like that.” He snapped his fingers.
Just the thought made me want to burst into tears.
“Don’t call my bluff, Carmen. It’s not a gamble you’ll win.”
