AllFreeNovel
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“I do. They are the only people apart from you that I do trust. I just want to be free. I want us to live our lives without my mother in the picture, pulling all the strings.”
“We need to get up. The last thing I want is your brothers to come looking for us.”
We shower together, enjoying just being with each other. When we’ve finished, he wraps a towel around me before pulling one around his own hips. Heading into the bedroom, I dry myself and then pull back on the clothes I was wearing yesterday. Maybe today, we will be able to go back to the apartment and get some things, though I’m not sure I want to. Ryan killed a man. It mars all those happy memories I have of it. I never wanted him to kill for me. I wonder if he resents me for it.
“I’m sorry you had to end that man’s life.”
He blinks as he studies my face. “I’m not. In a fight between you and him, I would choose you every time. His life means nothing to me. Yours does.”
“I don’t want you to have blood on your hands because of me.”
“Babe, I had blood on my hands long before you were in the picture. What do you think I did in the army?”
I open and then close my mouth, knowing he’s right. Ryan has always been a killer, and our situation didn’t change that. “I hate this.”
He comes to me, and I rest my head against his chest, my hands on his hips.
“Things won’t always be like this,” he promises. I hope it’s a promise he can keep because I desperately want it to be the truth. I want the white picket fence, the babies, the marriage, I want it all with him. “I’ll go make us some coffee. Finish getting dressed.”
I cock my brow at him. “Are you sure you want to face my brothers alone?”
“I can handle myself. Trust me.”
“I do. Wholeheartedly.”
He leaves the room and I finish dressing, drying my hair too. Once I’ve scrunched enough moisture out of it, I leave the bedroom. I don’t want to subject Ryan to my brothers for too long. They agreed to the wedding, but only because there was no other choice. If there had been options, last night would never have happened.
When I step out of the bedroom, I listen closely in case my brothers are tormenting Ryan. I can’t hear screams or shouting, so I relax a little. On light feet I walk into the living area and find Ryan sitting at the breakfast bar, Luke next to him. Kane is leaning against the counter in front of them. Luke seems at ease while Kane seems tenser, though there’s no blood flowing so I take that as a positive.
Ryan glances up as I approach, his eyes softening as he takes me in. I can’t keep my own gaze off him. I wish we were alone and that we had condoms so he could fuck me.
“Let me get you a coffee,” Ryan says, pushing off his stool and heading for the coffee machine.
“Thank you. Where are Elena and Sariah?” I ask my brothers.
“Elena is still sleeping,” Kane says.
“Sariah is giving us… a moment.” Luke says it with a smirk on his face.
“You shouldn’t need a moment. If you are going to give Ryan shit, yesterday was the time to do it, before we were married.”
Kane grimaces and rubs at his forehead. “Don’t remind me of that insanity. We should never have agreed to that crazy plan.”
“It wasn’t crazy,” I snap. “I wanted it, and I have absolutely no regrets about what happened. So, how are you going to let our parents know that I’m no longer on the marriage market?”
Luke laughs. “Are you really that thirsty for the blood to start spilling?”
“Of course not, but I want my life back. The only way to get that is to show Charlotte I’m no longer something she can use to barter with.”
Ryan steps back to me, a mug of steaming coffee in his hand. He’s already added milk and probably sugar. Just how I like it.
“We need to proceed carefully,” Ryan says.
Kane scowls. “Up until last night, you were part of the staff. You don’t get a say.”
My mouth drops open. “Kane! Show some fucking respect!” I hiss at him. “Ryan is my husband. He is no longer a member of the staff.” I sneer as I say the last part.
“She’s right,” Luke says. “We need to find her another bodyguard.”
