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I proceed toward his room and hold the door open for Lorna to enter.
“Oh, my baby,” she says as she runs to him and hugs his good side. “Are you alright? Darling, I was so worried.”
I close the door to give Stieg the space to respond the way a caring husband should without worrying about losing face in front of me.
It’s 7:38 a.m. when I return to our bedroom. Madison is laying awake staring at the ceiling. Her gaze cuts to me when she hears me enter.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” I say, kissing her cheek. “You get enough rest?”
“How’s Stieg doing?”
“Just great, thanks to you,” I say, sitting next to her. “He told me to tell you that. His wife Lorna is in there talking to him now.”
She props up on her elbows, her brows pinch together. “Does she know I treated Stieg?”
“No, that information won’t leave this house.”
Her head lulls to the side. “I get the whole protect our own thing, but the fewer people that know about it the better.”
“Of course, babe. That goes without saying.”
“I mean, I feel sick about this whole thing,” she grasps my arm. “Please tell me that was the last time. I can’t keep rolling the dice on my career like this.”
My heart sinks into my stomach, apparently, we’re not on the same page about this. “I wouldn’t have asked unless it was really important to me. I promise to only involve you when it’s absolutely critical and even then,” I continue speaking over her when she starts to object, “you’ll always be protected. Please Madison, I swear on my life, this won’t compromise your career in any way.”
Her expression hardens, her gaze is unwavering. “And if I refuse?”
I meet her gaze unflinching. My voice is calm and even when I reply, “You won’t refuse. I’m making major changes in my life for you. In return, this is what I’m requiring of you.”
Her face twists with indignation. “I’ve never asked you to make changes for me. You can’t—”
“Never step foot in Last Call even though it’s a major hub of business,” I say, ticking her demands off on my fingers, “immediately break off my engagement even though it could start a fuckingwar, change the very nature of my work so that I can be respectable enough for your colleagues. Any of this sound familiar?”
Her mouth drops open as she looks at it from my perspective. For a moment, she appears crestfallen like she truly hadn’t considered the ramifications of her demands. But then her eyes narrow. “Wait, did you do all of that for me or was it born out of desperation to recruit a surgeon?”
Her accusation feels like a hard slap across the face. “We can buy a surgeon to perform these services, Mads. What do you think we did before I met you?” I look away from her for a moment because I’m so angry at her right now. “I jumped through all those fucking hoops because I found the woman of my dreams and was willing to do anything to keep you!”
Her eyes widen in surprise as the truthfulness of my words registers with her.
“I’m not,” I close my eyes and breathe deeply. “When it comes to choosing a bride, I’m not free to choose as I please. If I hope to marry you, I have to convince my heads to make an exception for you, because you come from outside the organization.” I’m annoyed when my vision blurs with angry tears. “I love you, Mads. We’re so good together. I know you love me enough to do this for me.”
“Jesus, Bash, this is…” her gaze falls away and she shakes her head. “I just wanted to be with you, not join some…some criminal organization.”
“I know, but it’s the price we have to pay to be together,” I say, gripping her hands. “We don’t have any other choice, Mads. This is the only way.”
Her eyes are wide with fear. “Why do you need their approval? Why can’t we just leave?”
“That’s not an option for us, once you’re in, you’re in for life.”
Her face contorts with anger. “I’m not in,” she says, shaking her head. “I never signed up for this!”
“Yes, you did, babe. I’m sorry but you’re in up to your eyeballs.”
“What are you talking about?” she shouts. “I wanted to be with you, but I never chose to be a part of a crime syndicate.”
I can’t keep the derision from my voice. “What in the hell did you think you were doing the day you chose to hide the gun of a known mafia prince?”
Her eyes fly wide as if I’d struck her. “I…I was just trying to help you. I didn’t…”
