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“Fuck!” Rior jumps up and grabs a dishtowel. “Are you cut?”
Shaking my hand, I smile. “Not too bad.” I take the towel and hold it against my palm, ignoring the sting. “Sorry about the glass, though.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I… I like her. I’ve gone so many years just using women for sex that I forgot what it’s like to like someone. Feel anxious to see her. Try to make her smile. Make sure she’s happy. Isabella somehow brought all of that back. With a vengeance. Like it was bottled up, waiting to come out. Explode, really.” I take a heavy breath. “But…”
“She’snotNorah,” Rior finishes my thought.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “Guilt is eating at me over this one.”
“Can I say something you’re probably not going to like?”
I toss the dishtowel, noticing blood on my sleeve. “Don’t stop now, little brother. You’re on a roll.”
“You and Norah wouldn’t have made it.”
My throat goes tight, and fire rushes through me, not because of what he said, but because he’s vocalizing something that’s haunted me for years. “Go on.”
“Norah…” Rior shakes his head. “Sweet Norah wasn’t bred for the man you are today. She may not have even liked the man you became, Kier. Isabella was prepared for this. She’s who you belong with.”
“Aye.” I mutter softly and fist the bottle.
“Want a fresh glass?” Rior quips.
“No. I’m… I’m going home.” I take a sip from the bottle. “She can handle me, you know. In case you’re wondering.”
“I wasn’t, exactly. But that’s important. She needs to be strong. Head held high and, on your arm, if we want to rule this damn city alone.” Rior spills more words of wisdom I appreciate. “You bought her to further our empire. But now you like her, and she’s satisfying to you. Do you know what a blessing that is?”
“I do.” Now I’m the one more enthusiastic than on my wedding day.
“Go home and enjoy fucking your young, pretty wife.”
I hug Riordan when he tries to shake my uninjured hand, and next, I’m in the elevator. Then walking to my Range Rover. Calder opens the back door for me and sits next to Pete in the front.
I call Isabella and think it’s going to voicemail, but she picks up at the last possible second.
“Oh, you remembered you had a wife,” she snips at me, without even a hello.
“I’m coming home.”
“Whatever…”
“Brat.” I smile into the phone because I know she’s playing with me. “Now, go into my office and wait for me.”
“Why?”
“I have a surprise for you.” The idea forms in my head as I speak.
“Did you buy an arboretum for me too?”
“If you want one, I will.” I take a cleaning breath. “I’m a few minutes away.”
The line goes dead, and I laugh to myself. I pass the gate and get out of the car, saying nothing to my men. In my office, I see the light is on under the door. I open it, and she’s…
Sitting at my fucking desk. Her hands grip the leather arms of my da’s old chair, and her legs are crossed. Her olive skin glows against that damn white tank top dress. “Get out of my chair,” I say, just be a jerk.
“Come lift me out of here.” She leans forward and taps her nails on the desk blotter. “So, what do you want for your turn? Did you want me to kneel for you? Crawl for you? Have anyone to call and yell at while you’re fucking me?”
