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“I’m sorry.” I lean forward. “What did you just say?”
“You’re mine, Ruby Jones. Starting tonight, I own you.”
Laughter bursts from my throat. “Yeah, right. You need to start a podcast called ‘Axel Says Stupid Shit.’”
Silence.
“You? Owning me?” I shake my head, wiping away laughing tears. “I’d rather be jobless, penniless, and starving. Hell, I’d rather be dead before I let a man own me, Axel King.”
“You may be cavalier with your life, but what about your sisters?”
I stab my finger at him. “Touch a red hair on one of my sisters’ heads, and I will fuck your ass with a sword.”
His eyes shock open. Then he laughs. “Well, damn. Someone’s been watchingSe7en.”
“Exactly. And what deadly sins can I use to killyourbrothers?”
He swipes his hand. “While I appreciate your penchant for creative violence, and seriously do hope it is purely fictional, I will never hurt your sisters. But it was you who spied on me, remember? If you want them safe, I have to keep you safe now.”
“Safe from what? You?”
“No. Safe from the men who want to kill me and my brothers. And since you wanted to play Black Widow, looking hotter than Scarlett Johansson, I might add, you’re one of us now. Hence, you’re mine.”
Wait. Did he just compliment me?
Oh shit. Did he just claim me, too?
“Hence what? I’m in the mafia now?”
“We’re not the mafia. We’re much worse.” He sounds so relaxed about it. “The mafia wants us.”
“You’re wanted for what?” I quip, “Mafia fashionviolations? They don’t like your bling? It doesn’t match your cliché black suit, white shirt, and evil ink? I keep meaning to tell you; very original. Visionary, actually.”
He fights a smile, and it’s really damn sexy, especially now that my murder isn’t on his immediate agenda.
“You’ll stay with me,” he commands. “You’ll prove I can trust you, and when I do, I’ll answer your questions.”
“Stay with you? Like, keep working for you?”
“That, and you’ll live with me.”
My silence. My shock. My heart, running like it’s on fire and screaming down the street.
“It’s the only way to keep you safe,” he continues. “To keep you from being kidnapped and used as an asset against my family or yours. Apparently, you know too much about me, and they will torture it out of you.” He calmly shifts focus. “You’ll have your own bedroom. It has an ensuite. You’ll have privacy and?—”
“No way.” I rebel. “I live with my sisters. We’ve always been together and kept each other safe. And the last person I trust to protect me is you.”
That’s not entirely true. Axel can protect me. He’s so alpha and intimidating that he could’ve convinced Jeffrey Dahmer to starve, but hey, hyperbole wins arguments.
“Ruby…”
He leans forward, his arms resting on his elbows. He’s taken his jacket off and rolled up his white sleeves. A golden tie hangs loose around his neck, and for the first time, I can see more of his dark ink and the cryptic story on his tan skin.
And for the first time, I realize…
Axel said my name.
He made it sound special. Like a gift on his tongue. Like he opened a ribboned box. Like he openedme.