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“Right. But this would just be a contract.”

“Absolutely.”

“And that would make me seem more credible in the eyes of the pricks in whatever syndicate we come in contact with.”

“Yes,” I told her. “No one would dare try and attack the wife or family of a drug lord. At least initially.”

“Oh, but eventually they’ll just come in and kill me? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No, whatever enemy we face is more likely to attempt to slaughter me.” That was partially a lie but scaring her any more than I’d already captured in her eyes wouldn’t have her running to the altar.

“Leaving me a widow and oh-so vulnerable.” Her voice dripped of sarcasm.

I nodded. “Do you understand what the Turks and Moroccans will do if they gain any control, especially of your territory?”

“Buy and sell more drugs.”

“Not just that. The Moroccans have been involved in slave trading for decades. I’m talking about the abduction and selling of women and children to the highest bidder. Often their husbands and fathers are slaughtered attempting to protect their families. They sell to countries where I assure you these people can never escape from and will never be freed. They will live out their lives performing sex acts with dozens of men. If they’re lucky, they’ll die a quick and early death. They once took from poor countries in Africa and South America, but the need for more… exotic women, more cultured women have driven them to try and invade our country. I hope you can read between the lines, Genevieve.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning, once they kill your men, they will take you and your sister because you will be grade-A property and make them a pretty penny. They’ll use your kidnapping as a way of keeping others to come after them. It’s just something for you to keep in mind.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks and her eyes flashed so I knew she heard me, but whether or not what I’d said was enough to help her make the only decent decision I couldn’t determine.

She tapped her finger on the rim of her mug, staring at me more intently than she had the night before. “A full contract.”

“Just like you demand, princess.”

“Very funny. I think you know by now I’m not a princess.”

The woman could irritate me like no other, but she’d enticed a part of me that I’d ignored. Maybe that’s why the thought wasn’t reprehensible to me. Plus, I could keep control over her while also protecting her.

“Make no mistake that you are in danger, Genevieve. By now you’ve received threats. Haven’t you? They’ve been subtle, more like overtures than anything else.”

“You mean like that way you handled a required meeting with me?”

“I assure you my invitation was more like one to a party than what will happen if you ignore the requests for a meeting.”

“Whatever,” she scoffed. “I won’t be intimidated into this or anything else.”

I took another sip of now lukewarm coffee. I’d never been in the business to waste time threatening anyone. If a business arrangement needed to get to that point, the man should already be dead. However, I felt it prudent to provide her with a gentle reminder we’d already had a verbal agreement even if the details had yet to be worked out.

“What about sharing a bed? Would this marriage be in name only or are we expected to consummate our wedding vows?” There was a slight glimmer of lust in her eyes that shouldn’t have been unexpected.

“We need to make certain our story is believable including to our soldiers. I assure you their loyalty will be pushed to the limit.”

Her laugh sounded so bitter. “Of course. Fringe benefits. What about heirs?”

Fuck. Where the hell had that come from? Was she serious? The thought hadn’t crossed my mind.

“I guess we’ll need to see how well we tolerate each other.” A rarity if I was being honest.

“I won’t be your fuck buddy without expectations firmly laid in place. As far as being the mother of your children? I’d be fearful you’d eventually boil them in oil.”

At that moment, all I could think about was ripping the robe from her body, fucking her on the kitchen island. I looked away instead, shutting down my raging libido.

“Don’t take too long,” I told her. “I’m not a patient man; the rats are already scuttling from the toxic waste where they live and besides, you owe me.”