Page 68 of Devil's Claim

“He’s a handsome little boy. Very much like his mother,” Kruz sighed.

“He’s stubborn, but it would seem most men are.”

Kruz snorted.

With a heavy exhale, I turned toward Kruz, trying to keep a smile on my face. “Um, thank you for everything, including taking my son to his favorite place, but tomorrow, I’ll need to arrange a ride home. I mean a plane ride. I think my credit card will handle it. If not, I’ll get a quick job. That can happen… with no visa. Right?” With my arms still crossed, I lifted one hand, pressing my face into it.

“I’m afraid that isn’t going to happen, Christine.”

“Why, because you think I’m going to talk? You must be out of your mind. I will keep what happened locked away until they drop dirt on my cold, dead body.”

He smirked and I’ll be damned if his eyes were flashing once again. “That’s not the reason.”

“Then what is?”

He gripped my arms, holding me in such a way as if I was going to bolt. “Because you’re going to become my wife.”

CHAPTER 17

Christine

Marry him?

Some random, dangerous guy I’d met a few days before?

The same man who’d broken into my house and held me at gunpoint?

Blinking, I was trying to determine if I’d accidentally taken any hallucinogenic drugs. A little hit of LSD in the morning? That had to be the case because nothing else made any sense.

What was even more disturbing than the words just spouted from his mouth like poison was the serious look on Kruz’s face.

He truly believed that by telling me I was to marry him, I’d go along with the idea like some lapdog.

Like hell I would.

He walked around me, acting as if what he said was final.

I was so flabbergasted I couldn’t react at first. Before he disappeared, I reached out and grabbed his arm. “Um. Are you out of your mind?”

“You’ll make a beautiful bride.”

That did it. Something inside me snapped, the hard slap of reality just what I needed.

“Not a chance,” I told him. “I don’t know you. I can’t trust you. And I certainly don’t fall in love that easily.”

In true Kruz style, he backed me against the wall. The man could be menacing on his best days, although I’d never felt frightened of him. Yet something about the look in his eyes made me pause.

I tensed as he pressed his body against mine. The action wasn’t suffocating, but it certainly could be if he added any pressure. He casually placed a hand on the wall, peering at me with a wry smile on his face.

“Yes, you are marrying me. This isn’t about love.” His tone was authoritative, yet sensual. The combination had been irresistible before, but was now a heavy weight to bear.

“Why?”

“Because that’s what I’ve determined is in our best interest.”

“You mean yours.”

“I mean ours.” He was the walking, talking epitome of a bad guy complete with the smug demeanor and commanding voice. When he crooked a single finger, rolling it under my jaw, I wanted to pull away but couldn’t. He had a completely mesmerizing effect on me. “Now, your son is hungry, so I think the best thing to do is to head to an early dinner. After that,perhaps we’ll do some shopping. Incidentally, I ordered a bed for his room. Not exactly the same as the one you left in Miami, but close enough. Of course we’ll need some bedding and other things to make his room seem special, but we can take care of that in the next few days.”