Page 114 of Arranged Addiction

I tilt my head. “Are you holding up alright?”

He doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stares at the window, but eventually he nods. “Strange taking over the family like this. When I always thought I’d be on the outside. The things my cousin and uncle did, they maybe had their reasons. We’re all still reeling from it.”

“Keep earning it, Connor, and you’ll do well.”

The boy seems eager as he gets up and shakes my hand. “My blood for the clan,” he says as I show him to the elevators.

When I return to the office, Casey’s sitting on my desk, her legs crossed. Her skirt rides up her thighs, and I take a moment to enjoy the sight as I shut the door behind me.

“You know, Ms. Brennan, you look very inappropriate sitting like that.”

“I do?” She pretends to be surprised and slowly uncrosses her legs, spreading her knees. “What about now?” Her skirt rides up higher, giving me a glimpse of her panties. She’s only wearing stockings, and they end at the very tops of her legs.

“You’re starting something you shouldn’t.” I approach slowly, feeling a stirring of hunger.

But her legs snap closed. “Easy, boy. I’m only teasing.”

“You know you can’t do that.”

“I can and I did.” She laughs and hops off my desk. I grab her and kiss her, but she wriggles from my grip. “You’re getting soft, you know.”

“I’m not feeling the opposite right now.”

“You know what I mean. We’re still not sure Rory wasn’t a part of Donnell’s trap in the end.”

I sigh and slump back into my chair. “You’re right, but I can either spend a few months murdering a whole lot of people, or I can start rebuilding. I bet that boy is more loyal to me now than his father ever was to my father.”

“What a clever man.”

“I’m a leader now. I can’t afford to be a vicious fuck anymore.”

“Well, you can be alittlevicious, so long as you’re not stupid too.”

“Fair point.” I reach out and tug her close. She drops down into my lap and kisses me. “I’ve been thinking about our arrangement.”

“Have you?” Her eyebrows raise as she wriggles her hips. “Feels like you’re thinking about something else right now.”

“I mean it. You’re my wife. You don’t have to keep playing executive assistant too if you don’t want to.”

She shrugs and leans in, brushing her lips against mine. “If I stop that, what would you do with yourself?”

“Fall to pieces most likely.”

“Exactly, and besides, so long as we’re still working together, I have a good excuse to be in the room with you.”

“I just want to give you options.”

“Good. I love you for that.”

“And I adore you.” I pull her close and kiss her harder. “Honestly, baby, I need you with me.”

“I’m the brains of this operation.”

“Something like that.”

“I got my monster, and I plan on keeping him.” She leans in close and breathes in deep. “We’re better together, right?”

I pull her hair lightly. “Exactly. Always better together.”