Page 40 of Arranged Control

“Finn goes.” She pushes herself to her feet. “I understand you’re trying to make sure I’m protected. I’m not stupid and I’m not suicidal. If you had come to me and discussed this, we might’ve found a solution. Instead, you sent your brother, who wasn’t very subtle, by the way.”

“Sounds like him,” I mutter, annoyed he didn’t at least try to pull this off without making her angry.

“What do I have to do to make Finn go away?”

My eyebrows raise. “You want to cut a deal?”

“I told you. I’m not stupid.”

I consider that. She’s definitely not dumb. That’s obvious. The girl’s been around crime families long enough to know how this goes. She’s likely had protective details more than once over the years.

“Finn stays.” She starts to protest, but I keep going. “At least for the remainder of today. Then I’ll send a permanent guard duty. People who will be discreet and respectful. They’ll keep a reasonable distance, but they’ll still be around in case anything happens.”

“I don’t like it.”

“You want a deal? This is my offer.”

“Tell Finn he has to wait outside.” She comes around my desk. “And you need someone to fix those books for you. Hire a real accountant, for God’s sake.”

“I’ll tell him.” She strides past me. I’m tempted to reach out and grab her by the pretty blonde hair. I could crush her mouth with mine and tame that feisty attitude with a vicious kiss.

Instead, I let her go. No reason to make things worse.

“One more request,” I say before she leaves.

Alina pauses and looks back. “What’s that?”

“Come visit my house tonight. At least see the place before you decide you hate it.”

She stares at me. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but she’s clearly not happy. After a second, she nods sharply. “Pick me up tonight. Shop closes at six-thirty.”

“See you then, lovely wife.”

Her frown tightens. “Is that blood on your shirt?” She shakes her head and walks away. “Actually, I don’t want to know.”

I watch her hips sway as she goes.

My wife’s a pain in the ass. Not because she’s stubborn or because she’s an obsessive neat freak.

She’s a pain because I care about what she thinks.

I want to make her happy.

If she didn’t matter, this would be simple. I’d do whatever the hell I wanted and wouldn’t care if she complained.

Not happy? Too fucking bad.

Unfortunately, I’m trapped trying to actually take her feelings into account, and it’s the absolute worst.

Chapter 13

Alina

Idon’t know what I expected.

Most of the men in my family’s organization live in decent homes, at least the highest-ranking members. They send their kids to private schools, drive nice cars, and eat at good restaurants.

I’m not sure why I thought Seamus might be an exception.