Page 56 of Captive Audience

“Oh, I think we are.”

Finn cleared his throat. “Ma’am, if it’s all the same to you, I’d really like to keep my job.”

“Yes,Wife. Finn’s one of my best and in line for a promotion. Don’t screw it up for him.”

I glared at Rook in a way that hopefully conveyed how much I wanted to smother him with a pillow in his sleep. Or while he was awake. I really didn’t care at this point, and I probably wouldn’t be the first Mob wife to off her insufferable husband.

I dropped the death stare, then turned to Finn. “I’m really sorry your boss is being an unreasonable jerk. But don’t worry. You and I are going to get along just fine.” I reached across to give my bodyguard a friendly pat on the arm since he seemed kind of uptight about his new role.

Across the counter, Rook stared at my outstretched hand as if it’d somehow offended him. And Finn—eyes wide as tennis balls—went completely still. The poor guy looked like I’d clamped jumper cables to his balls and held the other end an inch from a car battery. His audible swallow sounded painful.

Rook held a palm up. “It’s okay, Finn. She doesn’t know.”

“Shedoesn’t knowwhat?” I spat.

“How to behave around men who aren’t your husband.”

The nerve of this fucking guy.

My heart pounded. Heat radiated from my face. Each finger in my clenched fist itched to grab something andsqueeze. Rook’s throat seemed like a worthy target.

He nodded toward Finn. “You have your orders.”

“Aye, Boss.”

“And give Mrs. O’Connell full access to the security console. She’d like to review some footage.”

“I’ll get right on it.” Finn headed for the hallway like the starting gun had just gone off for an Olympic event. Couldn’t imagine why he was in such a hurry to leave.

Once he was out of earshot, I folded my arms and confronted Rook. “What did you mean I don’t know how to behave around men who aren’t my husband? I barely patted Finn on the arm, and you both freaked out.”

“You’re the wife of a Beast, and no one touches what’s ours. To do so is a disrespect punishable by death.”

“But Finn didn’t touch me.”

“And he never would unless it were necessary to keep you safe, but you just put him in an awkward situation. You need to understand that if you’re forward with another man and he returns the gesture, I’ll kill him.”

I blinked fast as I digested his threat. “You can’t be serious.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“You’d murder a man for flirting with me?”

“Aye, and if things go further than that, I’ll make his death last a month.”

“But I’m not even your real wife.”

His jaw clenched like my words had angered him. I wasn’t sure why. “Care to test me and find out?”

Holy shit. He was serious.

Fucking psycho.

“And what would you do to me? Would I get a bullet to the head, too?”

“For adultery?” His expression darkened. “No, love. I wouldn’t kill you. But from that day on, I’d ruin every man you looked at with even a spark of interest. I’d burn their lives to ash and leave you to live with the guilt, with knowing it was your mistake that destroyed them.”

My breath caught, but I refused to let it show.