Page 47 of Claimed By the Villain

“I’ve never stopped to think about it. I guess I just don’t judge him, just like I didn’t judge my brother or my father.”

Chapter 25

“I’m going to sell my property in Colombia,” I tell Beau.

He didn’t warn me he was coming to New York. We’re meeting in the office of one of the Hazard branches, the nightclub chain that, if everything goes as planned, will soon be mine. But first, I have to kill the bastard who’s hunting me.

“It’s already been very useful to us,” he says, and I nod, remembering what he’s referring to.

A few years ago, the wife of one of the Pakhan’s underbosses was kidnapped and taken to South America. Beau used my property as the base for the rescue operation.

“There’s no point in keeping it if I’m getting married. I doubt Jackie would want to go there.”

“How did she take your proposal?”

“It wasn’t exactly a proposal.”

“You’ve already started a war before she even said yes?”

“She’s already said yes. Well, maybe not in so many words, but she agreed to the marriage.”

I’ve already arranged for my lawyers to rush the paperwork so we can get married as soon as possible.

“Did you at least buy a ring?”

“A ring?”

“For fuck’s sake, Lucifer, that’s not something you just forget! Women care about those details.”

“Not Jackie. She doesn’t give a damn.”

“How do you know? Have you ever given her jewelry?”

“I gave her an apartment. I kept her safe.”

“Noble of you, but that’s something a brother would do, not a lover.”

I stare at him, trying to think of a subtle way to bring up what I want to ask, but I don’t see one, so I get straight to the point.

“How do you get connection with a woman?”

“What?”

“You’ve been married for years. You must be connected to Amber, whatever the hell that means.”

I’ve never seen Beau laugh in all the time I’ve known him, but right now, he throws his head back and lets out a laugh.

“Gonna gloat?”

“It was the way you said it,” he says, trying to keep a straight face and failing. “To answer your question, yes, I’m definitely connected to my Amber.”

“So how did you get that?”

“I’m not sure I understand your question.”

“Jackie said yesterday she wanted connection, and not to feel used.”

“She doesn’t just want to fuck. She wants the after.”