Page 35 of Coercion

“There was talk, I mean…” He trails off, running his hand over his face like he’s trying to figure out the right way of explaining something to me.

“Talk of what?” I growl.

“When they arrived in the city, there was some sort of incident. A boy, he was dealt with.”

My eyebrow raises at that. “How is that relevant to my wife?”

“The rumour is they were trying to escape. I think the pair of them were together, in a relationship, and they were trying to run away. They got caught. The boy ended up with a bullet in his head and well, Ruby…”

Ended up married to me.

I narrow my eyes, remembering the tears, remembering the way she was as she fought so desperately the entire length of the church. Was that her plan then? Was she and this boy in love? Were they planning to run off into the sunset together and that’s why she was so upset at our wedding? Had she imagined him waiting there at the altar for her and not the brute of a man she ended up shackled to?

I feel a flash of jealousy, of fury too. Whoever this boy was, he had no right to intervene, no right to try to steal my bride; good thing he got a bullet to the head because, if I’d caught him, I would have done far worse.

Ruby is mine. No one is taking her from me.

But Nico is going to do just that.

I know once Levi has been dealt with, then this marriage will be annulled and my young bride will no longer be mine.

I can’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen. She’s my responsibility and I refuse to give her up.

But that thought is just as illogical as my sudden lack of control. What do I really care for a girl I don’t even know? What does it matter if our marriage is annulled? I grit my teeth, hating the voice in my head, hating the swirling emotions. I owe Nico my loyalty, I won’t let something as benign as a pretty face fuck over everything I’ve worked so hard to build.

“Boss?”

I don’t reply, I just get up, stalking past where the man in the centre of the room is currently screaming out as they hack away at bits of him.

I step out, onto the balcony, staring past the bright lights to where the dark hillside is, where my main home is, where right now, my wife is technically safely locked away. Is she wondering where I am? Is she missing me? I pull my phone, checking the tracker for what must be the umpteenth time. I know she’s there and yet seeing it on the screen seems to ease some of the tension inside me. It’s a pitiful way of dealing with this – and I already know a far better one and it’s so tempting despite the stakes involved.

“What’s a handsome man like you doing out here all alone?”

I don’t turn, I don’t even react as Justine waltzes up to me. Her and a few of her buddies are clearly having a night off from the bar. I know they hang out here, I know they fuck my men, help channel their anger into a more productive outlet

Her hand brushes up my spine, touching me in a far too familiar manner.

“Go away, Justine,” I mutter. It’s not that she’s unattractive, far from it. And it’s not like I haven’t fucked her more times than I can count.

“You seem tense.” She says, positioning herself between me and the balustrade.

I narrow my eyes, taking in the heavy makeup, the heavily done up hair, and the knowing smirk. All so very different from the woman I married.

“It’s been a while…” She adds, like I don’t know it.

“I’m married.” I state, as if that explains my absence.

She tilts her head, dropping to her knees, and her hands reach to grasp my belt. “I won’t tell if you don’t.” She giggles.

“Justine.” I say in warning.

“Preston,” She replies, sliding the buckle loose. “You need to relax. Clearly your new bride isn’t giving you what you need, so use me, I’m more than happy to do whatever it takes to satisfy your needs.” Her hands grab my cock as she speaks the last ofit, freeing it from my boxers, and it hardens more as the cold air hits it.

In my hand, I can still see the screen, the dot, the marker that my wife is right now in my home. It would be easy to do it, easy to fuck Justine and work out some of this tension. Hell, it would probably help whatever bullshit it is messing with my head.

As I shut my eyes, I see her face, Ruby’s, and for a moment I imagine it’s her, her mouth, her hands,herso eager for my cock.

Only, it’s not her.