Page 207 of Ruin Me With Lies

“SO, HOW AREWEgoing to make this work?”Stefano asks, curling a lock of my hair around his finger.

I rub my feet against his on the couch, soaking up his body heat.“That depends on how much you’re willing to compromise.”

“I can…compromise.”His wince and grimace as he squeezes out the word “compromise” makes me laugh.

“Oh, really, Mr.I Want What I Want and I Want It Now Exactly How I Demand It?”

“Well, these are extenuating circumstances,” he says, glancing out the darkened windows.“It would help if I knew what you actuallydo.‘Raya’ was my twin’s assistant with a predictable schedule.What’s Soraya’s schedule like?”He pauses.“My cousin Torin tends to disappear or ‘go dark’ for months at a time on ‘missions.’Will it be like that with you?What, exactly, should I expect?”

If only what I do could be summarized in a single sentence or title.Hmm…

Help build nuclear weapons for billions of dollars?Nope, can’t tell him that yet.

Launch attacks to strong-arm nation leaders into submission?Nope, not that either.

Spend hundreds of hours with the best team of coders in the world developing a powerful super-intelligent AI system that can analyze human data and predict future events, plan and advise attacks, and hack into anything, anytime, anywhere in the world, bring down buildings and planes and decimate entire nations all with the single tap of a button?Nope, too dangerous.

Collect on debts owed and exact punishments when needed?Well…this could work.“I’m a professional debt collector.”

One brow kicks up slightly, as if he knows I’ve fed him the most digestible job description.“Debt collector, huh?”

“Yup.”I let thePpop, and he chuckles.“But I do have a lot of downtime.Sure, when I’m busy, things can be intense, and yeah, we’ll see each other less in those times.But it all evens out because there are also really long idle periods for me when things are running smoothly and no one’s stepping out of line.”

“Orbecause you’re either in ‘weaponry development phase’ or ‘coding phase’ that requires your well-rested and undivided focus,” he throws out with another knowing arch of his brow.

What?How does he… “Whatdidn’tmy dad tell you?”

He plants a kiss on my shoulder and sneaks a hand up under my tank top.“Not as much as it seems.He told me the ugly bits he thought would kill my interest in you.”

Of course he did.“The point is, my duties won’t get in the way of our relationship.Compromise is more about where and how we’ll be having that relationship.”

He rubs the underside of my breasts.“Meaning?”

“Well, obviously, I won’t be living as a dutiful little girlfriend at your villa.I have a high-functioning team of eighty which I’m responsible for.”I tip my head to the side, and he understands what I need, pressing a kiss against my skin.“We live here when the weather is good.I have other compounds in Russia, Sweden, France, the Italian Alps, and Scotland.I’m not fond of America, but...I’m not opposed to building a new compound out in the desert.”

“You’re willing to move?”

There’s surprise in his voice, as though he didn’t think it was an option.Likely because Dad made him think it wasn’t.

“Only if you’re willing to spend two weeks of winter in the Italian Alps and a few months out of the year right here with us.ThreeFours is my team’s safe haven.They won’t be a fan of the desert either, but they’ll endure it for me while I endure it for you.”

He doesn’t need to know yet that I’ve already purchased property in Nevada and have architectural blueprints for a new compound.Because I’ve wanted this man since the moment I knew he existed, and I never stopped hoping that being with him would become a possibility.That we’re even having this conversation right now?Pinch me.If he knew how obsessed I am with him, he’d do exactly what Dad wants and run for the hills.

“Easy.Done,” he agrees without hesitation.“What else?”

Man, I love him.

At the back of my mind is a pesky little voice reminding me of his predilection for powerful women, that maybe that’s what he “loves” about me and not me.If it is true that he only loves me for power, do I really care?He came after me, undeterred and undaunted, even before he knew who I was.And now he’s mine, caught in my web, no getting out.

I’ll be whatever he wants and needs.If power is what attracts him to me, I’ll have no problem filling him to the brim with it.I’ve waited too long for this to let pride get in the way.I don’t need him to love me.I just need him to be mine.And Stefano Castello belongs to me.

~

PIERCING MIDDAY SUNLIGHTforces me awake to an empty bed and an absent Stefano.

We talked ourselves to sleep last night, snuggled up under the covers, making plans for our future.We’re aligned on most things, prepared to face the inevitable pushbacks from my parents.

After freshening up, I head downstairs to the aroma of brewed coffee and a Post-it on the counter.