Page 83 of Ruthless Commander

“Xael,”he growled. “Comenow.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna take a pass on that,” she answered.

I fought the twitch in the corner of my lips and added, “As will I. You can consider this my formal resignation. I’m out…and I’m taking Xael with me.”

Dominic Salvatore nailed me to the spot with a dangerous stare. There was a glint in his eyes, one I’d seen many times before. Dominic Salvatore was a very dangerous man…one most people underestimated. Luckily, I wasn’t most men.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose as we stood out in the open, unarmed, while his soldiers lifted their weapons, flanking our sides. Was he really going to do this? Was he really prepared to have them open fire, killing me…while Xael stood at my side?

The thought of that burned in my gut. Ruthless, low-life piece of shit.

“You know as well as any man that no one walks,” Dominic Salvatore started.

A tiny red light danced in the middle of his chest. His head security officer jerked his gaze toward the thing and scowled. “Uh, sir,” he murmured, then glanced toward the buildings in the distance.

“Unless they make a better offer,” I finished.

I didn’t like this offer…fucking loathed it if I was honest. But Edon had spent a good six hours trying to convince me this was the only way out. Made no difference to him, he said. A kill was a kill, regardless who paid.

Unless the kill was for family.

Which Dominic Salvatore was finding out.

The Commission leader didn’t bother to look down at the sniper’s mark dancing in the center of his chest. It was as though he'd known the moment he'd stepped off the boat how this would play out.

The corners of his lips twitched. “You were saying?”

“It seems my brother is in need of employment, on a contract basis, of course.”

He just gave a nod. “Of course.”

“In exchange for me…and Xael.”

“What the fuck?” Taran jerked his gaze to Dominic.

But the head of the Salvatore line just held my gaze. He knew…he knew everything. The man hadn’t missed a beat when I'd spoken to him on the phone yesterday after the attack. He'd just told me to prepare for their arrival. So this was me, being prepared.

“I take it this…leave of absence is nonnegotiable?” he asked.

“Very.”

“You understand what that means?”

Taran just snarled. “No fucking way, Dominic, this is my goddamn daughter you’re talking about.”

“No.” I glanced his way. “I’m talking about my future wife.”

Xael jerked her gaze to me. “You are?”

I met her surprise. “I am.”

In a second, the Commission and their army faded away, leaving her behind. I wasn’t a man of words…only of action. I'd walked into that prison and carried out my brother…now I was carrying out my wife.

If she’d have me…

“Yes,” she answered, as though she heard the tremor of fear in my head. “Fuck, yes.”

“Then that solves that.” Dominic nodded. “She’s a member of the Commission, and as head of the Commission, I grant you two permission to marry and start a family.”