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I pushed off from the doorframe, moving further into the room. “True. But it’s up to you whether this becomes a prison or a paradise. Your attitude will determine how you’re treated here.”

She lifted her chin rebelliously. “And if I choose to fight you every step of the way?”

I stared down at her, shaking my head softly as I reached out and closed my hand around her breast. I squeezed harder than I needed to, cupping the jiggly, round mound in my hand as my thumb glided over her nipple.

I wouldn’t raise my voice at her. I had never raised my voice in my life.

It was part of the reason people feared me so much. I always kept my calm.

A whimper escaped her lips as she stumbled back. My arm whipped out, capturing her around the waist and drawing her to me. As I was about to respond further to Demi’s defiant dare, rapid footsteps approached from the hallway. Mateo appeared in the doorway, his brown face flushed with excitement.

“ Jefe ,” he called out, slightly out of breath. “I have news about the shipments in Sinaloa.”

I held up a hand, silencing him momentarily. “Un momento, Mateo.” Turning back to Demi, I said, “We’ll continue this discussion in a minute, mi amor . Make yourself comfortable or don’t.”

She rolled her eyes but said nothing as I stepped out into the hallway with Mateo.

“What’s the update?” I queried, keeping my voice low.

Mateo grinned, his dark eyes gleaming. “It’s good news, boss. I was able to pay off a few workers at customs. Our product is in motion as we speak.”

A surge of satisfaction coursed through me. The shipment was crucial for maintaining our stronghold in the region. I clapped Mateo on the shoulder, squeezing it firmly. “Excellent work, amigo . This will put us ahead of schedule.”

“ Gracias , Jefe ,” Mateo boasted, clearly pleased by the praise. “I’ll keep you updated on its progress.”

I nodded. “Do that, and make sure our men are in place for the distribution. We can’t afford any more issues.”

As Mateo hurried off to carry out my orders, I turned back to Demi’s room. I found her standing by the window with her arms crossed tightly over her chest as the sunlight caught her glossy black curls.

“Back so soon?” she asked, her tone carefully neutral.

I studied her for a moment, noting the tension in her shoulders and the way she refused to meet my gaze. “Why so damn silent all of a sudden? You had plenty to say earlier.”

Demi turned to face me, her brown eyes narrowing with suspicion. “I’m just . . . surprised, I suppose.”

“About?” I pressed, moving closer.

She hesitated, then said, “The way you were with your man just now. Commending him, giving him kudos . . .” She let her voice drift off before a bitter laugh escaped her lips. “My father would never do anything like that.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the glimpse into her family dynamics. “No? And how does your father treat his men?”

Demi’s smooth jaw tightened. “Like dogs,” she answered. “Only to be kicked when they fail and ignored when they succeed. He believes fear is the only way to ensure loyalty.”

I considered her words carefully. While fear certainly had its place in our world, I’d always believed that a combination of respect and reward yielded better results. “And you disagree with his methods?”

She shrugged, turning back to the window. “It doesn’t matter what I think. I’m just a pawn in his game, same as I am in yours.”

Her words stirred something in me—anger, yes, but also a strange desire to prove her wrong.

I stepped closer, close enough to smell the faint scent of her perfume.

“You’re no pawn, Demi. You’re the queen on this chessboard, whether you like it or not.

And I’m not your father. I’m nothing like him,” I confirmed.

Her neck twisted, and her hair cascaded down one side of her chest as she faced me. There was a challenge in her eyes that made my blood simmer.

“Oh really?” she challenged, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “And how’s that, Ozias?”

I closed the distance between us, my eyes never leaving hers. “I’m a better leader,” I stated plainly. “That’s why people wanna see me dead.”

A scoff escaped her lips, and for a moment, I caught a spark of fire that reeled me into her in the first place. “No,” she said, her voice thick with disdain. “They wanna kill you because you’re brutal and ruthless.”

Her words hung in the air between us, and I couldn’t help the smirk that spread across my face. She meant it as an insult, but to my ears, it was the highest form of compliment.

“Someone has to be, mi amor ,” I murmured, reaching out to brush away a stray eyelash from her cheek. She flinched at my touch but didn’t pull away. “In this world, brutality and ruthlessness are the only things keeping us alive.”

Demi’s eyes narrowed, a mix of confusion and defiance swirling in their depths. “And what about kindness? What about compassion?”

I let out a dark chuckle. “I already told you kindness gets you killed in this business, and compassion is a luxury we can’t afford.”

As I said the words, I couldn’t help but think of all the times my own compassion had nearly been my downfall. The faces of those I’d lost flashed through my mind, a grim reminder of the cost of weakness in the cartel.

Demi must’ve seen something in my expression because her own softened slightly. “Is that really what you believe?” she whispered.

I considered my answer carefully before blessing her with a response. Part of me wanted to maintain the facade, to be the monster she clearly thought I was. But something about her vulnerability at that moment compelled me to be honest.

“It’s what I’ve had to believe to survive,” I admitted, my tone curt with unexpected emotion.

“To keep my people safe. To build something that will last.” I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what came next.

The time for games was over. “But enough about my beliefs, Demi. Let’s talk about your future. ”

Her shoulders tensed. “My future?”

“Yes, your future,” I repeated, my tone brooking no argument, “as my wife.”

Demi’s eyes widened as a mix of shock and anger flashed across her face. “Your wife? You can’t be serious.”

I stepped closer, invading her personal space. “I’m dead ass serious. You will be my wife, willing or not. It’s non-negotiable.”

She backed away, her breath coming faster. “You’re insane. I won’t do it. You can’t force me to marry you!”

“Can’t I?” I quizzed. “You were already promised to me, Demi. My rules. My expectations.”

For a moment, I saw fear in her eyes. It was quickly replaced by determination as she suddenly bolted for the door. I reacted instantly, my hand shooting out to grasp her arm.

“Let go of me before I kick your—” she snarled but she never finished that sentence. The look I gave her put a stop to it.

She gave a yelp as I spun her around and pushed her back against the wood paneling of the wall.

It was smooth. She wouldn’t get splinters, but it clearly knocked the wind out of her.

Our faces were inches apart. Her chest heaved with exertion and anger.

“I’m like your shadow, Demi. You can’t escape me. Just accept that shit.”

“I’ll never accept it,” she spat. “I’ll never be yours.”

Something inside me snapped at the sound of her words.

Without thinking, I crashed my lips against hers in a bruising kiss.

She stiffened at first, then, to my surprise, began to respond.

Her lips softened against mine as a small moan escaped her throat when I slipped the tip of my tongue into her mouth.

When I finally pulled back, we were both breathless. I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You’re already mine, Demi. You belong to me now. All of you,” I confirmed.

I noticed the conflict raging in Demi’s eyes as she processed my words.

Her chest heaved with each ragged breath, her warm brown skin flushed with a mix of anger and desire, perhaps?

Whatever it was, I didn’t give a fuck. I reached out and roughly pulled her sports bra over her breasts.

Instantly, she crossed her arms over her C-cup mounds.

I caught her wrists, dragging her arms down.

“No.” I didn’t shout it, but she jumped like I had.“Don’t cover up, mi amor . Show off that beautiful body of yours when you’re around me.”

My eyes drifted down, feasting on her high breasts. Each one was topped with a chocolate nipple that had hardened under my gaze. I rubbed my thumb over one of those hard points, drawing it up even harder.

“Please, El—I mean, Ozias. Not like this,” she whimpered.

The things I wanted to do to those breasts would do more than make her whimper. They would make her scream with both pleasure and pain, sounds I couldn’t wait to hear and record to memory.

“Why?” I pinched her nipple, and her little cry was music to my ears. “You’re as good as my wife already.”

I didn’t want to wait. My hands slipped around her body as I lifted her off her feet so I could move her where I needed her to be.

Fear filled her eyes. “Ozias, please.”

Lines pulled at the corners of my mouth. “I like it when you beg, Demi.”

I let my hand lazily travel down her body, over her round breasts and across her flat stomach. Soon, it wouldn’t be flat, though. I’d make it swell with my seed. A baby was the only thing that would stop her from running away from me.

“I’ll never be happy with you,” she snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. “Never.”

I leaned in close, my lips brushing her ear. “Your happiness isn’t my primary concern, mi amor . What matters is that you’ll be my wife.”

Demi’s eyes flashed with fury. Before I could react, her hand connected with my cheek in a stinging slap. The sound echoed throughout the room.

For a moment, I was stunned. Then, a dark chuckle escaped my throat as my dick pulsed. “You shouldn’t have done that.”