Page 117 of The Mafia Enforcer's Temptation

“Hush, sweet thing. It’s mine, and you know it.” I level my gaze on Lev and nod. “I saw you when I took Ava to dinner. At the bar, I think. You look familiar.”

Cal lights a cigarette. “My brother’s being coy. We’ve been interested in the leader of the Lev group since it became clear your men planted the bomb at Romanov’s. You’ll have to forgive us for dismantling it. But we’re new to the game here.”

Behind them, Dec appears right as Tor opens a door and disappears into a darkened room, where he can watch and shoot, if need be. We planned this out extremely well. Down to knowing the layout of the townhouse that hasn’t been renovated since Ava’s father inherited it.

“What’s going on?” Ava pulls free from my grasp and glares around the room, but men like these don’t pay much attention to women speaking out.

Except maybe Ivan, who micro jumps. But he’s smart enough to say silent and observe.

“Be quiet, sweets,” I say, changing her pet name just a little, and she hesitates. “Just look pretty. I know you can do that.”

She’s boiling over with so much rage, I’m shocked she keeps it together, but maybe she’s just waiting to see what I’ll do. Or maybe she’s plotting my demise. Either one tracks.

“Rumor has it, Lev,” Cal says, blowing out a stream of smoke, “you’re interested in buying your way into the Volkov Bratva. But access is exclusive, am I right, Ivan?”

“Indeed, it is. Until the Pakhan is in power, then no new clients are allowed in.”

“Well, that’s about to change.” Cal smiles. “We’re thinking of starting with the Lev group. We were impressed with your bombmaking skills.”

“No,” Ava says. “I’m the new Pakhan. And I don’t want this man using the Volkov services.”

“Ava,” I warn, forcing myself to go completely cold. It’s an almost impossible task with her so close, her taste still lingering on my tongue, my need for her throbbing in my veins.

She whips around, a vengeful queen who steals my breath, and in that second, she makes me want to give in to her and pledge my life. Fuck, it makes me want to conquer her all the more. She’s singularly spectacular, and instead of basking in all that wildness, I shut down.

“I don’t need you or this marriage. No matter what, this is mine and you know it.”

I read that, too, in her father’s second part to the will. Before she’s twenty-five, not after.

But the part about her or her husband ruling is what I lock on to. I know the wording and what it means, and there’ll be small print in there, clarifying it all. Her husband will take over if she doesn’t want to rule.

I have those papers, and she’s not foolish enough to demand I whip them out here.

So the destruction of Ava continues, and every tiny inch of common ground we’ve found and clawed from the murk of hate and mistrust crumbles into dust.

“No, Ava.” I hold her arms and look into those turbulent dark-purple eyes, anger and hurt swimming in the depths. “Due to the details of our prenup and your father’s will, the one your lawyer showed us as well as the real one…” I glance at Cal, who produces a faux legal document Torin and I got from Launceston today. Silver-tongued words and silky threats worked in our favor. We promised that Ava would be fine, and we got whatwe wanted from him. “The Murphy clan now legally owns the Volkov Bratva.”

“What?” Ava’s whispered word lances my heart and I can’t answer, my response lodged in my throat.

Luckily, Callahan steps in. “Ivan can stay as second until the transition’s complete.”

“But,” I say, finally finding my voice, “Ava will be nothing more than a powerless figurehead for the bratva.”

“Over my dead body,” she hisses, trying to pull free.

I back her up against a wall and say loud enough for the others to hear, “That can be arranged. But it won’t come to that, will it? You’ll like being my wife, my slave, my toy. All the privilege and none of the worry.”

Ava wrenches herself free.

Her hand flies up but she stops herself and clenches it into a fist.

“I’ll never forgive you, Seamus. I despise you and I’ll fight you to the death.”

She turns and storms off, her high heels clicking angrily against the polished floor.

“So be it,” I say coldly. I lift my gaze to Lev. “This offer has an expiration.”

He nods eagerly. “I’ll take it to my partner.”