Page 188 of Wicked Proposal

Why can’t I just behappy?

Because you know this is wrong,that cold voice at the back of my mind whispers.You’re still lying to her. You’re still putting her at risk.

You’re just dressing her in white for it.

I want to call it a liar, but I can’t. Even now, Mia is still in unspeakable danger. She’s still the lamb I paraded around for the slaughter.

And because of that, I need to make her my wife as soon as possible.

Mia closes her lips around the strawberry. I feel her tongue lapping at my fingertips, just enough to tease.

She has no idea what kind of monster she’s about to marry. What kind of beast is feeding her treats while tightening the noose around her neck.

“When did you get these?” Her hands start tracing the tattoos on my arms. Jagged lines, soft lines—her fingers don’t discriminate, following each with reverence.

“Eighteen,” I answer, covering her hand with mine. “My swearing-in ceremony.”

“Sounds important.”

“It is.”

“What’s it like? A swearing-in ceremony?”

“You’ll see one eventually.”

“As yourpakhansha?”

Yes. And my prisoner.

“You’ve learned that word very quickly.”

“I’m a quick study.” She grins big. “Wanted to go into foreign languages when I was a kid. Then…” She takes a long, deep breath. “Dad got sick one day. It was all very out of the blue. I was fourteen.”

“Sick?”

“He collapsed,” she explains. “While we were down at the beach. Everyone was saying it was just the heat, to put him in the shade and give him some water, but I knew that wasn’t it. In my gut, I just knew.”

“You called 911?”

“You bet I did.” She slumps against my chest. “Dad was furious. Said we were making a scene in front of the neighbors, runningup a bill for nothing. Mom and Ginny backed me up, though. We stuffed him in the back of that ambulance and followed by car.”

“Ginny?”

“My sister.” Her tone turns wistful. “I haven’t seen her in five years. None of them, really.”

Realization dawns. “Because of Brad.”

She gives me a weak smile. “Couldn’t let his goons put a tail on me back to New York, could I? Especially not with…”

A kid in tow with curly blond hair and the perfect age to be his.

“You won’t have to worry about that anymore,” I growl. “Brad isn’t stupid enough to fuck with apakhan’s wife. He knows what I am. What I can do to him.”

“I don’t know,” she sighs. “He’s been pretty bold regardless.”

“He thought I wouldn’t care.” I tip up her chin, hooking her gaze. “After the wedding, he’ll know I do. And once I adopt Eli, he won’t have a say in your life anymore. Either of your lives.”

Mia’s eyes widen. “Adopt?!”