Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“Not when you try to take over the devil’s job,” she says, pushing away from me.
The room’s a fucking mess and the dress she’s wearing looks like it was massacred. A faint red blush paints her cheeks when she looks at herself in the mirror. I step toward her and brush my thumb against her flushed skin.
“Let’s agree that dress number four isn’t the right choice,” I say, and she lets out a shaky breath. “Go clean up in the bathroom. I’ll take care of the mess out here.”
She arches an eyebrow in surprise. “I don’t think you’ve cleaned a day in your life.”
“Usually only dead bodies. So blood, glass, and a few items on the floor are nothing.”
She glances around again and then back at me, raising a brow. “You know you’re not normal, right?”
I smirk. “Depends on whose definition you’re using.”
She shakes her head in disbelief as she walks away on shaky legs, and before I tuck my cock away, I take in her initials on my leg, a smirk touching my lips.
I don’t care what dress she steps out in next because I already got what I wanted from today.
CHAPTER 38
Eli
She’s drunk. And I think my mother likes her. I basically carry my soon-to-be wife to the car and close the door behind her once I’ve deposited her in the passenger seat.
My mother is waving at Jewel, who gives her a thumbs up, and she can’t help but laugh. “She’s really nervous about this wedding, isn’t she?”
I freeze at my mother’s insight. I hope she thinks it’s only premarital jitters and has nothing to do with the level of intensity that it actually is.
“Marrying into a powerful family has its challenges,” she elaborates. “But I see the way you two look at each other. The way she challenges you? I’ve never seen someone keep you on your toes like that before. Having a family welcome her in might be overwhelming for her, though, so make sure you support her every step of the way. Be nice.”
“I’m always nice,” I say defensively, and she gives me a yeah, sure look.
“You only get one chance at this.”
“You had two chances,” I remind her.
She smiles in memory at that. “I literally shot your father in the leg right in front of his mother and then ran from the chapel. Let’s just say the second time, when we officially married, she wasn’t so keen on me. But she respected me.”
“Are you giving Jewel permission to shoot me in the leg?”
“No, but at the very least, I hope she gives you hell to keep you in line.” She smirks. “I really like her. She’s lovely, but she isn’t used to this. You’ll be the only family she has. Don’t take that honor for granted.”
I already knew that. I know when she gets overwhelmed. I see her nervous habits, for example, when she bites at the skin around her nails.
I look over at Jewel, who’s scrolling through her phone. Her feet are on my dashboard, and I feel my left eye twitch. I know all of these things, but I didn’t care about them before. Now, there’s a sliver of guilt because she’s becoming a multifaceted person to me. Not just a pawn. Not just a toy.
My phone starts ringing in my pocket, and I know who it is without looking. It’s Michelle, angry I canceled our regular meetups. She’s been calling every day. And every day, I don’t answer.
My mother taps on the window, and Jewel lowers it. “Make sure my son gets you some dinner on the way home.”
Jewel hiccups with a smile and somberly says, “You’re a good mom. I wish I had you as a mom.”
My mother cups her cheek. “You’re already a part of the family, dear.” Then she turns to me. “Put her to bed and make sure she drinks plenty of water.” With that last piece of advice, she heads toward her own car. I wait until she’s gone before I get into mine.
“You. You are a piece of fucking shit,” Jewel says with her eyes closed, head leaning back against the headrest.
“Tell me what you really think,” I tease, and her eyelids pop open. She swings her head to the side to face me.
“I did, or are you stupid as well?” I can’t help the smirk that fights to break out on my lips as I start the car. “I had too much to drink. I hate marriage, and I hate you.”
“I know, Kitten. I know,” I soothe as I wrap my hand over her knee. She grumbles in complaint as two of her fingers hook around one of mine. When I look over at her again, her eyes are closed, and she appears to be sleeping. She really didn’t get any sleep last night, but it is most likely up to God knows what.