Page 23 of Surrendered Hearts

I might not ever learn how to negotiate with her, or share her, but I will always, from this day forward, love her with everything I fucking have.

EPILOGUE

EMILIA

“Javier called,” Carly says, coming into my office, brows arched. “He said to tell you, and I quote him exactly, ‘to stop ignoring my fucking calls and get her ass on the phone to me’. I think maybe you should get your ass on the phone. I don’t think I want to chance his wrath making an appearance in our office today.”

I smile, my only excuse being the pregnancy hormones flooding my body, because I’m certainly not smiling at what my husband has said.

The man is intolerable.

But damn him, I love him more than I’ve ever loved anyone.

Three years of marriage, which have been three years of living with an overbearingly arrogant asshole who still hasn’t learned the meaning of compromise, have only increased the love I have for him.

“I’ll call him,” I promise.

“Thank you. I’m not answering any more calls until you do.”

She exits the office and I reach for my phone.

“I don’t like being ignored, Emilia,” Javier answers, his dark voice reaching into my veins like it always does, intensifying the thrum of need that lives there 24/7.

“I’ve been busy.”

“And you know how I feel about you being too busy for me.”

“I’m never too busy for you, Javier, but sometimes I have work to do.”

“I’m coming to pick you up. Be ready in half an hour.”

Javier will never change.

I know this after three years of being married to him.

And since changing him isn’t my goal in life, I’ve learned how to work with him.

“Give me an hour.”

“No. Half an hour,dulzura.”

“I need an hour. If you don’t give me that, I will have to bring work home with me.”

I practically feel his growl through the phone as he says, “Forty-five minutes. Don’t make me wait.”

He disconnects the call and I smile as I stare at our wedding photo sitting on my desk in front of me.

That day seems so long ago now.

It was chaotic with the threat from another cartel, but my husband did what he always does and kept everyone safe. He then spent the next year dealing with the fallout of me killing Perez.

Today, the Serrano Cartel is strong and united. Our union ensured that, and there isn’t one drop of bad blood between our families now. Javier might be ruthless and cruel to those who cross him, but for those he loves, he goes to extremes to make sure all is right.

And this man loves me.

Deeply.

Completely.

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