Page 173 of Bride By Initiation

I question, "Where are we going?"

"To the airport."

I snort. "Of course we're going to the airport. Let me rephrase my question. Once we're on the plane, where are we going?"

"You'll see," he says, his lips twitching.

"Do you ever get used to this? The secrecy's annoying," I add.

He shrugs. "Doesn't bother me."

Annoyed, I sit back in the seat and shake my head.

He glances at me, ordering, "Calm down, son. Nothing bad's going to happen."

I fume, "You said that last time, and a man tried to swing his dick in my wife's face."

He nods. "Aye. But you took care of it, didn't you?"

I freeze. "You knew that would happen?"

"No. But you took care of it. You didn't interrupt the ceremony on stage, and you didn't kill him. Yet you put him in his place. That was the right thing to do. If you'd killed him, well, that would've had dire consequences." He refocuses on the road.

A chill runs through my bones. I admit, "I could have killed him. It was hard to hold myself back."

"But you exercised restraint," Byrne adds, pulling into the private airport and parking next to a plane.

I open my door, step onto the tarmac, and shut the door.

He rolls down the window and calls out, "Have a good time."

I turn back. "You're not coming?"

"Nope."

My gut flips faster. "Why?"

"Not my place. See you soon." He revs the engine and drives off.

I take a deep breath, then walk up the stairs and into the plane, wondering what's in store for me. I step inside the cabin and freeze.

Zara's lips twitch when she sees me.

I grin. "What are you doing here?"

"No idea. I'm sure you know just as much as I do, which is nothing," she chirps.

I chuckle and sit down. I lean over and kiss her.

She retreats, her eyes turning to slits. "Why do you smell like perfume?"

I groan. "Brax took me to the strip club."

Her cheeks redden. She sneers, "Well, that was nice of him."

I grunt. "Don't worry, I just fended women off all night."

She mumbles, "Sure you did."

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