Page 19 of Ruthless Reign

“I’m planning a wedding,” I told her. “Something big and flashy.”

She scoffed. “And how are you going to do that without your family there?”

I didn’t answer her because I didn’t know. The Roses would attend, surely. But the Caputis? A proposition started to form in the back of my mind, something devious and maniacal. But itcould work…if the chips fell in the right spots, if the Roses were on board, ifRomanwas on board.

“Sneak out and come home, Jules,” Della said. “I miss you. We all miss you. Chesco is going berserk without you.”

Chesco was my Uncle Frankie’s son, one of my closest cousins. He’d been born with a screw loose, more likely to shoot first and ask questions later than have a civil conversation. It had taken an act of God to convince him to let me go, that this was my idea and there was nothing he could do to stop me. Besides, after Gabriella’s raid, I’d been disowned. She couldn’t allow me back on Caputi territory even if Chesco convinced her to.

“He has a funny way of showing it,” I said. “He hasn’t answered any of my texts.”

“He’s mad at you,” she replied. “They all are. We didn’t want this.”

“Well, Gabriella forced my hand. You know that.”

Della sighed. “I know.”

“Tell him to call me,” I said. “Tell them all I still love them. I love you, too, Della.”

“I love you more, Jules.” We said our goodbyes and promised to find a way to get together soon before hanging up. And then I let the tears fall, allowing myself a few minutes of grief for my old life. It would never be the same again. I would never be able to walk into my home and have dinner with my family and drink with my cousins until I passed out. I’d never be able to go shopping with Della, or play cards with Chesco and tease him about the women he brought home. There were only two options at the end of this road: either they sided with Leo and the Roses, or they sided with Gabriella. There was no middle ground. There was no third option. And if they didn’t end up with me, I had no doubt my brother and my husband would kill them. The Potomac River would run red with Caputi blood by the time this was over, and that pained me most of all. We were family. I hada history with every single one of them, and to know at least half of them wouldn’t make it out alive cut me open.

A deep rumble came from outside, and I perked up, wiping the tears from my eyes. In all the moping, planning, and research I’d done throughout the day, I’d lost track of time. It was now close to five o’clock, and that noise could only mean one thing. I started to get up so I could hustle back to my room, but the sounds of boots on the porch outside made me pause.

“All right, man,” Roman said. “You can head out.”

The sentry just outside left as my husband opened the door and walked inside.

I had to swallow the reaction I had to him like this. Covered in grease stains and oil marks, he certainly looked the part of the filthy mechanic. His white shirt had been soiled with various finger swipes and his jeans were likewise just as grimy. His dark hair was windswept and tousled, likely from the helmet in his hands, and his face had a shiny gloss from sweat and sun. The veins in his arms protruded, hinting at the powerful muscles under his tanned skin, and his fingers were rough and callused and covered in black soot.

It shouldn’t have been attractive. I could nearly smell his long, hard day from across the room. But the heat of a sudden need to clean him off hit me in between the legs, making me want to see how badly he could mark me up with those worker’s hands. I clenched my thighs together, ignored that reaction, and raised an eyebrow.

“Nice of you to finally show up. I’ve only been sitting here all day like a trapped zoo animal.”

“You’re not a prisoner.” He sighed and set his helmet on the table next to the door before reaching into his pockets for his keys and wallet. “I thought you had a wedding to plan.”

“And how do you expect me to do that from your living room?” I tsked through my teeth. “I can hardly go dress shopping from here.”

“If you want to go out, go out.” He gestured to the door. “You’ve got three escorts anywhere in Madison County.”

“And they’ll report back to you anywhere I go.”

“Bullshit,” he said, taking a step closer. “They need to ask my permission before taking you anywhere.”

I scoffed. “And is that how our marriage is going to go? I’ll need yourpermissionto do what I like?”

“Only while it’s not safe for you to leave,” he said. “Only while I’m not sure I can trust you.”

“Trust me?” How insulting. Hadn’t I done everything he asked? Hadn’t I married him, agreed to sleep with him, and spared him from cutting his throat open when he startled me last night? “Trust is only earned by trusting.”

“And do you trust me,wife?”He came closer still, his massive body backing me up to the kitchen island.

“Ugh, never.” The words came out, but I didn’t feel them as keenly as I had yesterday.

“Hmm.” He looked down at me, tracing his gaze over my expensive A-line dress, which was more costly than anything else in this house. His eyes twinkled like he had nothing but thoughts of putting his greasy paws all over it to see how badly he could mess it up. My heart skipped as I wondered if I would stop him. I took a deep breath and held his stare, trying not to shiver, trying not to be intimidated. I’d been right, of course. He smelled like oil and man and wind, nearly as overpowering as it was when he’d had me backed up against that doorjamb. For one mind-numbing moment, I thought he might kiss me. I thought he might actually put his dirty fingers under my skirt and rip my panties to the side and finally make good on our contractual obligations.

Instead, he curled his lips into a sexy grin, almost like he knew I’d been thinking about it, and stepped back.

“I need a shower.” He turned and walked upstairs, leaving me breathless, hot, and bothered in the kitchen. I rubbed my hands over my face, trying to get my mind back in the game.

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