Page 27 of Ruthless Reign

“I can’t go to the clubhouse and sit outside with the other women,” she continued. “If you’re the king of this ruthless reign, then I’m its queen. We should at least act like it.”

I put down my fork at her metaphor and sat back in my seat, contemplating her meaning. Her serious gaze burned holes into me like she was trying to get through the facade I showed the world—the one that put everyone else first, the one that resisted buckling under the weight of a burdensome crown.

“I thought you didn’t like me,” I continued. “I thought you said we’d never have a true marriage.”

“I don’t, and we won’t,” she explained, holding her head higher. “How are things coming along with Leo, hmm? Making any progress?”

We weren’t, but I was curious how she knew that.

“It’s almost like he’s not the Caputi you should have in your meetings.”

“Are you suggesting you would be a better option?”

“I fed the Roses information for years. What makes you think I am not still in contact with the people close enough to know things no one else does? Did it never occur to you thatIshould be the one at your side?”

It did, actually. “I want to keep you safe.”

She scoffed. “I’m in more danger by being kept in the dark than by helping you plot and scheme.”

I was man enough to admit my wife made a good point.

“All right, I’ll bite.” I didn’t see another way around this other than to simply suffer each other until we died. “What do you suggest?”

“We pretend,” she said, brushing her long brown hair over her shoulders. “When we’re at the clubhouse, I go where you go. We make decisions as a team. We bring Gabriella down together.” She reached under her seat and put a folder on top of the table, resting her hand over it.

I eyed it but stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

“In return, I will give you the information you need to take her down.” She drummed her bright red fingernails on the folder. “I have a plan.”

I considered her request, looking for any obvious flaw. She was right, of course. She had fed Saint information before Gabriella found out about it, and if she truly had a network of spies, I couldn’t do this without her. Leo had been ousted from the family for almost a year now, and she’d been holding it all together in his absence. From the club’s perspective, making a grand gesture like that would show I was serious about this alliance, about her.

“Okay,” I said. “But I have a few conditions.”

Julia sipped her wine. “Such as?”

“When we pretend, wereallypretend. We act like a couple, like we enjoy each other, like weloveeach other.”

“To what end?” She narrowed her eyes.

“There is no end,” I said. “Not until one of us is dead. You signed the paperwork, the same as me.”

She paused, seeming to consider that.

“If we want the world to believe our partnership,” I continued, “it needs to look real.”

“You plan to kiss me in front of them?” A perfectly plucked eyebrow rose up her forehead as her cheeks turned a rosy shade of blush, and I wondered what succulent memories flicked through her mind.

“Among other things.” Kiss her, hug her, sit her in my lap, rub my hands all over those magnificent curves, prove to mybrothers she was mine and I was hers, and if anyone dared touch her, I would cut their fucking fingers off. Maybe it made me fucked-up to want this, but what could I say? She was a beautiful woman and all mine.

“What about limits?” She grabbed the bottle of wine to pour herself another glass, reaching over to refresh mine as well. “What if I feel uncomfortable?”

“We’ll have a safeword,” I said, taking a cue from my sister’s BDSM 101 rule book. “If you don’t like something, say it and we’ll talk about it.”

“Fine,” she said. “Since we’re star-crossed and forcing our way through it, our safeword is Mercutio.”

“Fine. Agreed.” Laughing, I finished my chicken before scarfing down the rest of the vegetables and rice. “Now, what’s this plan of yours?”

Julia scooted the folder across the table toward me, and I flipped it open, looking over a list of places Gabriella went to and common hideouts. According to Julia’s sources, Davila had been offered a shitload of money and a promotion in the family business if he backed Gabriella. I had her schedule of events for the next month as well as contacts who would be next in line for her to try to secure.

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