Page 66 of Brutal Mercy

“You’re going to think I’m a total nerd.”

“Hit me with it.”

“Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. I wanted to be a mathematician. I earned a full ride to Stanford that I gave up when . . .”

Oh, Jesus, she’s brilliant. A full ride to Stanford? Total brainiac. The wheels start turning on how I can help her. I take her hand and squeeze. “When you had to become your sister’s parent and run a business?”

“Yeah, pretty much. Why the Mafia? Do you like what you do?”

My entire life, from when I was little, I knew what my path would be. By the time I was thirteen, I sat in on meetings with my father to learn the business from the ground up. And not a single person has ever asked me that. “The short answer is I was born into it. And except for the luck of the draw with birth order, I could be Ares’s second in command. In our family, the eldest son is always the head of the family. My father taught me everything from the ground up. And I fucking love being in charge. I love having whatever I want at my fingertips. Are there risks? Sure, but what’s life without a little risk.”

“So our kids will automatically be in the Mafia? They won’t have a choice in what they want to do?”

“Once the cartel is removed, it will change things. But yes, our children will be part of it. Does that bother you?”

“It concerns me. But just because I don’t want them—or you—to get hurt. Losing my parents the way I did, I know how fragile life is.”

“It is. And I need you to trust me. I’ll mitigate as much as possible until they are older. But our son will lead the family organization in Denver.”

“But what if we have all girls?” She pegs me with a hard glare.

“Then our eldest daughter will be put in charge.” Because I think times are changing. And I know if given the opportunity, Athena could run the show in my stead.

Luna digests the information pensively, chewing on her bottom lip.

“Life in the Mafia isn’t easy. And I understand it’s a world you don’t fully understand yet. But I’ll help you navigate it. If you have questions or concerns, talk to me.”

“I will. But you know, if our kids turn out half as good as you, then I think they’ll be fine.”

My heart stumbles at the compliment. The truth lies naked in her eyes. She wears her expressions plain as day. She acts like I’m a hero when I’m the furthest thing from it. But in her eyes, I don’t feel like a criminal. She sees the darkness in me, and instead of running, she curls up against it and soothes the beast.

I lift her hand and brush my lips over her knuckles. “Well, if they’re half as charming as their mother, I think they’ll be the most amazing people on the planet.”

She blushes, her cheeks turning pink. And I just want to eat her up.

“Are you finished?” I nod at her half-empty plate.

“Yes, I am. And you know, you haven’t shown me the bedroom yet. And I think you should.” The seductive light in her eyes has lust curling through me. The hunger I feel for her never fully abates.

“I think you’re right, wife. Give me a moment.” I clear the table and put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

Then I return to her side. I reach down to pick her up.

“I can walk, you know. It might be slow, but I can.”

“Just because you can doesn’t mean you have to.” I sweep her up into my arms, leave the kitchen behind, and take the stairs up to our room.

The night is young, but I have every intention of making love to my wife for the rest of the night.

Chapter seventeen

Luna

Hadeskicksthebedroomdoor open with his foot and does the same to close it. He’s a man on a mission, stalking toward the massive king sleigh bed with mounds of pillows. The silver and black bedding gleams in the light, as if the bed is beckoning us.

“How many kids do you want?” I ask as he carries me past the bed to a seating area in front of a fireplace. The bedroom looks remarkably similar to the way it’s decorated at the other house. But that’s where the similarities end.

In front of the fireplace, he has a mattress on the floor. It’s made up with pillows and blankets. He’s going to make love to me by the fireplace. My heart sighs. Hades is giving me the fantasy. Does he realize how addicted to him I’ve become? Does he know how thankful I am that I wound up at his place after the attack?

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