Page 6 of Cruel Revenge

That is, if I had any intention of ever getting married.

But the truth is, I don’t.

I was there through my parents’ relationship. And considering what I did to my father and that I want nothing to do with my mother, why would I want that for my own life?

Besides, I’m busy enough as it is. I don’t have time for foolish things like love or relationships, much less a wife.

I sigh and lean back, slinging my arm over the couch. “Grady, even if this wasn’t insane, which, by the way it is, I couldn’t marry your daughter. You have to know that.”

He leans forward, bracing his forearms on his broad thighs, deep brown eyes narrowing as he stares me down. “And why is it so insane?”

“Because it’s marriage. It’s not something you can dictate for a person. The people involved need to want to be together.”

Hairs stick up on the back of my neck as he shifts to the side, showing off the gun tucked into the holster at his hip.

If there’s one thing Grady Granville is, it’s intimidating. The man is shaped like a brick house and has killed more people than I care to think about.

Grady sighs and shakes his head like a disappointed father. “I’m afraid you think this is a request. Perhaps a discussion, even. I would hate for you to make that mistake, Joshua.”

I keep my face relaxed, not wanting to show a hint of the unease running through me.

The second he senses I’m hesitant or there’s a weakness he can prod at, it’s all over for me.

I need him more than I care to admit, but maybe it’s time I start looking for another importer.

It would solve the problem of having to marry Emily Granville.

I wouldn’t have to put up with her endless, empty chatter or tolerate the way she looks at me with a look I’m guessing she thinks is sultry, but all it does is make my stomach turn.

Grady motions to the glass, and I top him off, even though he hasn’t finished the first pour.

“I think you aren’t quite understanding. My daughter’s happiness is of the utmost importance to me, and I should think it would matter to you, too.”

“Emily deserves to be happy, but I am the last man who could ever make her happy.”

I’m the last man who can ever makeanywoman happy.

The darkness surrounding my life is enough to entice for a night or two, but scary enough to be a deterrent for anyone to want to stick around.

Besides, fairy tales are great and all, but they belong in books and movies. They have no room in real life where the nitty-gritty parts of human nature come to play.

The thudding bass of the music in the VIP lounge grows louder, drowning out what Grady says next, though his lips are moving as he gives an irritated roll of his eyes. He motions to one of the men in black suits standing close to the wall.

They lean over the back of the couch.

Is this when he kills me?

I’ve thought about how I would die before, and on a couch in the middle of a crowded club wasn’t it.

A blaze of glory sounds far more interesting to me.

And that’s the problem. One of them, at least.

My brother would claim there are several more things wrong with me, the first of them being that I sell cocaine to the biggest gangs across the United States.

The man leaves Grady and flags down one of the bottle girls.

Within a few seconds, the music is lowered.

---