Page 36 of Bound By Flames
“Think I know who,” he says with a smug face.
I nod. “You know the drill.”
Then I keep on punching the bag relentlessly as if it can give me any relief concerning the little fiery woman I got at home.
Fuck, even thinking about her here makes me angry.
It should have been easier. Get the girl, marry her, break her open and then decide if I could trust her.
The two first steps were going alright, but breaking her open had been the biggest mistake I had ever made. I thought she would have admitted to being there for the money or the fucking advantages of being the wife of a Prez. Thought she would have revealed her true face, but instead I saw her.
All of her.
Small, vulnerable, terrified.
And I hate myself for it, every single day. Because I know how much it cost her to be seen like this when she wasn’t ready for it. I know a queen like her can’t stand looking weak and it was all my fault. The single memory of her panic attack makesme want to burn the world to the ground and build it back again just for her.
I’m so fucked, it’s not even funny anymore.
Shadows walks away to the bar, leaving me here panting, sweat rolling down my face. “Fuck!” I mutter before heading to my office. The only thing that can relieve this kind of pressure is probably sitting in my house, drinking strange green lattes and wearing outrageous small fabric on her fucking sweet body.
Losing control isn’t how I like things to go.
I’m a planner, even if it’s not what you'd expect from a tall biker covered in tattoos, but I’m way more serious than people give me credit for. I’ve been a lone wolf all my life, surrounded by family and my men but still, at the top, I’ve always been alone.
Maybe you’re not anymore.
I run a hand in my sweaty hair.
A new plan and a fight.
That’s all I need to win her back.
Hopefully.
Chapter 10
Mia
Since spending all of his money didn’t even make him flinch in the slightest, I knew I had to think of a different strategy. Surely, a man like him wouldn’t care about my small attempts at making him pay. If he and I were just an illusion of a marriage, then why even try? And I can’t stop thinking about the notes he keeps leaving on his pillow with his sweet words. It’s so confusing. Damn it, why does he have to be so…so kind all of a sudden? And why does his absence annoy me that much? Isn’t marriage supposed to be all smooth sailing? Ares and I are too different, this will never work.
Focus, Mia, focus.
I could still escape, find my way back to Kiara and save her from an arranged marriage as well. Chicago is an eight-hour drive away, which is way too long. I’d need to stop somewhere in between to find shelter. Indianapolis maybe? I do have some friends there. Acquaintances, I mean. Perhaps they could help me without telling my father. Not sure about that, not really sure I can trust anyone not to tell on my father or Ares. After all, they are the ones owning those cities. Indianapolis is right at the end of the Raven Sons territory, so technically safe.
Technically, because it’s owned by my father, and my face is quite recognizable there, but I’ll find a way. I can take a bit of cash with me and be untraceable, that’s a good idea. Then I’d find Kiara, explain the whole shebang to her and we would leave to, well, Canada? Mexico? Anywhere we wouldn’t have to be the little pawn of my father anymore.
I had been thinking about this for a week now. It’s impossible to escape during the day. The house is watched by the Raven Sons and I’m accompanied for each outing. So night it is. Only I know Ares sleeps with one eye open, just like any man in his position should. Since he’s getting home sooner lately, I won’t be able to pack a bag. Too obvious. I’ll just take what I’ve got on me and buy what I’ll need on the way. I’m a princess when I want but I don’t have issues with going full Tomb Raider as well. That’s a misconception about femininity, people always assume we’re dumb and superficial. They don’t see that just because you like cute things doesn’t mean you can’t live without them. They’re a plus, little cherries on the cake.
I look around the living room where I’ve set my work laptop after a video call with a client and sigh.
Gotta say it’s a pretty place.
I’ll miss it.
And maybe it’s not the only thing I will miss.
But there’s no point in staying. Ares and I are too different and I can’t live with a man who purposefully hurts me just to observe my reactions.
