Page 84 of Remi's War (Four Dark Horsemen 2)

Remi

Penelope belongs to me now.

Just uttering the word in my head brings so much satisfaction, and pleasure fills my bones when my hold on her tightens, and she gasps into my mouth, her breasts pressing into my chest while her fingers curl on my shirt, her body already swaying toward me because it knows its master.

My beautiful wife can deny it all she wants, but we both know there will be no escape from this marriage, and I will use any weapon necessary to forever bind her to me. I grew up in poverty and rose to the top by sheer will and hard work, and I will never fucking ever give up what I claimed, because I’ve never owned anything in my life.

My wife, though?

Every hair on her body, every breath she takes, every emotion she experiences belong to me now.

And I’ll be fucking damned if anyone dares to hurt her or take her away.

Not to mention, this marriage is truly a gift from destiny granted to me for all the hardships I’ve endured; it fixes not just one but two problems.

Our union will put an end to the ongoing war with Lachlan and his protégés, finally freeing us from this decade-long conflict that shouldn’t have been on the table to begin with.

Just the idea I could really want Amalia is laughable. On the surface, she shares a face with my wife; however, they couldn’t be more different.

Amalia is cold and sophisticated, always stretching her mouth in fake smiles even toward her fiancé, who must be clueless about her cruel tendencies.

If the monster inside me considered her mine, I would have never waited years to claim her.

My woman, though?

She’s warm like sunshine blazing over the ocean. Her eyes wear her emotions for everyone to see, the warmth that tempts the beast and promises it eternal peace from the pain and suffering it endured for such a long time.

Physical attraction wouldn’t have been enough to make me tie the knot.

This union will start another war though.

A war I intend to win, no matter the cost.

After all…

Everything in this world has a price.

And the man who shattered my life and soul has to pay for all his sins, otherwise I’ll never rest.

Chapter Eleven

“If you fear or despise a monster… never ask him or her about their past.

For their past might make you feel compassionate toward their pain.

As goodness and evil lay in the eye of the beholder.”

Remi

Chicago, Illinois

Remi, 5 years old

My stomach growls loudly in the night, and I still my groan, rolling to the side and hoping the thick blanket will muffle the sounds and not alert my parents, who are arguing several feet away from me.

They won’t like me being awake instead of following their order to fall asleep on the mattress they got just for me. Although it stinks so much I have to keep myself from barfing and the springs dig into my skin, at least it’s more comfortable than the floor.

Dad found it in the trash the other day and proclaimed it his gift for my fifth birthday, crushing my dream of a full meal. I haven’t had solid food in my mouth for days now. Father wasted all his money on alcohol and Mom’s favorite chocolate.

---