Josie is a sales associate by day and a lollipop-sucking hacker by night. She likes to stay in and feel the keys underneath her fingertips. When she decides to grace her friends at a club, she stumbles across a man who seems to send every part of he...
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When Kade and I leave the warehouse, I'm more than tired. I'm fucking exhausted. One more round turned into—hell, I don't even remember; I lost count after I came for the fourth time. When we entered the warehouse, it was still light outside. Now it's dark.
"Where did Lucas take Lynn?" I ask as we get into the idling SUV.
"A safe house," he responds, getting in after me.
The engine roars to life, cutting through the silence of the night as the driver maneuvers the SUV out of the warehouse's desolate parking lot.
"Are we going to the safe house?" I ask.
"No."
"No?"
"You do understand the English language?" He looks over at me.
"She's my best friend, and I need to make sure she is safe."
Kade's gaze sharpens, his jaw tightening as he considers my words. "No," he repeats. "We're going somewhere else first. There's someone I need to meet."
"Who?"
"The who is not important. But you are now part of the family... your skills are needed. I need to figure out something with the Valentino family."
"Wait, what?" I turn to look at him. "I can't help you with that. Lex—"
Everything happens so fast. "Did you sleep with him?" his hand is wrapped around my throat. "Did you, kiddo, and do not lie to me."
"No," my eyes widen. "Now let me go."
"No," he pulls me by the neck closer to him. Our faces are inches apart. "You're a part of my family. If I want you to kill Lex Valentino, you would do as I say because I'm the Don, not you. You don't question what I say or tell you to do."
"But—"
"No, buts, you wanted a seat at my table. Not as my wife, so when it comes to business, I will treat you just like the rest of my men. Then when I'm fucking you, you're mine in a whole different way." His voice is a low growl, resonating with unspoken promises and threats in a dizzying mix.
As he releases his grip, my throat feels sore, and I rub it gently, trying not to show any sign of weakness. He turns away, staring out the window as the city lights blur past us. An hour later, we pull up to an unassuming building that screams front. Kade gets out of the SUV, and I follow. My legs are shaky, but my determination is thickening. This is my life now. I chose this path when I dipped my toes into his dark world.
Inside, we're greeted by a man whose smile doesn't reach his cold eyes. "Storm," he nods respectfully to Kade. "And who might this be?"
Kade looks at me, but I don't know how he would address me. As one of his men? Kiddo? Hacker extraordinaire?
"This is my wife, Josie."
Kade's casual introduction sends a shock through me, echoing like a gunshot in the quiet tension of the room. My eyes widen, and I shoot him a look, but his expression is unreadable, shielded as always by that inscrutable veneer he wears like armor.
