make them pay. I push my chair away from the desk and stand. Buttoning my suit jacket, I round my desk after picking up the folder.
“I want to question my brother. A niggling in my gut tells me there’s more to this story than I know. He’s working with the mafia, but he’s also in Grace Bardot’s pocket.” I glance at each man in the room, all focused on me as I speak. “He’s hiding something, or she is. One way or another, I will find out what it is. “I want you to search every fucking corner of this town. Find him, but bring him back alive.” The order is clear, and Kahn offers a nod.
The sound of chairs scraping along the wooden floorboards fills the room as each man rises and takes his leave. I don’t think it will take long for them to do a sweep of Crimson Falls, and it won’t take them long to find him, wherever he’s hiding.
Once I’m alone, I head to the patio doors that overlook the garden. The spot where I breached the trees with Scarlett in my arms is right in front of me, and I wonder if she’ll ever come to terms with being my wife. Wearing my ring, she may have given me an inch into her thoughts, but there’s so much more to break through.
In a few weeks, she’ll take my name, and there’s nothing she can do about it. I may have given her an out after the week is up, and I’ll allow her to think she has a choice, but in actual effect, she’s in this to the end.
If she refuses, her father will go to jail, and something tells me it’s not what she’d want. Her life has been a series of events planned by her parents who wanted to rule her future. I’m not them. I may have failed to mention she’s also here to give me an heir, but if she truly wants her own company, I’ll give that to her. Call it repayment because this is a business transaction.
Nothing she’s done in her life has been of her own will, and now I’ll take the last remaining choice away from her by making her a Shaw.
I should feel bad.
But I don’t.
I turn and stalk out into the hallway. The sound of the front door opening alerts me to visitors. Gray steps aside for me to see the tall brunette who’s entering my home. The wedding dress designer, Opal, or something like that. Behind her are two younger girls pushing a brass railing with black clothing bags lined up for Scarlett to choose from.
When I selected the options from the website, I had her in mind. As I flicked through the choices, I couldn’t help but picture her wearing each one, and that had my dick hard. But what had me stroking myself was the thought of ripping the material from her body on our wedding night and claiming her.
“Mr. Shaw, I’m Opal,” the designer greets with a smile and an offered hand as I near them. “I trust you’re well.” Her dark eyes are filled with excitement, only because I told her money is no limit.
“I am. Thank you for making the trip on such short notice. My bride is rather stressed about the wedding, and I’d like to take as much off her plate as possible.” I gesture for her to follow me down to the dining room. With the curtains open, the sunshine streams through, offering a bright space to revel in the elegant gowns. I’ve ensured the staff have moved furniture around for this very reason. The room is large enough for Scarlett to try on the dresses, and the full-length mirror I had brought in from one of the guest rooms is ready and waiting.
“Thank you,” Opal says. “I’ll get ready if you’d like to bring her down.”
Nodding, I make my way up to my fiancée’s bedroom, knowing that this will end up in a fight. Scarlett hasn’t warmed to the idea of marrying me yet, and even though I understand why she needs to submit, or I will be forced to make her bend to my will.
I push open the door to find her at the window seat. Her head snaps toward me, her eyes wide. I take in her outfit, the knee-length white socks hiding her beautiful calves, along with a pair of light blue sleep shorts which tease at a glimpse of her