Monster A Dark Arranged Marriage Romance - Vanessa Waltz Page 0,83

women.”

“Because they’re property of other men, and that’s the only thing these dipshits respect.”

“Tony, not all of them agree. You’ll have to look over your shoulder from now on. That’s why I think we should proceed with the divorce early. You need leverage over Vinn. Lose that, and Cainan will write you off. There goes your protection from K’s inner circle.” His mouth pulled in a contemptuous curl. “If you’re not willing to divorce her, get her pregnant.”

Would giving Evie one baby be so terrible?

My cousins seemed to manage. Their lives weren’t miserable. Impregnating Evie would trap her with me. Forever. Even if we divorced, she could never cut me out of her life completely. That had massive appeal, but after days of self-reflection and considering it from all angles, I’d landed on no.

I’d never be a good father.

I couldn’t protect anyone. Hell, I almost died just a few hours ago.

“She wants kids with me, Knox. Like actually wants them.” I raked my hair and downed the rest of my seltzer, wishing it were vodka. “With me. Of all people. Doesn’t she understand how insane that is?”

“Yeah, she should get knocked up by the mailman.”

“You know what I mean, you idiot. I can’t raise a child.”

“How bad could you be?”

I couldn’t find out. “What are the chances she’ll drop this?”

“Unlikely. It’s a biological drive for women, but the good news is that she’ll have plenty of fertile years after you’re murdered.”

Fuck you.

I’d dig in my heels until the barrel was against my forehead. I wanted this marriage to work, but it was looking more likely that it wouldn’t.

Anguish knotted my stomach.

“Evie and I aren’t breaking up.”

Knox zipped his bomber jacket and glared. As he left out the door, the monster’s voice boomed in my head.

You can want a happily-ever-after all you like.

It won’t happen.

Twenty-Nine

Evie

I’m grateful that my husband is punctual.

T: I’ll be home in ten minutes.

T: You better be kneeling.

In the weeks since Tony moved in, hardly a day went by that he didn’t fuck me senseless, and my work had suffered because he was all I wanted to do.

I’d never been in love before.

I was unprepared for the desire blossoming within me, needing him every hour, the throttling arousal with his gentle touch, and putting his happiness first.

I saw children in my future. I hoped someday he would change his mind. I loved him so much that I wanted the proof of our love carried from generation to generation, so that the man I’d grown to admire never truly disappeared.

I knelt several feet from the entrance, wearing a silk thong and nothing else. My body hummed as the door swung. Tony entered in slate gray pants that hugged his athletic thighs and ass and a fitted white shirt that strained over a muscled chest. He reamed someone out on the phone.

“Che cazzo dici? Vai a prenderlo in culo.”

He stabbed at the screen, ending the call.

I recognized dick and asshole, which spoke volumes about my progress with learning Italian.

He shuffled through the mail, stepping around me as he continued into the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from the dishwasher and filled it from the sink. After he set it down, he faced me.

His greeting was a rough growl. “Did I say you could move?”

Tony’s haughty disapproval tingled my skin like feathers. I sucked in my bottom lip as he approached. His hand skimmed my hair. Then it dipped. His coarse touch lit me like fireworks, even though it suggested he hated me.

He grasped my chin. “I’m not in the mood for backtalk.”

“Sorry, sir.”

“I’m pleased you followed my directions. It’d be such a shame if I had to punish you for mouthing off.”

I grinned. “Well, then I wouldn’t be me.”

“You like being my toy, don’t you?” His sultry murmur stroked between my legs. “You want to be tossed around, used for my pleasure, and fucked. You know it makes me crazy. You like it when I lose control. It turns you on.”

“It does.”

Hunger gleamed in his gaze. “Are you hoping that I’ll come inside you?”

“I want to give you everything.”

“I know. I see your beautiful heart.” His fingers tangled in my hair, caressing. “I knew you were a good girl when I saw your photo. It was wrong…Fuck, it was so terrible of me to pick you. I thought I’d play with you and get you out of my system, but I can’t. You’re mine.”

“I love you, too.”

“You better be sure, because I’m not letting you go.” He cradled my jaw,