Tales of Darkness & Sin - Pepper Winters Page 0,82
thing you’re always horny for trouble. What does that make you? A bad girl?”
She smirks. “I think it just means I’m a perfect match for you.”
As she walks away, her bruised, heart-shaped ass jiggling with movement, I bite back a stupid grin. She’s right. Perfect for me in every way. After today, I’ll bring closure to my plans, ensuring I keep her forever.
It’s almost time.
A week later…
It takes everything in me not to knock the head off the guy helping us. Seeing the way he admires the beautiful woman beside me pisses me right the fuck off. If only he knew the seven different ways I’ve envisioned torturing him, and that’s only for his eyes, he’d look elsewhere besides the cleavage showing in her dress.
“That’s it. All of your assets have been transferred to your husband’s accounts, Mrs. Vitale,” the man—Jason—says before pushing a folder across the table. “You’ll find the receipts in there.”
She reaches for the folder, her wedding ring glinting in the bright overhead light. Fierce male pride washes over me. Jason may think my wife is hot, but there’s not shit he can do about it.
Melody Vitale is mine.
It’s ironic the angel made a vow before God to love the devil, but it’s binding and true nonetheless.
“Thank you,” Melody says to him and then skims her green eyes my way. “Are we all done?”
“A celebratory dinner is in order, but then we’ll be done.”
Her body trembles with nerves, but my palm squeezing her thigh calms her. “I’m ready.”
We rise to our feet, and I guide her out of the financial institution with my hand on her ass. She leans in, appreciative of my touch.
My father probably would have had words to say about my plan to marry Melody, but it was all part of a bigger scheme. When she realized her father referred to her as a key, it didn’t take long to change my hunt from Silas to Melody’s assets to realize just how much Silas had hidden away. Sure, I could have just made her transfer her assets and the girl would have done it, but it was much more gratifying, not only taking all of Silas’s hidden money, but officially taking his daughter too. I explained my plan to Melody, and she agreed wholeheartedly that it makes the most sense for us to marry.
But I didn’t miss the relief in her eyes.
That I’d claimed her permanently.
I don’t need a stupid marriage certificate or a glittery ring on a woman’s finger to tell me what I know and feel, though. I’d already decided I wasn’t letting her go. This just makes it official. And the three positive pregnancy tests in a row only solidified the fact Melody Vitale is never leaving. Ever.
As we walk out of the financial institution, I feign for a relaxed gait and disposition. If I’m seemingly aware of the black SUV speeding up the road, our plans could be quickly foiled. Instead, I ignore the way the tires screech to a stop and pause to kiss Melody’s supple lips.
“Remember what I said,” I murmur. “You’re mine, and no one can take you from me.”
“I remember,” she whispers, seconds before a black gloved hand covers her mouth and a man drags her away.
I stare at her retreating form until someone pistol whips me and everything goes black.
I wake strapped to a chair inside Silas Westwood’s home office. Beside him stands a man near my age, handsome and wearing an expensive suit. Both men are practically gleaming with excitement.
They bested the great Saint Vitale.
Fucking fools.
I drag my gaze over the office, looking for her. My woman. She’s not in the room, which has me fisting my hands and testing the strength of my bindings.
“Where is she?” I growl, my eyes burning a hole into Westwood.
He ignores me to look at Monroe. “Told you she would help us take down this bastard.”
“Indeed,” Monroe agrees. “With his reputation, I figured it’d be a lot more difficult.”
Gritting my teeth, I bite back a slew of insults. I want to lash out and tell them I’ve always been steps ahead of them. Instead, I say nothing.
“I’m sure he raped her and traumatized her based on the bruising we discovered, but with some therapy, she should be good as new. Melody is docile and will make a perfect wife. She was able to domesticate this dog,” Westwood says to Monroe, before sneering at me. “You’ll pay for hurting her.”