Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Go ahead.”
I put on my panties first. I let him look at my ass when I pull them up. He seems to like that. I put on the leggings next, then start on the sports bra.
“I love your fucking tits,” he whispers. “Your pink nipples. Your perfect handfuls.”
I cup myself, frowning. “I always thought they were kind of small.”
“They suit your body perfectly.”
“Good to know.” I feel flushed and happy as I get the bra on.
Once I’m fully clothed, I sit on the edge of the bed. My heart’s going wild and I’m afraid I might pass out.
He bites his lower lip.
God, he’s so fucking hot.
“Show’s over,” I tell him. “Now it’s your turn.”
“I am the patron of the Armenian Brotherhood.”
I stare at him. He stares right back. When it’s clear he isn’t going to elaborate, I break the silence. “Only some of those words mean anything to me.”
“What part don’t you get?”
“Well, what’s a patron and what’s the Armenian Brotherhood?”
“We are the largest Armenian organized crime organization in America. My family has been in control of Baltimore and the outlying suburbs for three generations now. This mansion is the heart of our power.”
“So you’re like… criminal royalty?” My heart’s racing into my throat. I feel lightheaded and dizzy. This can’t be real. It really can’t be happening.
“That’s right, baby,” he says, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. He’s a vision of power. His broad shoulders strain his suit jacket and his dark hair’s pushed back in waves. “I’m the fucking king of this city, and you’re my new queen.”
Chapter 16
Lena
Arsen doesn’t stick around for long after getting his little peep show. Which I don’t mind one bit.
I need to process.
Fortunately, I find the perfect place to do it. There’s a library not far from the master bedroom. It’s surprisingly big and packed with a mix of stuff. Old leather-bound volumes of science and philosophy mingle with well-worn manga and dog-eared thrillers. I try to picture a young Arsen lurking in this room, curling up on the padded bench beneath the big bay window, but it’s hard.
He belongs in a fighting ring. Not surrounded by books.
Yesterday, I was nobody. I was a poor girl with a sick mom and a dad working himself to death and a piece-of-crap, useless brother. My life was bleak, and I could only ever picture myself a few days in the future at a time. That’s how precarious breathing always felt.
But now I’m married to a king.
The head of a massive criminal organization.
I still don’t know how computer chips fit into all that, but I figure I’ll get it out of him eventually.
Curiosity has me Googling. I search for Armenian Brotherhood, but not a whole lot comes up. There’s a Wikipedia page which basically confirms their existence and doesn’t say much else. I find some random social media posts, but those all seem like rumors. For a group that allegedly runs an entire major city, there’s not much about them online.
Which only makes me believe it even more.
As I thumb through a book, I hear something nearby. Footsteps in the hallway. I poke my head out, but there’s nobody. I swear I hear them again though as I’m wandering through the shelves. And there’s breathing nearby.
Like someone’s following me.
“Hello?” I say, a shiver running down my spine. The painting of a lion hangs over the mantel, and the cat’s eyes seem to stare into my soul. “Stop being dumb, Lena. You’re alone.”
I close the door to the library and turn the lock on a whim.
I smell burning when I sit back down. Except the fireplace is cold and empty. It looks like it hasn’t been used in a long time.
I bury my nose in a book, trying to clear my head. I’m losing it a little.
There’s another sound. The creak of a floorboard, and it’s close. I lower the book, heart racing—
“You’ve been bad.”
I shriek, but it’s cut off when Arsen jams his hand against my mouth. His other fist is in my hair, gripping hard. I gasp in surprise as he buries two fingers between my lips. I grunt and bite down.
He grins, showing teeth. “Harder,” he whispers.
I release my jaw and pull back. “Where the hell did you come from?”
“You’ve been very naughty, my wife.” He moves his fingers, wet with my saliva, down to my breasts. He rubs them against my nipples. They stiffen under his touch through the shirt and the sports bra. “It’s not smart to search for the Brotherhood online.”
“How did you know? I thought you left.”
“I monitor my network.”
“I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“I’m going to punish you now. You’re too curious for your own good.”
“What? Arsen, wait. How did you even—”
But his hand wraps around my throat as he buries my mouth with his. I gag and whimper into his kiss, squirming against his powerful body. My heart’s racing into my head. How did he get in here? I know I closed and locked the door. I would’ve heard if he opened it. It’s like he appeared out of nowhere, when I swear he went back to work a couple hours ago.