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Chapter 115
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2023-12-14 15:30:07Related chapters
Contracted Husband Chapter 116
“It’s on me.”“I’m the only one who ate.” I point at my plate. “You lied to me, Nathan . You weren’t even hungry, were you?”“Iamhungry, Natalia . But not for food.” His intense stare leaves no question about his meaning.“Oh,” I whisper, my mouth gone instantly dry.As he works on calculating the tip for our meal, I stare at him. At his handsome features. He must be in his early thirties; however, very few lines mar his face.I recall my mother saying lines on your skin are like a map that tells you where someone had been. Crinkles around the eyes and mouth say a person has known joy. But if they’re on other parts of the face, parts that don’t normally pull when a person smiles, that means they’ve been through hell.Nathan doesn’t have lines around his eyes or mouth. His are between his brows and one long indent that forms on the side of his cheek when he’s deep in thought. Like now.“Nathan ,” I say.He signs the receipt and places his credit card back into his black leather wallet,
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He arches a brow. “Seems like you’ve handled these more than a few times.”I grin. “Dad has always insisted that I’m familiar with them since they’re in the house.”Nathan inspects the piece, maneuvering the pistol in his large hands in a way that shows me he knows what he’s doing. “This is nice.”“It’s Dad’s favorite. First thing he ever bought for himself that he really wanted.”“What’syourfavorite?” he asks, handing it back to me.“None. I don’t like them.” I place the Mauser back in the case and lock it.“Then show me what you like, Natalia .”God, the sound of my name in his voice is like fine wine, decadent and rich and oh so sexy. I want to close my eyes and listen to him say it again.“Come.” I take his hand, and though he seems surprised, he doesn’t pull away. “What I want to show you is upstairs.”We go up the narrow staircase, all the way to the third-floor attic that’s been finished. Sort of. While it does have air conditioning, the walls are still made of grayed wooden sl
Last Updated : 2023-12-14Contracted Husband Chapter 118
“Yes.” I lean against the table and peer down at them. “Eyes are windows. Everything you need to know about someone, you can find it there. The rest of the face is just… Extra.”“Who do they belong to? Are they all the same person?”“Not all.” I pull one from a stack and show him. “These are my father’s eyes. Kind. Proud. And these eyes”—I show him another—“belong to my college professor, Miss Crane. She was a bitch and hers were cold as ice.”“And these?” He circles his hand above the majority. “They’re all the same person.”I nod. “They are.”“These are amazing, Natalia . It’s like…” As if he can’t find the words, it takes him a while to continue. “It’s like I’m staring into someone’s soul.”“Thank you.”“For a second, I thought it was you. But I’m not so sure now.”“They’re my mother’s eyes,” I whisper. “How I remember them, anyway.”Turning to me, his brow furrowed, he asks, “Did she pass?”I smile sadly. “No. She left.”A dark flicker crosses his expression for a split second. Bu
Last Updated : 2023-12-14Contracted Husband Chapter 119
He looks at me again. “As nice as she could be, I suppose.”His new mother may have been nice, but the shadows swimming in his eyes tell me it wasn’t enough. The damage was done.It’s the being abandoned part that fucks you up. That the person who’s supposed to love you unconditionally doesn’t give a shit about what happens to you.Thankfully, my father is a good man. He did his best to make up for her absence. To love me twice as much, maybe more.But did Nathan ’s? Did his father love him twice as much too?“And your father?” I ask, wanting to know. Needing to know that someone did love him the way a child deserves to be loved.“Like I said, he was a prick. He died a few months ago.”“Oh, Nathan .” I slide my hand up over his shoulder and cup his cheek. He turns into it, pressing his lips to my palm.Without pulling from my touch, he lifts his gaze to mine. “What do you see in my eyes, Natalia ? If they’re windows into my soul, what do you see?”I stare into them, peering deeper tha
Last Updated : 2023-12-14Contracted Husband Chapter 120
I blink in confusion. “Why?”“Because, Natalia , the answer to my question is that shadows drown out the light. Inevitably, it goes out under the weight of darkness.” He places a kiss on my lobe. “You were right. Iamdangerous. I’m going to hurt you if you don’t tell me to leave.” He pulls away slightly, far enough that he’s able to glare at me with an intensity that startles me. “Say it!”I take him in, his lips, his chiseled jaw. His achingly beautiful gaze.He wants me to say the words that will send him away while he’s pressed so intimately against me that I can barely remember my own name? If he doesn’t have the will to pull away, how can he expect it of me?“Why were you here that night after the exhibition?” I demand. “I saw you down there watching me from the street.”“I’ll answer that if you answer this. Did you like it? Did you like me looking at you?”“Yes,” I admit.“Were you going to undress for me?” Trailing his fingertips over my bare arm, he wraps one of the shoulder st
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“Sir,” Nathan says as he passes him and disappears down the steps.“Dad,” I say nervously. “I thought you were meeting with—”He doesn’t let me finish, shoving past me without saying a thing. Doesn’t have to. The disappointment is written all over his face.I’m left staring after him as he goes into his room and slams the door in his wake.Nathan Ihastily make my way downstairs. Above me, I hear Natalia say something to her father, and a moment later, a door slams.Though I commend him on his self-control, Morrison’s rage was clearly evident in his blue eyes. I’d feel the same way if I found a strange man with my daughter and suspected simply by looking at her that he’d been all over her.If it hadn’t been for Gunn’s call, he would have more than suspected. He would have had visual confirmation. I would have been deep inside Natalia , pounding into her. Fucking her there, watched by all those eyes she’s so perfectly captured on paper, including those of a woman who doesn’t deserve he
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They stare at each other, exchanging words without speaking.Then Lincoln turns to me. “Did you do it to take his place?”“My place is to protect the family. That’s why I did it.”Mata sits forward as he wipes his palm over his bushy black beard. “And you want us to come to New York with you to fight with the Lewis.”“ColWill ’s wife has been taken hostage by Black. A call has been put out for support. I’m going because I gave my word in exchange for support of ourfamiglia. Will you join me?”Both men nod without hesitation.Lincoln grins. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good fight. Who knows? Might be a good day to die.”Mata gives him a sideways glance. “Speak for yourself. I’m not fuckin’ dyin’ today. I’m going to kill some assholes, not the other way around.”They follow behind me as I leave the study and make my way down the hall to the weapons room.“Who’d have thought we’d be fighting with the Lewis ,” Lincoln says, shoving three pistols into his holsters. “Especially
Last Updated : 2023-12-19Contracted Husband Chapter 123
A dangerous situation they don’t want to get involved in.“Why do these fucks always live in marinas?” Mata asks, peering out the window when we arrive at the Flag’s Point Marina on the East River. “Andre thought it made him the shit. Fucking diesel smell made me gag.”“I don’t know if Kroos lives here,” I say when the guards let us in, unable to imagine that a wealthy prick like Kroos would choose to reside in a place like this.I scan the area, noting the canoes and kayaks piled high on one side, pallets and gas cans on another. There’s a dock farther ahead, but the boats there are mostly skiffs or pontoons.My phone buzzes just then.“Stay here,” ColWill orders. “Kroos wants only me and Gregorio. Do not attack until we have Carina. Or the shit hits the fan. Whatever comes first.”Everyone in the Tahoe watches in intent silence as Luca exits the first SUV. Gunn, who had been with him, was dropped off before we reached the gates. He slunk out into the darkness, his firearm in hand,
Last Updated : 2023-12-19
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“You’re here!” I say, heading toward it but stop when it’s Katy who appears.“You!” she hisses. “I knew something was off. He didn’t kill you!”Before I can answer, she’s on me like a rabid cat. She claws at me, slapping every part of me she can make contact with.Startled, I raise my hands protectively over my face, afraid to hit her back and severely hurt her. As it is, Nathan already hates me for any part I might have played in the death of his father.The woman may be older and weaker, but her strikes are impactful. She shoves against me, slapping her palms against my shoulders and chest, driving me toward the rear of the deck. It all happens so fast that I don’t realize I’m so close to the glass rail until it hits my lower back.“You have to calm down!” I plead.“Why did he have to want you? You look nothing like me! But Leo always liked them younger. Tell me, did you like how he fucked you?”“What? You think I slept with your husb—” Another whack, this time right across the chin
Contracted Husband Chapter 159
But he saved my life. He risked himself to keep me alive. And fuck it all, I love him! I can’t just sit back and let him die.A chair is pushed and the sound of footsteps come my way. Before they reach the doors, I bolt out the entrance and am already across the street when I hear, “Natalia !”But I don’t stop. Don’t look back. My mission now is to save Nathan Natalia Irun like the Devil is at my heels, not bothering to glance back over my shoulder, because even that simple action could cost me precious seconds.For blocks, I maintain that speed, my lungs burning and the stitch on my side threatening to bring me down.When I’m far enough that I feel anyone following would have lost sight of me, I tuck myself into an alley and wait. After several minutes, I tug my cell phone out and dial Nathan , but it goes straight to voicemail.“Pick up, dammit!” I dial again, but like before, it goes to his mail.“Nathan . You have to leave your house. A man named Steven Kroos is coming. He’s bri
Contracted Husband Chapter 158
“The hell it is. Do you have any idea the worry you put me through? No calls or texts the last couple of—” His eyes bulge from his skull as he takes in the blood on my shirt. “You’re hurt.” “No, Dad. It’s not my blood. I’m not hurt.” He digs his fingertips into the corners of his eyes as if he’s trying to keep from crying. “I thought I would lose my mind when I found out exactly who you were with. His name isn’t Nathan Manguire . It’s Nathan Carlos .” I rear back in shock that he knows. “What?” “My gut was right, Em. He’s a fucking criminal. The worst kind.” “How do you know that?” From the study, the handsome man who visited the gallery to meet with Dad steps out. Steven Kroos . His icy-blue stare roves over me, and he smiles. “I’m glad to see you’re home safe. Especially after being in the Robertson den.” “Mr. Kroos is the one who tracked down information on Carlos . Nathan is their new godfather.” His eyes narrow on me. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?” Looking betwee
Contracted Husband Chapter 157
He tilts his head, his eyes raking over my face, searching. “What makes you think that?” “It was in the way he looked at me,” I say. “It’s the same wayyoulook at me. I know you said he loved your stepmother, but I swear it’s true.” “I saidsheloved him. I never said he loved her back.” He glances out the windshield, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “Is that why you killed him? You didn’t appreciate his attentions?” “He came to the house when my father wasn’t there. I’m not even sure how he got in. But he followed me from room to room and begged me to give him a chance. I asked him to leave, told him that he was scaring me. He decided to grab me and try to kiss me. “I got out of his hold and ran to the desk drawer my father keeps his Glock in and threatened him. He still refused to leave. The moment he took a step toward me, I shot. It was meant to scare him, nothing more. I could never kill anyone. The bullet grazed his arm, but he was alive.” “You didn’t follow him out?
Contracted Husband Chapter 156
“You cut yourself,” I say. “It wouldn’t have been believable otherwise.” “Why did you do it, Nathan ? Why did you spare my life?” He pulls over several blocks from my house. We sit there in silence for what seems like forever, the only sound the pitter-patter of scattered rain against the windshield. “Why did you save me?” I repeat the question that’s been burning in my mind. “Your mother wants me dead, but you saved me.” Without turning to me, he replies, “Iwanted you dead.” His response is another blow to my already battered heart. But he deserves the truth. “I didn’t kill your father, Nathan . It wasn’t me.” Now he does turn to me and I almost wish he hadn’t. The shadows I’ve wondered about from the start have emerged and they’re darker and more terrifying than I could have imagined. They’re blackened with Nathan ’s fury, hate, grief, and confusion. They tear at my chest, splaying it open. Raw pain fills me at the sight of those beautiful golden eyes looking so tortured, spa
Contracted Husband Chapter 155
My gaze flicks from her to the elevator and to the rooftop access door, wondering if I could somehow reach either of them. And if I did, are they unlocked? As if from out of thin air, Nathan produces a piece of rope. When he tries to take one of my wrists, I make to get up again, but I’m slammed into the damned chair again. It doesn’t matter how much I fight, he easily pulls my hands behind me and ties them. “You wanted her, there she is,” he says to her, and I notice with at least a bit of satisfaction that he’s panting. I guess I wasn’t that easy to subdue. Nathan ’s stepmother comes toward me, her hips swaying. She sips her wine as she studies me. “You killed my husband.” I don’t bother to respond to her comment. She doesn’t care what I have to say. If she did, she would have asked me if I did it. And if so, why. All she cares about is revenge. The who, what, and why of it doesn’t matter to her. Turning to Nathan , I realize he’s not once asked me either. They’re the same. Part
Contracted Husband Chapter 154
“Mmm. Is it that or that you have Natalia Kane in your bed?”I stiffen, feeling my heart leap into my throat. She knows my name?“Who I have in my bed is none of your concern,” Nathan says.“It is when that whore killed your father! That’s right,” she adds, “I know it was her.”My heart isn’t just in my throat anymore. It seems to have stopped. Suddenly, my blood pressure drops and every pore in my body releases sweat.“John ” I hear Nathan murmur just as I pull away.There’s walking, the sound of heels clacking against the wood floors. “John was loyal to Gustavo and Leo . Of course he would be loyal to me as well.”“Then he’s useless to me,” he says.“You’ve known it was her for days and have done nothing about it!” she shouts.“It is at my discretion to decide what and when I will do something, Katy .”“The godfather only has power so long as the men respect him. How do you think they will react when they find out that instead of killing her, you’ve been fucking her?”My mind racin
Contracted Husband Chapter 153
Or maybe I’ll just fuck you until we both die.” Her eyes fly open, and for a moment, there are no walls between us. The pain, betrayal, and lust are bared fully. “Then fuck me,” she finally says. “And maybe we’ll die together.” My mouth is on hers then. I slide my fingers from her cunt and we both work savagely at getting rid of my clothes. All the while, we kiss with a passion that only the dying know. The instant I’m naked, I’m inside her, thrusting, burying my dick all the way to the balls, pulling back out, and slamming home again. Natalia is wrapped around me, arms and legs holding me tightly against her as she lifts her hips up, meeting each of my thrusts. We fuck like we’re drowning and these are our last gasping breaths. Deep and desperate. She fits me like a fucking glove, her pussy tight around my dick, her body molding to mine perfectly. The way she tastes, smells, feels… It all fits me like no one else ever has, and for the briefest of moments, I almost wish I’d neve
Contracted Husband Chapter 152
I flip it open and freeze, focused intensely on the drawing of a pair of eyes.Myeyes. Only, they’re not the way I’m accustomed to seeing them. They have the same shape, same dark spots on the irises. There’s a deep crease between them. But in the drawing, they’re slightly upturned and crinkled at the edges, and there’s a slight gleam to them, as if I’m smiling.Because I was.Several times, she called my name, grinning so widely when I looked at her that I couldn’t help but smile. She captured those moments.Does light penetrate shadows, or do the shadows drown out the light?I asked that question not long ago. The answer is both. She’s managed to light up my eyes while I’ve filled hers with darkness.Blowing out a breath full of exhaustion, I set the sketch aside. Tired, I shut my lids and must drift off instantly, because a bolt of lightning that rumbles even through the sound barriers I’ve erected around the loft wakes me. Instantly, I glance at the door.Though she has access to w
