Dallas scowls but pulls up a chair and sits across from us. His anger is still there, but he seems to accept that I will fix his problems as he eases into the chair.
Until his attention moves to Kai. He must not have seen her when he first entered, but now she’s all he can look at.
“Fetch me a drink, whore. And then strip, I want to feast on your body while Black and I do dealings,” Dallas says.
Every bead of blood in my body seethes with a furry I haven’t felt in years. I feel a tornado of anger and rage swirling, and if Dallas doesn’t get out of Surrender, Miami, and the country within the next five minutes, I’ll kill him.
Kai just laughs like it was the funniest thing she’s heard, and then she leans forward, playful determination on her face like she’s about to tell the sweetest secret.
“Fetch your own fucking drink, jackass. I am not your slave. I won’t be doing a damn thing for you. And I sure as hell will never be stripping for anyone but my husband.” She flashes the diamond I just put on her finger for Dallas to see. Then she places her hand seductively on my inner thigh.
Fuck.
I feel the sweet reli
ef as I always do whenever we touch. The flames flying calm at her touch then start swarming again, but this time in her direction instead of his. God, I want her so much.
“Wait? Are you telling me you two—” he starts.
“We eloped last week,” I answer.
“Holy shit,” Dallas leans back staring between the two of us—accepting her as my wife so easily. I thought I would have to show him our marriage license. Or at least show more affection—kiss her to get him to believe us. Something I’m not sure Kai could handle.
“I suggest you treat my wife with more respect, before I hang you upside down by your balls and leave you writhing in pain for the whole world to see,” I say.
“I apologize, Mrs. Black. Please, let us start over. I never meant to treat you with such disrespect. You must be a truly special woman to get a man like Black to settle down and risk everything for you,” he says.
She narrows her gaze. “Mr. Black isn’t risking anything for me. He loves me, and he knows I am more than capable of living in this dangerous world. I can handle men like you just fine. I accept your apology, for now, but if you say a word against me, the Blacks will no longer work with you in any capacity. You will become our enemy, and it will be you whose life will be threatened.”
I grin. Kickass.
I couldn’t say it better myself.
Dallas smiles as well.
“You have found a fiery match, Mr. Black. I assume you sleep with one eye open to ensure she doesn’t cut off your balls in your sleep,” he says.
I wink at Kai. “She’s everything I ever wanted in a woman. You can see now why I made her my wife to ensure she never became an enemy.”
He nods. “Please introduce us properly so we can part as friends.”
“Dallas Fell, please let me introduce you to Katherine Black, my wife. Katherine, please meet Dallas, the weasel of the underworld who makes enemies, not just because of how he runs his mouth without thinking, but because he is truly a slimeball who steals from those he claims are his friends. And then expects not to be hunted down like the rat he is,” I say.
Dallas chuckles. “That was a good description of me. Thank goodness I have the loyalty of the Blacks to protect me. Pleasure to meet you, my dear,” he holds out his hand to Kai.
And for the first time, I see the fear return. The anxiety is apparent in her eyes. She can tolerate touching me and having me touch her for brief moments, but not others. If she shakes his hand, she won’t be able to control her fear, and then he’ll see her weakness. He can’t see her weakness. He’d exploit it himself, or sell her weakness to the highest bidder to try and use it against me later.
I can’t let them shake hands.
I grab my drink that is filled and thrust it into his outstretched hand. “We don’t have time for any more pleasantries.” I stand and walk over to the bar cart to pour myself a drink before sitting again.
Dallas seems perturbed but sits back and doesn’t question why my wife doesn’t shake his hand.
“What are your qualms, Dallas? You know the rules. We protect you, but only if you follow our rules. You broke them; we can’t protect you if you don’t listen,” I say.
He chuckles. “So I’m guessing what your lap dog said about there being ten million dollars in my account to replace the lost money is a lie.”
My eyes turn devilish. Ten million is nothing to me, but I don’t give out money to the undeserving. Of course, it was a lie. I said it to keep him calm while giving Kai and me time to get our stories straight.