Ruthless Arrangement (Underworld Kings)

I have no idea why I’m here. I can’t think of one good reason why Killian would want to see me. I have nothing else to say and there’s no real reason he’d ever want to see me. I just hope that if I keep my wits about me, I can get out of here in one piece. Then I will spend all my money on a plane ticket leaving this place, E-Z, and Killian in the past.

I slide out of the SUV, and E-Z guides me inside with his hand on my back, staying close. I appreciate the comfort of it, even if I probably shouldn’t. This place gives me the creeps. Everything just feels so off, bad vibes are surrounding me like steam from a cup of hot coffee.

We check in with the guard at the counter who goes through the motions of patting us down. We walk through metal detectors before going down a long, bleak hallway. How can Killian survive in a place like this? The bleakness penetrates your bones. I’m just visiting, and I feel like I can’t breathe. The guards open a door to a small room with a metal table and four chairs.

"Sit down," E-Z says, standing near my back. I oblige, the cold metal freezing me—even through my clothes. This place smells awful, and I don't particularly want to be here any longer than I have to.

Two guards enter leading Killian in. He's wearing shackles on his wrists. He looks nothing like the man I met the day I dropped my groceries. That seems like forever ago now. His gorgeous hair is buzzed almost to his scalp making his face look harder, more chiseled. His eyes seem more hollow with dark circles from countless sleepless nights. I don't blame him. I’m not sure I could sleep here either. He's still handsome, but for some reason, I miss the man I met.

His eyes rake over me, and my traitorous body acts as if he had his hands on me. He brings his eyes back up to meet mine. "You're not wearing a dress."

I expected many things to come out of his mouth, but that wasn't one of them.

"I didn't exactly get time to do much before E-Z commanded me to come with him. Besides, I didn't realize prisons have dress codes."

"They don't," he allows. My eyebrows raise in question because I get the feeling he’s not finished. "I just figured you'd want to be in a dress when you got married."

Wait…what?

CHAPTER 20

KILLIAN

She looks good. Just as good as the first day I laid eyes on her, but then again, I've been sitting in prison for months, only laying eyes on female guards which doesn't count. Their uniforms and demeanor are designed to make them look asexual to us inmates. That's likely why my hands ache to explore Belle’s never-ending curves. I thought she looked gorgeous in a dress, but jeans do something to accentuate her curves even better. Her hair has been brushed out into silky waves, her lips only a slight blush of color on them. She’s unlike any woman I’ve ever had in my life and calls to me in ways no one else ever has. It feels like everything from her curvy body down to her big doe eyes were made with me in mind.

Belle's the perfect front for the parole board. Which is great. It will be kind of like killing two birds with one stone. I'll be able to keep her close. She will forever be a reminder for me to never ignore my gut feelings. Plus, she could've just told me that her father was gunning for me instead of running away. If she had, I wouldn't be in this hell hole right now.

E-Z is frowning at me. I can feel his eyes on me now, but I ignore him. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know he doesn't like this plan at all. He could be right that I'm not being fair to Belle, but I don't feel like being fair.

I’m out for blood.

I can’t take Bones's blood right now, so I'll satisfy myself with Donovan's daughter—in more ways than one.

"M-married? What are you talking about?" she asks, fidgeting in her seat.

"The two of us are getting married," I deliver quietly.

"Nope, no way," she says, shaking her head. "I'm not marrying anyone, and besides, we can't get married."

"We can and we will."

"Absolutely not,” she argues, her mouth pursing into a grim line.

"E-Z, leave us." I stare him down, and for a second, I think he's going to argue—I can tell he’s thinking about it, but he gives me a grim nod and does it. I don’t take my eyes off Belle as he leaves. She jumps as the door closes, signaling E-Z has left us alone. The lock engaging begins echoing in the room.