Marriage of Convenience (The Raven Brothers 1)

“Did you hurt him?” I asked.

“A little. I threatened to kill him.”

My lips twitched up at that, although I’d rather be the one doing the killing.

“I’m not happy that someone at Raven Industries was accosted on my watch, but I’m even more concerned at your reaction. What’s going on, Chase? No bullshit. You know I don’t like it.”

I downed my drink and then, like a man, I turned to face my brother. “Sara isn’t an intern anymore.”

Hunter’s expression remained unchanged, except for one brow that lifted as he waited for me to elaborate.

“She’s my wife.”

His other brow joined the first, and his jaw dropped. “What?”

I nodded, rolling my shoulders to help work out the tension. “Since last weekend.”

“You’ve got to be shittin’ me.”

I shook my head. I leaned back against my desk, curious as to what he’d do.

“This has to do with Dad’s crazy new plan?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“And she agreed?”

“Yes. Of course. I didn’t force her.” I wasn’t an asshole.

Hunter looked away, his brows knitted as he appeared to process what I’d said. Then he pulled his phone out.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Texting Ash and Kade, or do they already know?”

I sighed, realizing I couldn’t put off telling them all any longer. “No, they don’t know. At least not about Sara.” I remembered that Ash thought I was seeing someone.

“Kade is going to shit himself.” Hunter grinned, a rare sight on him. “The little shit deserves it.”

“I’m glad you’re finding humor in my marriage. But someone just tried to grab my wife and I don’t like it, Hunter.”

His jovial expression vanished. “I’ll find out who he is.” He cocked his head. “You’re pretty worked up about this. Is this a match made in heaven and not just a business deal?”

“No,” I said quickly. “But that doesn’t mean I’m okay with some asshole going after my wife.”

Hunter’s head did a double take. “That’s weird.”

“What?” I could hear exasperation building in my tone.

“Saying ‘my wife.’”

Yeah, well, it should have been weird to say it and it was starting to unsettle me that it wasn’t.

“What’s going on?” Ash poked his head in the door.

“Come in. Is Kade with you?” I asked working to psyche myself up for this talk.

“Yep.” Ash and Kade strode in with curious expressions.

“Did someone die?” Kade asked. “I hope it isn’t Dad. I haven’t found my wife and had a kid yet.”

Hunter bit his lip to hide amusement. Since the guy had come back from the war, I could count the number of times I’d seen him smile or looked amused. Half of them had just happened in my office in the last few minutes.

“You’re behind,” he said.

I shot him a look.

“Which of your harem have you decided to marry?” Kade asked Hunter.

“I don’t need this job as much as you guys do. I’m happy to forfeit my inheritance and live happily ever after with my harem. Chase on the other hand…”

“Chase what?” Ash asked.

I took a deep breath. “I got married.”

Kade’s mouth dropped. Ash’s brows pulled together. Hunter continued to watch it all with amusement. Fucker.

“Who’s the lucky gal?” Hunter prompted me.

I shot him a look.

“Yeah, what poor soul was willing to put up with you?” Kade asked.

“Sara.”

Kade’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”

“Intern,” Hunter said.

Ash let out a loud bark of a laugh. “She’s the one you were fucking all weekend?”

I hated that he used the word fucking. It was vulgar even if it was what we were doing.

“Honeymoon,” I said.

“Holy shit.” Kade laughed. “So, you could be on the way to fulfilling the second half of Dad’s crazy scheme too.”

I nodded.

Kade shook his head. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“To make a baby?” I asked. Just because I wasn’t a horndog didn’t mean I didn’t know how to fuck.

“So, you sold your soul to the devil. Poor kid. I bet she has no idea what she’s gotten herself into. Christ, she’s what… nineteen, twenty? Was she a virgin?” Kade said.

“Kade, stop being an asshole,” Hunter said.

“She’ll be back here in a minute. I’d appreciate it if you could get your heads out of your asses and treat her with respect.” I said with special attention to Kade.

“Yeah, she’s his wife,” Hunter said, with another smirk at me.

“Yes, one who was assaulted on the street today,” I said back to him. “Security is getting lax around here.” I hated being an asshole to him, but I wasn’t going to take anymore of his snark.

My words effectively knocked the smirk off his face.

“What do you mean she was assaulted?” Ash asked. At least I could count on him to focus on what was important.

“An old boyfriend tried to grab her,” Hunter said. “Good thing I was there, so I could stop him.” He glared at me.

“Is she alright?” Ash asked.

“Yes, but I think we need to consider that anyone associated with us could become a target.”