ence. It doesn't have to. The weak call-out

ow music, the acrid scent of expensive pe

gives way to silence, glasses hover suspended in mid-air, and

I wasn't here on company busin

stopped demanding. But the minute I walk

by the bar, posture r

os

breaths. "

His voice fell. "The Ara

s furrowed

"Yeah. He says i

y back. "Our transaction closed last mo

he requested

never a g

headed to my

lsed around me, music, low titters, the buzz of backroom deals cut in

ly directed at me, the ones containing fear or gre

t, my gaze slicing through the people

idn't belong

or breath. Wide eyes, too wide for her face, locked on me l

ooked away the instan

di

rest

os

snapped me out

om hers with no hes

had grown accustomed to. I sat down in my chair, the ice clink

lm spe

oice was laced with false w

If this isn't urgent,

into his voice. "There's a pr

in the r

spec

rgo this morning. So

through

sion coiling in my muscles. "I personally oversaw t

ked on my end, too. But between last week's

hung, cold

you know I would never lie to yo

exactly t

id, and I hung up with

ext to me. His voice was low and charged. "The Sou

amusement in it. The South had gone reckless. Pu

ho owns this city," I whi

"Boss, the others have to be t

hem what's happening.

of us-Aiden, Yves, Hayden, Ethan, Matte

as enemies, ever standing around one

ies. We were brothers. And if war was w

s throat. "Your fat

lowly. "Of c

l him you're

s te

something to say. And when Edward Slade

it t

the phone, and I br

the

to another house?" The words wer

y chair, fingers drumming agai

's time the delays stop. Maria Sloane is the o

once already, I am not marrying a Southern

a month. If you don't find yourself a wife then... A hesita

e phone w

re white. And then, with a harsh gasp, I tossed it.

Nicholas

eatened me with my mother." My voice was low,

maintain peace. That I'll give up my f

didn't need to. I breathed slowly

, wicked smile curled my l

t up a fraction, b

l Pa

t a word. I leaned back in my c

p-eyed woman who understood

ed me, boss

ess here. She spilled something on her shirt

ch the shift in my voice. "Everything

once. "Un

d by, then th

me

r, reluctant, eyes darting like

owards her. "He

my head.

ore she exited. Nicholas followe

s just the

it

ated, the

r na

sir," she

ng the name around in my

allowe

mar

fluttered.

ren

softly, "No.

explain

o stand behind her. She stif

afraid of

reath. "No.

ia

flin

gh to catch the sweet smell

said. "For ten m

arted, but she didn't say

n't understand

It's simple. I need a wife. Yo

ence, her mind clearly racing to try

waited, watching as real