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“Now, now. I didn’t take you for a liar too.”
“I’m not.” Her voice cracked. “Please, Ty. They had nothing to do with what I did.”
“You’re not stupid, Sienna,” I said coldly. “And neither am I. Maybe your entire family doesn’t know about me, but your parents must. Do you really want to make your siblings orphans because of your stubbornness?”
Resentment flashed across her beautiful face, darkening those cognac-colored eyes.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she hissed. “I swear to God, Tyran. Hurt my family, and I will destroy yours. And you know I can. It would only take a simple keystroke to put them on the radar of Interpol, FBI, CIA. Every fucking agency I can think of.”
“Careful, baby. I might not be a sadist, but I am a killer. Your entire family can be dead by morning, their bodies dumped where they’ll never be found.” Her eyes widened at my threat. Of course I would never kill her family. I wasn’t into killing women and children, but she didn’t need to know that. “So you will marry me if you want them safe.”
Tense silence stretched for a long moment, our eyes locked in the battle of wills.
“You are insane,” she finally said, pressing her left hand against her chest as if she was worried her heart would give out. The handcuffs clinked, still on her wrists. I was tempted to keep them on her until my ring was on her finger.
“Maybe,” I acknowledged. “But these are my terms. Marriage or—”
The unspoken meaning filled the air as terror flickered in her eyes, but she was desperate to hide it. It would seem that was all I could evoke in her since I’d found her.
“Why wouldn’t you just kill me?” she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice. “If I’m dead, I can’t testify against you.”
“I’m in my forties. It’s time I got married and secured an heir.” I paused, watching her carefully. “We Irish like big families.”
A crimson blush crept up her neck and spread across her cheeks. I had to admit, she looked beautiful when she was flustered.
“Try adoption,” she retorted dryly. “Or marry someone who actually wants you.”
“Ouch, you’re not trying to hurt my feelings, are you?”
“As a matter of fact…”
“You will marry me, Sienna. Stop resisting it.”
I should have felt like a bastard for forcing her into this, but I didn’t. I watched a cascade of emotions flicker across her face as she weighed her options, searching for a way out—until the realization settled in that she had none.
“What if I don’t want to have sex with you, Ty?”
“I remember once upon a time when you begged me to fuck you,” I purred, smiling wickedly. “Think of this as your wish coming true, just with a few strings attached.”
She gulped. “That girl no longer exists.”
The expression in her eyes was that of desperation and terror, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it had to do with the physical aspect of a marriage. Didn’t I prove to her already that I wouldn’t force myself on her?
“We’ll bring her back,” I said gently. I watched her throat move as she swallowed, her chest rising and falling with her heavy breathing. She opened her mouth to protest, but I shut it down. “Sienna, marriage to me isn’t an option. You will fix what you fucked up. And I will help you fix what your kidnappers fucked up. It’s a good deal. So take it, and thank me with your pretty mouth while on your knees later.”
Desire flickered in the depths of her eyes, and the sight felt like my biggest victory tonight. My little blondie had a weakness for dirty words.
“Okay,” she agreed slowly. “And once the FBI is off your case or five years are up, we’ll get a divorce.” I nodded, although every fiber of me screamed NEVER. “And I can just leave?”
“Yes.”
I’d never let her leave.
TWELVE
SIENNA
Keep your friends close but your enemies even closer.
