Page 32 of Ruined By a Devil

“That’s good,” Zeke agrees. “If there’s anything I can take care of, make sure to send it my way. And I’m sure Riley will be happy to help.”

I nod.

I know my brothers are afraid of what Nolan can do, but I’m confident that things will work out in our best interest because I’m the one in charge of everything and I don’t make plans that have holes in them. The wedding will happen in less than a week and Jade will become my wife, whether Nolan likes it or not.

I'm not going to give him an opportunity to even try and take Jade from me.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Jade

When the bedroom door opens, I’m sitting up against the headboard, watching a boring reality show on the flat screen TV. I turn my head to see Malachi walk in. He’s already shed his suit jacket, the sleeves of his crisp white shirt rolled up to his forearms, revealing the faint, pale traces of scars slipping under it. He looks as composed as ever.

“Thank you for helping me last night.”

Malachi dismisses the gratitude with a slight, deliberate tilt of his head. “Don't thank me, Jade. Keeping you alive and intact is part of our agreement. Nothing more.”

“Gee, okay,” I roll my eyes.

A part of me hates how everything is always framed as a transaction or a strategic necessity with him. A part of me wishes he was warmer, but then again, I remember this isn’t a real marriage anyway. But then I catch the lingering look he gives me before he turns away, and I know better than to take his words at face value.

“I hate feeling helpless,” I say, turning the reality TV show off.

“Then don't be,” he replies, making himself comfortable in the chair next to my bed. His eyes narrow, taking in my posture. “Nolan pushing you into a pool was a reminder that you're an easy target. You need to learn how to defend yourself.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Is that an offer to teach me?”

“It's an order,” he leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “We’ll start training tomorrow.”

“How early?” I ask.

“In the afternoon, we have other business to take care of in the morning,” He responds. “If you're going to share my name, you're going to know how to draw blood if someone touches you.”

The thought of fighting him, learning how his body moves, sends a quick pulse of heat straight between my thighs, but I keep my face completely blank. Or at least I hope I do.

“Fine,” I shrug. “But right now, I'm starving and I don't want whatever sterile meal you might have prepared in the fridge. I want cacio e pepe.”

“Then order it,” he looks faintly amused.

“Nope,” I say, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “I'm making it myself.”

“You’re what?” His eyes widen in disbelief. “You know how to make it?”

“No,” I grin, looking down at him. The way his head is just slightly lifted upwards, staring at me with the same curiosity and amusement as one would at an animal in a zoo, sends a shiver down my spine. “But how hard can it be? I’ll just follow the recipe, easy-peasy.”

“You better have 911 on your speed dial.”

“Are you worried I’m going to burn your house down?” I laugh. “Don’t you have like five more?”

“One, yes, I don’t want you to burn down my house,” he gets up from the chair, which makes me aware of how close our bodies are and I instinctively take a step back, even though my whole body is urging me to take a step forward. “And two, seven actually.”

I swallow, the words suddenly leaving my brain, erased by the way his eyes are staring into my soul.

Pull yourself together, Jade.

Ten minutes later, we’re in the grand, stainless-steel kitchen. I’m still wearing the outfit I was sleeping in, a pair of soft, impossibly short silk lounge shorts and a loose tank top because changing felt like a hustle and the hunger won.

“You don’t have to do this,” I tell him as I pull a pot from the cabinet and set it on the stove, filling it with water. “I can do it myself.”