Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I sigh. “How do I fix it?”
“Name changes are processed at City Hall. You might go talk to them.”
“Great. I’ll get right on that.” I don’t have time for this, but I need to push back.
And I have to go down to City Hall anyway to look up old records anyway.
New badge in my pocket, I head outside, texting as I go.
* * *
Me: Wtf
Me: You changed my name.
Sir: Good morning, Mrs. Roy.
* * *
Unbelievable. I ignore the way my heart feels a little thrill, knowing he’s publicly claimed me.
* * *
Me: Marking your territory?
Sir: Now everyone will know you belong to me
* * *
Gah! I knew it. I add a few angry emojis to my next message.
* * *
Me: everyone will think we’re married
Sir: Exactly.
* * *
Is he serious?
* * *
Me: I’m changing it back. enjoy it while it lasts
Sir: I will
* * *
I can feel his smugness radiating from my phone.
* * *
I text him:
I thought you were going to back off
Sir: Never
* * *
A minute ago, I felt like I had lost everyone I’d ever gotten close to. But here’s Rex reminding me he won’t leave. It warms me through more than I can say.
Biting my lip, I shoot back a reply.
* * *
Me: Maybe I wanted you to take my last name
Sir: that can be arranged
Sir: Shall we hyphenate?
* * *
Despite myself, my lips curve into a smile. It’s just so ridiculous.
* * *
Sir: Roy-Ramos has a nice ring to it.
Me: NO
Me: we’re not changing our names. We’re not married
Sir: I have paperwork that says otherwise
* * *
Did he really file for a marriage license? No. He has to be bluffing.
Me: get ready for the fastest divorce in history
* * *
I pocket my phone before walking out the front doors of the precinct.
And all hell breaks loose.
10
Inara
* * *
The second I step out of the police precinct, I’m hit with the flashes from a hundred cameras.
“Mrs. Roy! Mrs. Roy!” There’s a mob in front of me, reporters waving to catch my attention, and a row of TV cameras behind the line of photographers. “Inara, over here!”
Shit fuck! I hold up a hand to shield my eyes as another round of bright flashes explode in my face.
“Is it true you’re now married to Rex Roy?” someone shouts.
“When was the wedding?”
“How did you meet?”
Reporters push forward, microphones in hand.
“No comment,” I yell, but my shout is lost in the fray. I am seriously overwhelmed. The crowd surges, driving me back towards the doors.
A man with a camera around his neck presses close. He grabs my arm, and his disgusting breath hits my face. “How does he like to fuck you?” He looks manic and eager, and an oily sensation slides over my senses. I’m gagging, too overcome by his nauseating aura to call on my defensive moves to break his hold on me.
Before I can do anything, someone grabs him by the collar and tosses him aside. The blond twins push through the crowd to flank my sides. “This way,” one barks at me. We move forward as one, and if people don’t scramble out of our path fast enough, they get shoved to the side by one of the twins. One guy refuses to budge, and the twin on my right grabs the guy and tosses him into a bank of reporters without breaking stride.
They get me into the back of Ivan’s waiting car and guard the door until he pulls away from the curb.
“You okay?” Ivan asks.
“Fine,” I clip, too breathless to say much else. I can’t even wrap my head around what’s happening—my name was changed without my knowledge, and the press thinks we’re married. “I need to get to City Hall. The sooner, the better.”
Fortunately, Ivan doesn’t need an explanation. “Understood,” he says cheerfully while accelerating toward a group of cameramen who stand in the street, right in our way. A few of them scream and dive for the sidewalk. At the last second, Ivan jerks the car and swerves to keep from hitting them.
Ivan laughs and lets out a string of words that can only be curses, then apologizes. “Pardon my Russian.”
There aren’t enough cuss words in any language for me to express how I feel about Rex right now. What was he thinking, pulling a stunt like this?
The fact that he did it so thoroughly and quickly is kind of impressive. Only Rex would think of something like this and have the means to pull it off.
Inara Roy-Ramos. Why does it have a nice ring to it? I fight a small smile.
Not that I’m letting him get away with this. If the good people at City Hall can’t undo what Rex has done, I’ll have to explore more drastic options.
“Hamish wanted me to give you this,” Ivan says, passing me a lunch cooler. “I’m supposed to report back if you prefer something else to eat.”