Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“I know, sweetheart,” Vik says into the receiver, his voice dropping to a tone he reserves exclusively for one person. There was a time in my life when I’d have made light of the situation. Until I made Alexandria mine. “I’ll be home by six… Love you, too, Romy.” I stroll across the room, completely unbothered, and throw myself onto the plush leather couch along the far wall. I rest my ankle on my knee and pull my phone out of my pocket.
Vik ends the call with Romy, sets the phone on the desk, and leans forward. His sharp eyes lock on me like a hawk. In fact, he’s not the least bit surprised to see me, but the level of disruption in his office didn’t go unnoticed.
“Dante, to what do I owe the pleasure of you trudging to my office this early in the morning?” I ignore him for a second, my thumb flying across the phone screen as I open our group chat.
Dante: Vik’s office. Now.
Dante: @Rafe @Nolan @Dom
“What are you doing?” Vik asks, narrowing his eyes as he watches me text, only to see his phone light up with a notification.
“Calling a meeting,” I reply, sliding my phone back into my suit jacket. “The guys are on their way in.”
Vik rests his elbows on his desk, laces his fingers together, and takes a long, quiet breath. His gaze shifts past my shoulder to the area where Alexandria is sitting at her desk, typing away while clutching her work phone to her ear. He looks back at me, trying to decipher why my jaw is still tight with tension and there isn’t a lick of remorse in my eyes. Maybe he did see and hear everything I said to Alexandria. If he did, he’s keeping it close to the vest.
“You’re an idiot,” he says flatly. Because Vik is Vik, it took him about three seconds to put the puzzle together.
“Is that any way to speak to your business associate?” I raise an eyebrow.
“You married her,” he states, not even bothering to phrase it as a question. He pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a low, weary breath. “Vegas. That’s why she looked like she was hiding something and sounded off her game this morning. Add in the fact you’re never here this early or badgering my assistant. Then there’s the random trip you took this weekend. Yeah, you’re an idiot.”
“She’s my wife,” I say, the word settling, heavy, absolute, and completely non-negotiable in the space between us.
“And does ‘your wife’ want everyone in this office to know she’s your wife?” Vik asks, his voice dripping with protectiveness. “Because from where I’m sitting, Alexandria looks like she’s two seconds from jumping out of her chair, marching herself in here, and losing her shit on you. And if you let this shit out of the bag right now, Dante, you might as well as get used to sleeping on the couch.”
“Let her try. It’ll give me an excuse to drag her onto it with me.” A low chuckle rumbles in my chest.
“I’m serious,” Vik warns, pointing a finger at me. “Romy is going to flay you alive when she finds out you married her friend in Las Vegas. Then there are Seraphina, Cory, Mischa, Genny, and Jett. Man, I do not envy you at all right now. Christ, if you ruin Alex’s career or reputation in this building, I won’t have to lift a single finger. Your wife and her friends will do it all for me.”
I lean back against the leather cushions, unfazed by his threat. “It’ll be worth it. I’m not keeping this a secret. Not from you, not our friends, and definitely not the world.” When a man knows how good of a woman he has, he doesn’t hide it.
Vik doesn’t get to answer because three men stride in, bringing a commanding wave of energy into the room. Rafe Montero, his dark eyes scanning the room, looking for anything that could pose a threat. His time in the military still has him on high alert. Dom Mercer follows behind him, looking like he just walked out of a board meeting. Then there’s Nolan; his expression is laced with varying degrees of curiosity and amusement.
“This better be good, Dante,” Dom says, tossing his keys onto Vik’s coffee table before dropping into the armchair near the couch. “I was in the middle of closing a deal.”
“What’s going on?” Rafe asks, leaning against the edge of Vik’s desk, folding his arms over his chest. “Vik looks like he wants to murder you.”
“I’d bet money it’s over the fiery woman out there currently talking about ordering a doll and placing pins strategically between the legs,” Nolan inputs.
“He does,” Vik says smoothly behind his desk. “Because our resident billionaire here decided to lose his damn mind in Nevada.”