“Us?” I asked with my brows scrunched together.
Nazai enclosed me in the chair, placing his hands on each of the arms and leaning down. “Well of course, Wildfire. You are my wife after all? Wouldn’t that make the most sense?”
He grinned, causing my cheeks to heat. “I just wasn’t aware that’s what you wanted. You don’t have to do that.” My eyes shifted to the side.
“I know I don’thaveto do it, but I’mchoosingtoo.”
Slowly I moved my eyes back to meet Nazai’s. It was hard to believe we had only been married two months but had come this far. I still struggled with not being so defensive and allowing him to lead, but I was trying. Nazai had brought a lot of changes in my life, most importantly he showed me what love looked and felt like. We might not have expressed the words, I didn’t even know when I’d be ready to hear or say them, but I knew this wasn’t the same cruel man I’d first met when I broke into his house.
I was brought back to reality when Nazai leaned in and pecked my lips. “What’s got you thinking so hard?”
I scraped my teeth over my bottom lip. “Just thinking about how I made your life better by breaking into your house.”
He laughed. “I think you got it backwards, baby. Your life was shit until you met me.”
I rolled my eyes, making him laugh harder. I would never admit he had a point. If I hadn’t broken into his house, that day me and my brother might still be on the run and we would have never found out what it felt like to have a real family surrounding us.
EPILOGUE
Cashlynn
Curiosity filled me as I followed Jackson through the steakhouse doors. We were in downtown Silver Stone and it was a little past eight in the evening. I looked around, noticing the dining room empty outside of a couple of staff.
Two weeks had passed since Neil was killed. Nazai had been taking his role seriously, making sure each brother ran their part of the business fluidly. He had taken one killing job since and the two of us argued when I wanted to accompany him. I ended up staying at home after he reminded me of how my stomach became upset when he killed Neil. It pissed me off but made sense. Morning sickness was still kicking my ass every morning. My doctor had called in some medication to help me so I hoped it would take effect soon.
I paused when I noted Nazai in the center of the empty room sitting at a table. A pink, off the shoulder dress and clear heels were sitting on my bed when I got out of the shower with a note telling me to get dressed and Dante would be waiting for me within the hour. As far as I knew, we didn’t have anything planned when it came to engagements, so I was confused.
My eyes scanned the dining room again before falling back on my husband who was now standing with a smirk on his face. Swallowing hard, I slowly walked toward the table.
“Good to see you following directions, wife,” he said, approaching me. My eyes narrowed. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
“Nazai, what is going on? Why is this place empty?” My nose scrunched while my stomach growled at the sweet aroma coming from the kitchen a couple of feet away.
Nazai leaned down and kissed me. “Can’t a man rent a restaurant out to spend time with his wife?”
My eyes widened and my mouth parted. “What do you want?” I asked.
His grin broadened. “You always think I’m up to something.” He bent his neck and pecked my nose, then my lips.
“Sit down.” Releasing me, Nazai pulled the chair out and I watched him as I slowly took a seat. He rounded the table and took his original seat back.
On the table was a single rose in a vase between us. A bottle of apple juice and a glass of water with a lemon inside were in front of me while Nazai had water and a glass of brown liquid.
“Go ahead and look at the menu, the server should be back soon.” Still confused on what this was, I wasn’t going to argue with him. This baby had already begun increasing my appetite and it had only been a few hours since my last meal, yet I felt like it had been days.
“This baby has me wanting damn near everything,” I mumbled as I eyed the entrees.
“Then get everything. Whatever you want.” I diverted my attention up, gazing at him over my menu.
“Do you want me to blow up like a balloon?”
Nazai flashed me a crooked grin. “Wouldn’t matter to me either way.”
Rolling my eyes, I went back to the menu. I was stuck between the barbeque baked chicken and NY strip. The server came to the table. “Mr. Tavarez, here are the appetizers you requested. Are you two ready to order?”
I lifted my eyes and watched him drop jumbo shrimp, calamari, potato skins, and some kind of dip.
“Give us a few minutes,” Nazai said, barely giving the middle aged man a glance.
