“Why not just take the steps?” Cashlynn asked. “Kind of lazy if you ask me.”
Smirking, I stepped inside and hit the second floor button. One thing that sold me when I bought the penthouse was the inside of the elevator being glass. I enjoyed being able to see the floors when inside.
“This floor is where your room will be, Carson. There are two bedrooms, pick whichever you want.” We stepped out of the elevator into the hallway. He looked around, still in shock, then faced his sister. It was clear he was waiting for her direction.
“Go ahead, bud,” she encouraged.
He gave her a faint smile before moving down the hall.
“That boy needs to toughen up,” I mentioned, causing her to spin and face me with a spiteful glare.
“He’s fine and if you do anything to him or say anything, I swear?—”
“Relax, Wildfire.” I waved her off. “It’s just an observation. With a sister like you, I just expected him to be more tough.” I shrugged. Her eyes darkened and her jaw clenched.
“I’ll take this one,” Carson called down the hall, hanging out the doorway. The room he chose was the biggest on this floor.
“Good. Set your bags down and get comfortable. There’s a media room at the end of the hall with games and shit, feel free to make use of it.” His eyes lit up and he nodded. I made a note to call my personal shopper to go shopping for him. Carson only had two bags with him and Cashlynn had one large bag, a book bag, and a duffle bag. I didn’t know the full story with them but I figured they had to travel lightly being on the run.
“I’ll take the other room.” Cashlynn went to walk forward but I grabbed her arm. “Uh uhn.” I shook my head with a crooked grin. “You’ll be staying upstairs in my room.”
Her eyes widened. “No. The agreement was that I marry you, not stay in your room.”
My grip tightened on her arm. “The agreement is whatever the hell I say it is. You’re staying in my room. Now let’s go.” I yanked her, causing her to stumble. Her eyes flared with anger and her cheeks grew red.
When we were back in the elevator, I hit the button to the third floor and Cashlynn snatched away from me.
We stopped on the final floor and it opened to a small hall with my bedroom door directly in front. Stepping to the door, I pushed it open. “This is the master suite. The second closet will be cleared for your things.”
“Yeah, like I have tons of things to fill it with,” she said sarcastically.
“I’ll have my personal shopper get clothes and whatever else you need. You’ll also have a credit card tied to one of my accounts to get what you want.” While I wasn’t keen on the idea of taking a wife, I had to make sure she looked the part to stand by my side. While she was beautiful in looks, it was clear she had seen better days. It was now my job to make sure she was taken care of.
“Must be nice to just throw money at people and they do what you want, huh?” She stared at me blankly.
“It is.” I nodded and stepped forward. My California king bed was in the middle of the room. On the right side was the sitting room, to the left was the door to the small, private balcony. “The bathroom is through there. There’s a double sink, feel free to use the side my things aren’t on.”
Cashlynn ignored me, set her bag down, and began exploring the room. My phone vibrated in my pocket.
“Yeah?” I answered, watching her. I had taken the two weapons she had on her, so I knew she was unarmed. Still, I couldn’t be too sure she wouldn’t try to use something else to take me out if she wanted. Not that she would make it far, Jackson and Luke would end her before she fully got off the elevator.
“Mr. Tavarez, your brother is here to see you.”
“Send him up.” I hung up and locked my phone. My brother was one person with an access code to get to my floor. “C’mon, you can look around later. We have more important things to handle.”
Cashlynn turned and faced me, confused. “Like what?”
“You’ll see.” I turned and hit the button to open the elevator.
Rolling her eyes, she sighed and walked toward me. “You would think you’d be less snappy with someone who’s saving your life.”
“I didn’t ask you for shit,” she snapped, glaring at me. “And you seem to need me as much as I need you.” We stepped into the elevator and I crowded her as soon as the doors closed.
“Make no mistake, I don’t need you for shit. I saw an opportunity and took it. The moment I feel like you’re more of a hassle to keep than marry, you’re done. Don’t take my generosity as weakness, because I promise you, you won’t like how I react then.”
Her nostrils flared.
“Are you gonna tell me what was so important that I come here?” Lucas questioned after I opened the door for him.
