“Uh … I have no idea,”Winnie said. “What do you like to do?”
They entered theirapartment, and the truth was, Elias did everything he wanted to do. He ruledthe fucking city, and he kept people in line. This was what he did every day.He made money, and he killed people that dared betray him.
“This is not about what Iwant to do. What wouldyoulike to do?”
He expected her to want togo shopping, or to the beach.
“Well, there’s this …artisan marketplace that opens every few months. I’ve been wanting to go forthe past year, but something always comes up. They’re here this weekend, thereare stalls where farmers and artisans showcase their food, their produce, butthis has also extended into crafts. There’s always food available, and gamesand stuff. It’s a family event.”
It sounded like anightmare. Something he would do everything to avoid.
“This is what you want todo?”
“Yes, I mean, only if youwould like to go, but there is a catch. It’s a family event, so your guardsmight need to blend in.”
She nibbled her lip andshe looked so cute. He saw how animated she looked at the possibility of going,to what he considered a nightmare. He couldn’t say no. He didn’t want to sayno.
“Then that is what we’redoing tomorrow.”
Her eyes lit up. She hadintense dark brown eyes, and she always looked so beautiful to him. Now, theywere full of hope and happiness. There was no way he was going to take thataway from her. When it came to his wife, it would seem there was nothing hewouldn’t do for her.
In all his forty years,nothing had made him weak. He didn’t have a weakness. He was a deadly killer.Fierce.
No one could ever know hiswife was becoming his weakness.
Chapter Two
This was insane.
Winnie had awakened at sixin the morning to get ready. She was wrapped in her robe, her hair pinned inrollers, and sat at her vanity, applying makeup. The foundation had decided topill, which was just fucking crazy. She hadn’t struggled with foundation in solong, and today of all days, her makeup decided to take a beating. The bronzerwas sticky, the blush too bright. Her hands shook as her nerves started to getworked up.
She ended up washing herface, repeating the whole skin care routine, and then going simple, with a skintint and minimal makeup.
Once that was done, shefinished her hair and changed into one of her favorite summer dresses. It was acute pastel yellow, with thick straps so she could still wear a bra, and thisfell to her ankles but had a slit up to her knee, allowing her the space towalk. It was comfortable, and not figure-hugging.
No matter how many dietsshe went on, or exercise routines she stuck to, her hips stayed the same—full,rounded—and were not disappearing. She decided to stop fighting nature and justlove the body she was in. It did take time. Years of being called fat and uglyhad gotten her to this moment.
She took a deep breath,expelled it, and made her way into the kitchen. It was already eight o’clock,and it had taken her two hours to get ready. The scent of coffee told her Eliaswas already awake.
She had no idea why shefelt nervous. The moment she made her way to the kitchen, she saw her husbandwas already sitting at the dining room table, sipping his coffee.
Without another word, shewent to the kitchen, grabbed a mug, and poured herself a cup. Next, she went tothe fridge, added a splash of milk, no sugar. She felt nervous, and she knew itwas stupid to feel this way.
The first time she metElias,he’d been killing people. That hadn’t scared her. Infact, she’d been thankful he’d been there, and she hadn’t been alone.
Why did the thought of goingout with her husband make her nervous?
Becauseit is something you want to do and you’re nervous he is going to hate it.
Taking a sip of hercoffee, she grabbed a bowl and a spoon and made her way to the table. They hadshared many breakfasts throughout the last four years. This seemed to be hardfor some reason.
This was the first time hewas taking her out with her own desires in mind. She didn’t know what hadinspired this, but she wanted him to enjoy it. Now she couldn’t help butoverthink everything.
He didn’t say a word asshe sat down, poured her cereal, and started to eat. She didn’t look in hisgeneral direction, and instead stayed focused on what she was doing.
Time passed, and themoment she finished her food and coffee, they were heading out the door. It wasa little after nine by this point, and already the artisan market was in fullswing.
Elias didn’t allow hisguards to get too close, which she appreciated. There were so many differentstores, and at first, she struggled to take it all in. Mainly because herhusband was by her side, monitoring everything. Sure, he had told her on morethan one occasion that there were always threats to their lives. He had a lotof enemies, but so far, in the last four years, nothing had happened. There hadbeen a few times someone had come at them with a gun. There were always guardsat the ready, but nothing had personally happened to her. She was grateful for that.
