Contractually Yours (The Lasker Brothers, #4)

by Nadia Lee

Disquieting need digs deeper into my belly, but I shake it off. This isn’t real, I remind myself. But it doesn’t feel like a show.

“My policy is never explain, never complain. Just makes things worse.”

“I take my wedding vows seriously. And I won’t be going to other women when I can have you.”

“Watch your tone if you want to keep your teeth. Nobody talks to my wife with disrespect.”

“You shouldn’t have hit him,” I say finally. “A man’s entitled to protect what’s his.”

I wasn’t kidding about destroying him if he doesn’t stay away. Actually, I’m going to go ahead and do that anyway,

“He’s being insubordinate, talking to you like that. You’re entitled to get rid of him for creating a hostile work environment. This is your kingdom, Luce. Defend it.”

“So what if my body’s slutty? Do you think that means anything?” “It means you’re my slut. My wife.” He lifts me off the island, wrapping his arms around my torso, and slams into me.

“Only the people who are close enough to stick a knife in your back can betray you.”

The truth will set you free. That’s a lie. The truth is jagged shards of glass you breathe in, shards that shred you until you think you’ll never recover.

“You are worth it, Lucienne Peery. You are the prize. I can do this over and over again until you believe that.”

“And if I see other men?” I say, looking up at him. “That would be terrible.” “Terrible how?” “Well, you know. Young men, in their prime. Dying so early.”

There is black writing over his heart that wasn’t there before. It reads: EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF LUCIENNE PEERY TRESPASSERS WILL BE REMOVED WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE