Possession (The Agents, #1)

by Brynne Asher

Being ignored by the man I ended up marrying should make me happy. Being ignored in my current situation is a gift—one I should not take for granted. But instead of embracing it for the peace of mind it should be, it pisses me off.

All I’m saying is that had you already been married, they would not have wanted you.” “Or, had Dad not pawned me off to save his own life, I also would not be in this situation.”

“Why would I do that? Why would I help Dad after what he did to me?” “Because he’s your father, and you’re an Alba.”

Bitch

I barely recognize my own voice. “Get your fucking hands off my wife.”

“Your daughter is mine. Word must not have traveled fast enough. I’ll have to do something about that sooner rather than later. If you disrespect my wife, you disrespect me.”

Landyn and I don’t move a muscle. We stare into each other’s eyes, and it doesn’t feel like anyone’s watching. It feels like we’re alone.

Her voice is small, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t power behind it. She makes a choice. “I choose you.”

It was easy to justify lying to her in the beginning. My lies saved her from a living hell that no human should have to endure.

“Baby, you’re the one who was torn from your life and forced to marry a stranger. Never thank me for anything.” She gives my shirt a tug to get my attention. “I have a feeling I have more to be thankful for than I realize, and all of it has to do with you.”

“You’re telling me the guards let Decker through, saw what was going on, sat on their asses, and allowed it to happen after I made it fucking clear that if anyone touched my wife, they’d be dead?”

If he tried to keep me from her, I’d have to throw him across the room.

I’m not willing to drown my feelings for my fake wife. Not anymore. “This will never happen again,” I stress. “I’ll earn your trust. If anyone touches you, they will die.”

Buffalo Bills

Ayyy

They’ll have to kill me before they can get to you again.”

“I wouldn’t be able to live with that mark on my soul, Boz.”

“I won’t let that happen. There’s no way my soul can bear the b...

Just like when I do it with Landyn, speaking the truth feels good. Like I’m clinging to who I am with bloodied fingers.

But for you to want me because you have no choice?” He shakes his head. “I want you, but I don’t want that. I’ll never want that.”

“Married you while you were covered in another man’s blood, and you were still fucking gorgeous. I would’ve given you more than a second glance.”

“I wish you could see that I’ll do anything for you.”

No matter what happens or what force tries to wedge its way between us, I want you, Landyn. I’ve wanted a lot of things in life, but nothing more than you.”

What I really want to add is that I’m willing to make that commitment for the rest of my days, but since she assumes we’re really married, that would not be my best move.

Your life has been in my hands this long, baby, but right now I’m putting mine in yours. You trusted me to take care of you. Tell me I’m doing the right thing. I need to trust you too.”

“I’m the same man who’s been right here with you the whole time. I have a different job than you thought. It’s the only lie I’ve told you.”

“I never thought this would happen. This.” I stop to motion between her and me. “Has been the distraction I did not need. But every single thing I’ve done since I laid eyes on you has been to keep you safe. In the beginning, it was an act to make sure everyone else knew to keep their hands off you.” “An act,” she whispers. “Yes,” I confirm. “It was. But not anymore. You got under my skin, and what was fake turned very fucking real, Landyn. I’ve pushed you away because there was no way I was going to fuck you when you thought I was someone else, even though I know I could’ve.”

You don’t know how hard it’s been for me to push you away, or focus on my job, when all I want is you.”

“After everything we’ve done, I think I deserve to know your real name.” “That depends,” I say. “On what?” “Can I trust you, baby? With my life?”

“You know how I feel about my father. And my mother, for that matter. It’s not lost on me how alone I am. If you say you’re the same person you were, then tell me your name.”

Carson is going to have your head, right after he gives the rest of us an I told you so, because he can’t keep his fucking mouth shut about you and your bride.” Micah looks from Landyn to me. “Is she going to run?” “I don’t know.” I look at the woman who I’ll chase to the ends of the earth if she does. “Are you going to run?”

I want to beg her to be mine—now and after and forever.

“You have no idea what’s gone on between Brax and me. I don’t give a shit who you are—I don’t need your permission or your acceptance or your blessing to be whatever I want to him. I don’t need to prove myself to anyone but my husband.”

And his lips tip up when he shoots me the smallest smile. “Chica, come here and meet my mom.” I don’t hesitate. I push away the anger and confusion that’s plagued me and move to the man who has had me tied up in knots since I met him. In so many ways.

When I said I was exhausted, it’s not from lack of sleep. I’m so fucking tired of pretending to be someone I’m not. My fake wife is the lifeline I needed to show me what I’m missing. My wife… There’s nothing fake about Landyn. That’s why I introduced her to my mom as my wife. Introducing her as anything else, felt wrong.

Landyn looked shocked for about two beats, but after that, she fell into place. By my side. A place I want her to be when I’m me.

“I’m not going to arrest him. I’m going to fucking kill him.”

“You said you were the same person you were before.” “Baby, I am.” She shakes her head, and my insides tense. “No, you’re not.” I brace. I’m about to drop to my knees to plead for her to believe me, but she doesn’t give me the chance. “You’re better.” Fuck.

Hearing my real name on your lips is the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. When I bury myself inside you, it’ll be me. And it’ll be worth the wait.”

EHEHEHE

“Nothing stands between us any longer. It’s you, and it’s me. If it ends up being us against the world, I’ll take them all down. And I’ll do it for you—I’ll do anything to keep you by my side.”

The thought of not being yours is worse than any bullet I could take.”

“I’ll give you normal as soon as I can, chica. Swear it.” Normal. I had no idea something as mundane as that would be my love language, but it is.

I’d like to say I do again when you say my real name and we’re not covered in blood. But that’ll only be for pictures and memories. Because as far as I’m concerned, yes, we’re married.”

“Looking forward to doing it again without the blood or the creepy priest.” A laugh bursts through my tears. “Right? He was so creepy.”

So when I turn the corner to the bathroom to find that woman’s ass peeking out from my T-shirt in a tiny pair of panties, bent at the waist with her hair flipped upside down, I reassure myself I’m not crazy. I’m fucking lucky.

She’s not hesitant any longer. Her response is quick and firm. “If it means helping you, I’ll do anything. You deserve to know who killed your brother. I don’t want to be like my father, and my mother is no better. I refuse to look the other way just to benefit from a cushy life supported by illegal activities.”

“I came back here so my mother could see my face one last time in case she doesn’t make it through this. If I thought I was close to being made, I wouldn’t go back.

I see foreshadowing.

My nod is grave, and I wonder what in the hell I’m doing. But I tell the truth and do my best to put on a brave face. “I can do this. I’d never do anything to put him in danger.” Cole’s smirk isn’t cocky this time. “I like that. Hell, it must be the romantic in me, because I believe it.”

I’m cocky enough that I haven’t been afraid of anything since I started this, but the thought of her rejecting the real me was terrifying.

“Did you kill Damian?”

I push her back far enough to frame the side of her face in my hand and look into her eyes. “Yes.”

“Was that the plan?” I shake my head. “No, baby. That was the farthest thing from the plan. I actually fucked up all the plans that day.”