Handsome Devil (Forbidden Love, #3)

by L.J. Shen

It was my first kill. Practice made perfect, and I had at least two more people to help hone my craft. See, five years ago, Darrah Boyle, along with two other inmates, murdered my father in prison over a bet. A game of cards. A reckless, meaningless moment. My father was a powerful man. The type not to land himself in prison for anything short of murder.

If I couldn’t have her, no one else could. And I wanted her. Oh yes. Her body anyway. Not that I ever gave her the slightest indication I was attracted to her.

I yanked out my pocket book of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and scowled at one of my favorite lines to soothe my anger. “I am not crazy; my reality is just different from yours.”

“What do you want, then?” I actually stomped, losing my patience. “You.” “I beg your pardon?” I misheard him. I must’ve. “If I’m going to break the law and likely a few fucking families standing in line for this bullshit experimental trial, I want your life in exchange for saving your mother’s. It’s symbolic, symmetrical, and one of the very few things money can’t buy me.” “Me, as in…?” Ice wrapped around my bones. My stomach roiled. Do. Not. Vomit. “You, as in you become my wife. You wear my ring. You live under my roof. You take my name. You suck my cock.” He paused, examining his fingers in sheer boredom. “You bear my children. I’m thinking four, minimum. We’re bound to make mistakes on the first few before we create someone worthy to inherit the company. Oh.” He snapped his fingers. “Maintaining my friendships. Socializing is my least favorite pastime. Rhyland’s and Row’s wives seem to like you. Keep up our appearances.”

“One, this is exclusive. You dump your little boyfriend as soon as you walk out of here. Two, you act like you don’t detest me in public. Three, do not hire anyone to assassinate me. If you want to kill me, do it yourself.”

“Listen to me carefully, Gia. I am yours. All of me belongs to you. My body—yours. Brain—yours. Money—yours. Kingdom—yours. Every inch. Every cell. Every atom. Every single breath has your name on it.” “And your heart?” Her voice came out scratchy and thick, eyes glittering with tears. “Is it mine too?” “Oh, Apricity.” I plastered my forehead to hers, gathering her into my arms. “If I had a heart to give, it would be yours. Without question.”

I massaged my temples. “I don’t know how I found myself surrounded by such bad men.” “Ah, that’s an easy one.” Enzo untucked his knife, playing with it again. “You fell for one.”

“I’ll make things right with Callaghan,” he said out of nowhere. “I’ll stop the bloodshed. I’ll seek therapy. I’ll go on meds. I’ll do anything.” He paused. “Just please don’t leave.”

“My real name is Gabriel,” he croaked, his silken voice coming from the depth of his soul. My heart stopped. “Gabriel Doe. And he—I—we love you. We’ve loved you from the first moment we saw you.”

“Gia.” Kevin barreled toward me, pink-cheeked. He eyeballed Tate apprehensively before asking, “May I hug your wife, sir?” “Sure, if you don’t feel too attached to your limbs.” Tate’s ice cube voice trickled down my spine.