Page 7 of A Ruthless Arrangement
No shit, Sherlock.“Yes.”
She sighs as she crosses the room and sits on the bed next to me. “We’ve heard fromthem. They’re flying here soon.”
I sit up so fast that the room spins. “Them? As in…them?Him?”
My grandmother nods. “He’s eager to get this arrangement settled.”
Bile stings my throat and my whole body feels cold. “So soon? But…youjusttold me about this!”
“Shh, dear…” She forces a smile and lays a hand on my arm. As if that would do anything to comfort me. The urge to push her hand off rises, but I stuff it down. “Everything’s going to be okay. It’ll move fast, but perhaps that’s for the better. You’ll have enough time to adjust but not enough time to be frantic about it. Sometimes waiting is torture.”
I want to say thatall of this is torture,but obviously I don’t. The balance between managing my feelings and needs while still behaving appropriately is becoming more difficult to maintain. “But…is there really no other solution? I was thinking of looking into some things…”
Her hold on my arm tightens. “I’m only going to tell you this once, child. Donottest him. He’s watching us, every move we make. Especially you. That is what your grandfather’s men discovered. He’s had people watching you, observing your habitsand way of life, formonths.He’ll find out about it if you try to escape this, and when he does, you’ll be punished. And, no doubt, the rest ofuswill be punished by default, too. Help yourself by heeding my warning, Amy.”
The fear in my grandmother’s eyes scares me. My grandmother is a lot of things, but I don’t think she can fake the terror in her eyes that I see now, or even earlier when she first told me about this.
She isn’t lying. This man really is as dangerous and demonic as she says. Or, at least, she believes that. And my gut says she wouldn’t be misinformed about this.
I’m destined to marry a man that doesn't actually want me, one that I’ve never met. A man that puts fear into the hearts of the most powerful of mafia royalty. A man with a horrid reputation, one of death and violence so severe that comparing him to a demon is appropriate.
Me. The shy, socially awkward, quiet girl. I don’t fit any mold, especially not one that usually hangs off of powerful men’s arms. And yet, here I am, about to marry a monster.
I don’t believe in god, but I hope he helps me.
4
Kerry
So, my little princess is trying to get rid of me already. I chuckle to myself as I relisten to the tape of Amy talking to her friend for the third time since my men sent it to me. I’ve had her phone tapped for almost a year now, not that she makes calls very often. But it’s worthwhile, even just for that one phone call.
She isn’t quite as innocent as I first thought. Hearing the wordprickin that sweet voice is enough to makemyprick stir. She’s barely learned of my existence, and she doesn’t know what she does to me.
Nor does she even know what I look like. It makes me laugh just thinking about how they were guessing about my age and appearance. If she really thinks I’m bald, then she’s in for quite the surprise. I’ve been using my good looks to my advantage since I was a teenager.
I have no doubts that my little leannán will be satisfied with my appearance. I have no doubt I can satisfy her in every way that matters, in bed and out of it.
I close my eyes as I replay her voice in my head, blocking out the whirring of the plane and Jack’s snores. I want to gether comfortable enough to speak with me like that, free and uninhibited.
Before hearing that recording of their phone call, I thought she’d be purely sweet and submissive, which I wouldn’t have minded. But hearing her discuss ways to escape me with her friend is thrilling, even if they both knew it’s impossible. I could tell from their voices.
Sweet little Amy is already scared of me. But that’s good. She needs to be. She seems to already understand what I am. How did they put it? Apsycho.So American.
She’s nuanced. Complicated. Notonlysubmissive, but also fiery and determined. She’s kind and gentle, but it doesn’t make her harmless. I can see it in her, even if she doesn’t see it in herself. Yet. But she will soon.
I stand from my seat to look over the pictures that are spread out over the table in the cabin of the plane. There were pictures of the mansion that the Astero’s owned. Amy arriving at their place several days ago. Pictures of her parents, of her at her shite university campus…
I wonder if she’ll want to continue her studies in Ireland. I’ll let her, of course. Trinity College is a beautiful school, full of history and brilliant professors. She’ll love it there. I’ll pull whatever strings I need to if she wants to attend there, and obviously cost won’t be a factor. She’s currently getting her degree in Communications.I wonder why, and what her plans are for her career. Seems like an interesting choice for a degree. I’m not sure if Trinity has similar degrees, but those are all things that Amy and I can figure out together when the time comes. Granted, she’s almost done with her degree, even if it’s taken her longer than the usual four years to finish it. She may want to just get it done with. Whatever she decides, I’ll support her.As if she has a choice about it.She’ll accept my help whethershe wants it or not. But, after five years of watching her, I’m sure she’ll take it like a good girl.
I trace a finger over a picture of her. What started out as a simple arrangement purely for business had evolved far beyond that. I wonder how darling Amy will react when she discovers the big bad psycho is obsessed with her, and has been for years now.
I remember what she looked like when I first saw pictures of her. She was in her early twenties then, just having started university after taking a couple of years off after graduating secondary schoo—, orhigh school,as the Americans call it. So innocent, so full of life. And now that she’s in her mid-twenties, she’s matured into an angel. Some of that excitement for life has died down, but I’m determined to bring it back.
I sigh and sit down in one of the chairs around the table this time, still looking over the photos.What’s happening to me?I haven’t felt this way since I became obsessed with becoming the most powerful man in Ireland. I gave my everything to achieve that. My blood, sweat, and tears. And it’s been almost ten years since I succeeded in doing that.
I thought I’d just float along for the rest of my life, having achieved the impossible, but apparently my mind, as well asotherparts of me, have other plans.
She’s my new obsession, the next thing I need to achieve.
