Page 6 of The Hunted Wife

“You will never reveal our arrangement to anyone, or you receive nothing. And if you do it anyway you won’t have money and no access to your children. I have to take their welfare into account.”

Her mouth dropped open and then slammed shut while her eyes became slits. “You think your money will keep my children from me?”

“Yes, it will. Millie, you have to understand. I don’t want to keep you from our children, you’ll have generous visitation rights, but the reality is, no judge in this country will give our children to you and your impoverished situation compared to me and my money.”

Millie sagged in her seat. “You’re right. I’ll make the best of it.”

Adam sighed and ran a hand behind his neck. “I’m sorry, Millie, I’ll make sure one of us is available every day to help you with the laundry, the housework, and whatever else you want done. You won’t have to do it alone.”

She turned her gaze toward him. “You would do that for me?”

“Of course. I didn’t marry you to have a slave. I don’t want you to be unhappy. Truly, that is not my intent.” He saw the sheen of tears in her eyes and felt worse than he had before. She didn’t deserve to be in this situation. “Millie. If you really want out of the marriage, you can have it. I’ll take you back to the courthouse in the morning and explain the situation to the judge. I’m sure he’ll grant an annulment.”

Millie panicked inside. Did she want to give up her dream of children because hard work would be involved? She was looking at this situation as being permanent. Given what she’d stolen, she could never go back to her father and Ricard would want her dead…after he gets his files back. He might technically be her fiancé but she would never marry him. He was a liar and a thief. Money laundering was one thing and her father might have overlooked it except for he wasn’t doing it for the Bratva. He was doing it for himself.

She would not give up her dreams just because she was running from Ricard. He would never find her here. And if she left how would she stay out of the crosshairs of Ricard Sokolov? Holding up her hand, palm out, she cleared her throat. “Adam, I don’t want an annulment. If one of you will help me each day, that should be sufficient. At least until I can get a regiment in place.”

He held out his right hand toward her. “Deal.”

She looked down at his hand and then again at his face. He really was a handsome man. Strong, square jaw, deep blue eyes, brilliant white smile, and a dimple on the left side of his mouth. In the end she shook his hand. “Deal.” She gazed back at the men standing patiently in front of the truck and the Expedition with their arms crossed. “I suppose I should get out so I can meet them.”

Adam nodded but made no move to let her open her door. “I suppose you should.”

She looked over at him. “Adam? Are you letting me out?”

“Yes. Yes. In a moment.” Then he picked up her left hand from the steering wheel where is rested. “Millie, my brothers are good men, but they can be rather rambunctious. I just want you to understand that factor.”

She reached over and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sure we’ll get along fine. Let’s go meet them and then I’d like to get settled.”

“That’s the other thing. Only you and I will be living in the house, you understand that, right?” He looked as if he wanted to throw up rather than admit that.

“I do.” She settled her hands in her lap and looked down while her face heated.

“I won’t force you into my bed…right away…but I want it clear that I do want a family, children, of my own.”

“As do I. That’s why I decided to stay and not get the annulment you so graciously offered after tricking me into marriage.”

Adam frowned. “I didn’t trick you into this marriage. I might not have explained everything beforehand, but I gave you the opportunity to get out, and you declined to take it.” He narrowed his eyes. “You want…or maybe need this marriage as much as I do.”

“Fine. I do want this marriage. I’m not getting any younger and I want a family as well. I do request that we get to know each other before we become intimate. I don’t think that is too much to ask. And why did you wait until now to have this conversation?” She looked out at all his brothers, just standing there. They were patient men.

He placed one hand on the roof of the SUV and the other on the open door. “I didn’t know how to approach it or you, but I knew it was something we needed to get out there for the world to see, or at least us. It’s not too much to ask and I agree. I assume that at your age you’re not a virgin.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, nothing like being blunt but you assume correctly. I’ve been engaged before.”

“That’s a conversation for another time. I see all of my brothers are now waiting to meet you.” He took her hand, then he helped her down from the truck, he didn’t let go of her hand but led her to stand in front of his brothers.

“Brothers, this is my wife, Millie. She will be helping us all. Please come meet her, in order by age. Benjamin you are first.”

A man who looked to be close in age to Adam stepped forward and held out his hand. “I’m Benjamin but you can call me Ben, if you prefer. I’m very happy to meet you, Millie.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Benjamin.” She winked at him.

Next was Christopher, he also shook her hand.

Daniel, Everett, Frederick, and Gabriel followed him and stated their pleasantries.

By the time the last brother shook her hand, Millie wasn’t sure that the appendage wasn’t permanently sprained. “It’s genuinely nice to meet you all. I know you told me your names, but I’m terrible with names and faces. So bear with me as I learn who you are.”