Page 103 of Ruled By Wizard

The pain became so intense that he thought he would either pass out or throw up. Through watery eyes, he stared at the ceiling.

At least when his obituary was read, he would be dead and wouldn’t have to live with the humiliation of everyone learning his cause of death.

Neither woman paid attention to his shout. Trapped helplessly beneath them, he could only pray for death to take him.

His prayers had finally been answered when a sharp pain exploded along his jaw. Darkness hovered above him before crashing down like a curtain.

At least he’d get to see Dena again.

That was his last pitiful thought. When he came to, he had to accept Doom’s help to his bedroom. Natalia hadn’t bothered coming to check on him. An hour later, he had returned to the front to find Margarita and Natalia talking in a booth as if they were best buds.

She had also been in a fight with Celeste, which Natalia had won. Made him teach her how to ride a motorcycle. And what hurt the most, surpassing even nearly emasculating him, was her refusal to let him leave his bedroom door at least open a crack. His plan to get her to join some of the Last Rider lifestyle had bit the dust. The most fun he had in the last month was finding out who had trashed her van and beating the ever-loving fuck out of him before returning the favor by trashing his Escalade.

Now he had to deal with coming up with a suit to take her to some prissy-ass ball. He should just call her, let her know he wouldn’t be taking her. He would, except he didn’t trust she wouldn’t be mad at him. As soon as he convinced her to marry him, he’d show her who was the boss.

The fantasy lasted at least a full minute before Doom showed him the prices of the rental suits. Gritting his teeth, he chose one. He might not fear death, but he did losing Natalia.

Life might not be as much fun; on the other hand, at least it wasn’t boring.

CHAPTER 42

THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION

Leaning wearily back in her office chair, Natalia gazed at the profit-and-loss statement on her computer.

The red numbers highlighted on the screen should have sent her into a panic, yet she was more concerned about Wizard not returning her calls. Her life was in complete disarray, and unless she got her mind back on track, she could lose everything she had spent years building.

How had she allowed herself to become sidetracked by a man she was certain would dump her as soon as he became bored? That was why she had reacted so strongly when Margarita had flung her worst fears in her face.

So far, Wizard was everything she had ever dreamed of finding in a man. He was attentive and polite, paid his own way, and didn’t make her feel guilty for working such long hours.

Sexually, she might have gotten more than she had wished for. Every time Wizard touched her, he seemed to discover another way to make her forget her own name. If the relationship ended, she feared her body would spend the rest of her life waiting for a man who would never return.

When he eventually ended their relationship, would she ever find anyone else who could make her feel the same way?

Logging off the computer, she stared blankly at the dark screen.

Deep in her heart, she already knew the answer. She wouldn’t, because, like her mother, she was destined to love only one man. Rafael had abandoned her mother shortly after Natalia was born, yet his was the name she had repeatedly called out as she lay dying.

Natalia reached for the phone then stopped herself. She had already called Wizard several times about attending the Riverview Ball. Obviously, he didn’t want to go, or he would have called her back by now. She had told him she needed an answer by noon.

It was two.

Picking up the phone, she pressed a familiar contact. A deep male voice answered.

“Cory, are you free tomorrow night?”

“Depends,” her high school best friend answered. “Not if it involves bussing tables.”

She smiled into the phone. “I need someone to go to the Riverview Ball with me. Would you mind being my plus-one?”

“Sure, I can do that,” he readily agreed. “Text me what time you want me to pick you up.”

“Thanks. I appreciate you helping me out.”

“Anytime,” he said with a laugh. “As long as it doesn’t involve bussing tables.”

“Jeez, I only asked you once. You’re never going to let me forget it, are you?”