Chapter 8

Eight

Callum and I enter the Men's Club for the monthly meet-up. As soon as we step inside, we head to the bar and order a drink. Music plays softly as men talk business. Here at the Men's Club, criminals are equal to politicians. The politicians keep their mouths shut about our less-than-savory deals as long as we help them win their elections and clean up their messes.

"Anyone specific you need to speak with?" I ask Callum as I watch the bartender.

Callum shakes his head. "Not as of right now, but you never know who will need to speak to me."

"Touché," I murmur.

"Thank you," we say in unison as the bartender slides us our drinks.

We turn and survey the room.

"I wonder what they are talking about," Callum says quietly.

I turn, following his line of sight. The mayor seems to be in a heated conversation with the police chief.

"Seems to be a common theme between them."

"It does, doesn't it?"

"Want me to do some digging?"

Callum smirks, looking at me out of the corner of his eye. "Don't I always?"

I nod. "I'll get right on it."

Callum turns his attention toward me.

"What?" I ask as I fight the urge to squirm.

"How are things between you and Nikita?"

Nikita. The woman is driving me insane. We have been married a month now. I have avoided being home so I don't have to see her. I can still taste her on my tongue if I think about it hard enough.

I want more. That's dangerous.

Not just for me but for her too.

Not that she seems to care.

She has been doing little things to annoy the fuck out of me. It's like because we are married now, she no longer has to hold back. The demure girl she once pretended to be is long gone. Now she's full of sass and attitude.

"Good," I manage to say.

Callum raises a brow. "We both know I don't want your bullshit answer. Now tell me the truth."

I sigh as I think about my wife.

God, just thinking of her as my wife feels wrong. As much as I love it, I equally feel guilty about it. Is that why she's throwing these tantrums all over town? Is she showing her displeasure at being married to a brute like me?

"She's driving me mad," I tell him honestly. "I've been trying to ignore her and have everything go back to normal. I'm at my place and she's at hers, but I swear to God, she just won't quit. Every time she goes out, she tries to slip her detail, and if the guards' reports are anything to go by, she's just getting mouthier and mouthier as the days go by."

Callum hums.

"What…"

"I didn't say anything," he says, shaking his head.

"But we both know you have something to say, so just spit it out."

Callum swirls his whiskey glass as he looks around the room. "Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe your wife is acting out for attention?"

I scoff. "That doesn't make sense. She didn't want to marry me."

He turns back toward me and raises a brow. "Doesn't it, though? Think about it. Whether you like it or not, you are married to her. It's only logical that she would want to get to know the man who she now shares a life with, and you do share a life with her, no matter how hard you try to deny it."

"It's just a piece of paper," I grit out.

Callum nods. "Sure. It is. Yet will you let her take a lover?"

My fists clench. "Absolutely not. She will honor her vows."

He smirks. "Exactly, meaning all she has is you. Do you know what I think?"

"I'm sure you'll tell me," I deadpan.

Callum ignores my sarcasm. "I think you should take her out and get to know her. You might not love her, but you could like her."

I scoff. "Seriously? You want me to take her on a date?"

"What's the worst thing that could happen? You can't get any more serious about her than you currently are. Besides, doesn't she deserve better than what you are giving her? Why save her from death only to leave her in an isolated life?"

My jaw tics as I think about what he's saying. On the one hand, I could go out with her. She might kill me, but it would be entertaining. Then again, maybe I'll realize I like her more than I already do. I could easily become addicted to her. More than I currently am.

Still, his words about isolation don't sit right with me.

She doesn't have friends. She never calls or texts anyone but her work. Did I really doom her to a life worse than death?

Seriously, I can't be contemplating this. The woman tried to choke me out the morning after our wedding. I mean, it was kind of hot and had my dick hard as a rock, but that's beside the point.

"Incoming," Callum murmurs, pulling me out of my head.

I turn and see Haruaki and Kenji making their way toward us.

"Callum." He nods toward his brother-in-law before turning toward me. "Declan."

"Haruaki," Callum says.

Haruaki smirks as he adjusts his glasses. "How is married life?"

I clear my throat. "Good, thank you for asking."

"I'd say, if those sheets are anything to go by." He chuckles.

"I didn't think you were serious when you said you wanted them." I grit out as I feel my jaw tic.

"You should know by now, Declan, that I'm always serious."

I growl. I hate that he saw the evidence of what we did. That should have been private. Between the two of us.

"Are you two taking a honeymoon?" Kenji asks.

"We haven't decided yet." I lie.

Talking about a honeymoon would mean actually talking to my wife…and spending time with her.

Which is the last fucking thing I want to do.

"When do you leave for Japan?" Callum asks, taking the attention off me.

"Soon," Haruaki says vaguely.

Callum doesn't take offense to his non-answer. Haruaki keeps a tight lip when he's out in public.

"I hope you have a good time," Callum tells him.

"I'm sure we will." Haruaki smirks.

"Gentlemen."

We turn and see Rocky stepping up to the bar.

"How are you and the family?" Callum asks.

Rocky smiles. "We're doing. You know how it is."

"I do." Callum chuckles.

Someone says Haruaki's name.

"If you'll excuse us," Haruaki says before taking off across the room.

"How are the fights going?" I ask Rocky.

"They just keep getting busier. I don't know what the hell is happening, but it seems like guys are just getting angrier and angrier."

"Good for business," Callum points out.

Rocky winks. "And for my bank account."

Callum and I laugh.

"Touché," Callum says, shaking his head.

"Thank you," Rocky tells the bartender. He picks up his glass and turns back to us. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find a corner, drink this, and then pass out for about an hour."

"Have a good one."

"Later," I tell him as he walks away.

Callum and I fall silent for a beat before he turns back to me. "You know, Haruaki brought something up that I forgot to ask you about."

"What's that?"

He steps closer and drops his voice to a whisper. "How in the hell did you consummate your marriage when you spent most of your wedding night at my place? You didn't look relaxed like you just fucked."

"You don't want to know," I mutter under my breath.

Callum's brows shoot up. "I have so many questions."

I grunt but keep my mouth shut.

So do I, Callum, so do I.

My husband is a fool.

Husband. I scoff. Declan is so far from a husband, it's not even funny.

I have hardly seen Declan since the day after our wedding. When I have, he's taken off like his ass is on fire and hasn't stopped to talk to me. He's ignored me at every turn, yet the man sends me gifts.

Chocolates.

Wine.

Flowers.

A goddamn fruit basket.

It doesn't make sense.

At first I thought it was sweet and that maybe, just maybe, he was trying, but now I'm so far past annoyed it's not even funny.

Fuck Declan O'Brien and his games.

I'm over it.

I'm so over it, in fact, that I've been plotting my revenge.

A knock at the door has me smiling.

When I open it, I find the guard who is often nearby. He's the one who follows me most.

"Can I help you?" I ask.

"There are two men downstairs who say you have invited them over."

I smile. "Yes. Please escort them up."

The guard frowns. "Mrs. O'Brien, I do not believe your husband will be okay with this."

I expected this. Declan has probably already been notified.

Still, I smile at the guard. "This is my home. What is your name?"

"Seamus."

"Seamus, this is my home. My husband has not told me I am not allowed friends. Did Declan tell you that I was not allowed to have guests in my home?"

He looks confused, but I don't let him think about it too long.

"You either bring my guests up here, or I will be the one going to my husband and letting him know that his guard dog is making my life miserable. Do you think my husband would react well to that?"

The man straightens.

I don't think Declan gives a fuck what I have to say. For fuck's sake, I don't even have his phone number.

This guy doesn't know that, though. He's the whole reason I concocted this plan. I noticed how he treats me differently now. With a level of reverence that he didn't before.

Seems marrying Declan has raised my station.

"Of course." He talks into a radio, telling them to let the men through.

It only takes a few minutes for the two men to crest the stairs, heading our way.

"Nikita, darling. You look amazing," Henry tells me, kissing my cheek.

I see Seamus stiffen, but he doesn't say anything.

"Benny, thank you for coming." I give him a kiss on the cheek as well.

He smirks at me. "Anything for you, sweets."

I usher them into the apartment before closing the door.

"So, how long do we have?" Benny asks.

I shrug. "Who knows. I know Seamus most likely texted him as soon as you guys mentioned my name downstairs. You know he probably is going to get violent."

They know this. I warned them before they agreed. Benny and Henry are a couple who come into the little diner I work at. When they saw my ring, they demanded I tell them about my husband. I usually wouldn't have, but I was frustrated. So I told them part of it.

It was their idea to spark some jealousy.

Declan might kill them. This is a bad idea.

Hell, he might kill me.

Shaking the thoughts away, I smile at them.

"Let's play a game of Durak," I tell them.

They have no idea what it is, but they agree, sitting on the same side of the dining table with me across from them.

Ten minutes. That's how long it takes for my husband to burst into my apartment.

"Nikita, I swear to fucking god I will kill them." He is growling as he comes through the door.

We each freeze, looking over at him.

He blinks a couple of times before he strides over to me, pulling me from my chair and into his arms.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

I look up at him, brushing my hand against his chin.

His eyes flare as he sees my wedding ring. I don't miss that he is also wearing his.

"I'm teaching them how to play Durak. Did you want to learn too?"

He frowns. "Who the fuck are these men?" he practically snarls at them, making them tense, but I give them credit. They stand their ground.

Benny stands, offering a hand to Declan. "Benny."

When he doesn't take it, Benny points to Henry. "My husband, Henry. Friends of Nikita."

Declan takes several deep breaths before he nods.

"Get out of my wife's apartment."

"Are you okay, Nikita?" Henry asks, making Declan tense even more.

I nod quickly. "I'm good. I'll finish teaching you at the diner. I don't think this was such a good idea."

He nods, looking at Declan warily.

They both leave, the door closing is the only sound in my apartment.

Then Declan lets me go, stepping back from me.

It takes me a moment, but then I start to giggle. The giggle turns into a laugh until I'm nearly on the floor, pissing my pants.

"Do you think this is fucking funny, Nikita?" Declan grits out.

I hold out my thumb and forefinger. "Just a little."

"What the fuck were you thinking?"

"I was thinking it was a surefire way to get my husband's attention, and sure enough, it worked," I snap.

"You're a fucking bitch."

"You're a fucking asshole."

"Well, you have my attention now, what the hell do you want?"

That was the million-dollar question, now wasn't it?