53. Chapter Fifty-Three

It's been about a month since Rafael returned, and though we haven't renegotiated the contract, the three of us have enjoyed each other's company at least once a week. Neither me nor Jordan has been with Rafael alone, and I'm okay with that. We haven't discussed the situation further, but the time is coming when we will have to, if only to fix the contract for Rafael's sake. He's the one who relies on it, and I don't want him to think I'm not respecting his wishes any longer. Jordan and I, though? We've enjoyed each other almost every night over the past month, and times in between too. I can't get enough of my wife's pussy, and I'm proud to say it seems she can't get enough of me either.

Finally.

I have a surprise for my wife tonight, and I hope it's something she enjoys and doesn't take the wrong way. I don't want this to set us back. In fact, I'm hoping it's the right thing to do to move us forward.

Today, I'm moving Jordan into my room.

My bedroom is a safe space for me, always has been. It's dark with limited decorations and distractions because it needs to be a relaxing place. Her clothes will be moved into my closet, her hygiene stuff, toiletries, and make-up into my bathroom. I hope she'll be as happy to spend the nights in my arms as I will be to have her there.

I'd thought of it many times over the last month but couldn't do it until I was ready. This is a big move for me. Something I've never done before. Sharing my house is one thing, but my bedroom? It's a big step. I don't allow people into my bedroom. Even Rafael has never set foot here.

But I'm going to need Jordan tonight, so I'd planned this accordingly. Coming home to her waiting for me in my bed is the light at the end of the dark day ahead of me. Because tonight, I have to do something terrible. Something my brothers will hate me for, something that may kick me in the ass later on, but it's our best shot. If I don't do this, we're going to lose everything. I've thought about this for days on end, trying to find a way around it, but there isn't one. If we want to continue the Bramante line and keep everything our father has built for us, this is the only answer other than going to war. And right now, with everyone on our ass, war isn't a good answer. Especially with the next meeting coming up soon.

It's been quiet around the cities. Too quiet. That only means one thing in our world.

It's normal for there to be small battles between families and members. Testing and pushing buttons. Stealing and stepping on toes. We wouldn't be who we are if we didn't push boundaries, but the key is to not step over that boundary. It's like a casino. They allow a certain amount of money to go missing before it becomes a bigger problem. We allow certain transgressions to slip by without saying anything. We all do it. It's part of the game. Everyone below us are the pawns. We let them think they're in charge, but really, we always have eyes and ears everywhere. We always know what is going on. They're the little fish in a sea of giant fucking monsters. Used for nothing more than keeping things going as they should.

But tonight? Tonight is different. Tonight I have to do something big because without it, my brothers and I will lose all our father has built and I can't allow that to happen. They can be angry with me all they want. Furious. Refuse to talk to me. Disown me. Hate me. It'll be fine because it's a resolution. We'll learn to co-exist. We'll have to. Their future selves, their future families, will all thank me one day for allowing us to continue on the way we have. Because without this, we will have nothing. And I'm confident that is the last thing my brothers want.

"Is everything all set, Bernice?"

"Yes, sir," she says tightly.

I don't like her tone. I think it's about time I'm rid of her. She doesn't like my wife and I don't understand why. She never has. Not since day one. I'd assumed she'd grow on her. That Bernice is an old grouch. But she hasn't softened any and I don't appreciate the way my wife acts around Bernice, putting up walls and defenses as if she has to. This is her home. She shouldn't feel as if she has to walk around on eggshells. She doesn't act that way with me, and I'm the one who holds all the power in this house.

Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow. There is enough to do today.

"Where is she?"

"In her room, sir."

Figured as much. I head that way and don't knock before entering. I find her lounging on the bed on her stomach, feet kicking in the air, reading a book.

She looks up when she hears me enter, and the smile that crosses her face is breathtaking.

"Hi, angel."

"Hi," she breathes back, flipping the book over to keep her page. She rolls onto her back when I reach her, so I lean down to kiss her soft lips.

"I have a surprise for you."

She raises a brow. I offer her my hand. When she takes it, I lead her out of her room and down the hall.

"I know you haven't made a fuss about it, and I appreciate that, but I think it's time."

"Time for…"

I look at her and smile when I see the question floating in her eyes. When we pass my office, she stares at it as if I'm going the wrong way. We keep going around the curve of the hallway, toward the back of the house.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

When we reach the end of the hallway, we're in front of two double doors. The double doors that lead to my bedroom.

"I don't understand," she says, looking around. "Where are we?"

"It's been a month and a day since we decided to take this marriage seriously, and things have been going great, so I figured it was time to take the next step."

"A month?" she questions. "Since dinner? Since the first time we—"

"Yes, angel. A month."

Her brow furrows, but she shakes it away and asks, "What's the surprise?" She's smiling at me like a small child ready to get a toy. Something happened just now, but I don't know what. I brush it off, hoping the surprise will help her mood.

I push the doors open and step inside.

She looks inside, turning her head left and right before joining me in the room. It takes her a moment but understanding settles over her face.

"Your bedroom…"

"Our bedroom."

She looks up at me, her eyes watering. "Really?"

I step to her, placing my hands on either side of her face. "I want you with me always, angel. Always. I should have done this sooner, but I thought it would be okay with us both having space. But I don't want that anymore. I want you here with me, all the time."

She looks around again. "It's so…"

"Boring? Dark?"

"Calming."

I look around at my room. The dark wood floor matches the molding and the furniture. The walls are a deep blue that matches the bed sheets and curtains. It's dark for a reason. It's less distracting. You see too much in the light.

"I'm glad you think so."

She moves further into the room and stops at the bed before glancing at me. I nod and she hops on to lie down.

"Wow," she breathes.

I move to stand between her legs, massaging the outsides of her thighs. I fucking love her legs. Thick, soft. Perfect to bury my face between.

"I'll have your things moved in today. The closet is through there and the bathroom is over there. I want you here waiting for me when I get home tonight."

She sits up, a slight frown on her face. "Where are you going?"

"I have something to do."

"Something bad?"

I shrug a shoulder, still kneading my fingers into her muscles. "I guess you could say that."

She sighs. "Is it dangerous?"

"No," I answer.

"How can it be bad, but not dangerous?"

"I'm good at what I do."

She pokes at the buttons on my shirt, looking up at me. "Is it always going to be like this?"

"Like what?"

"Me worrying if you're going to come home or not?"

That has my heart stuttering in my chest. I hadn't considered that, but I answer the only way I can.

"What I have to do tonight will make a better and safer future for us." She nods and I lean down to kiss her, not wanting to pull away, but knowing I have to. At least for now. "So will you? Be here waiting for me tonight?"

She smiles and leans in to kiss me again. "Of course."

I have no idea what state I'll be in, but as long as I have her here waiting for me, everything else will be fine. Because somehow, I've come to rely on Jordan in a way I've never relied on another person before. Not sure when it happened, or how, but it did. And I wouldn't change a thing about it.