God of War: Chapter 27

Instead of Alan, Leo is behind the wheel today.

I slide in the seat beside him and he stares at me as if I’ve blasphemed.

“You should ride in the back, Mrs. King.”

“I like to think we’re friends, and; therefore, can sit here.”

“Please, no.”

I frown as I secure my seat belt. “I’m wounded, Leo. I thought we’d formed a bond.”

“If you believe that, call me by my full name, or I’ll be found buried at the North Pole.”

I laugh. “You’re unintentionally funny.”

“I’m intentionally self-preserving.” He drives off my parents’ property, keeping his eyes on the road.

He wears white gloves. The entire time. I have actually never seen his hands. The other day he mentioned that he’s also diagnosed with OCD and has found the most understanding boss in Eli. Probably because they share some of the symptoms.

All of my husband’s staff know not to touch his things with bare hands or alter the position of his belongings without prior notice. Naturally, I’m the exception to all rules. He’s fully aware that if he asks me not to do something, I’d do it just out of spite.

But even I know not to provoke him when it comes to a condition he has no control over. And while I love messing with him, I also respect limits and try not to aggravate him on that side anymore.

Look at me being all mature and shit.

“Where’s Alan?” I ask.

“Day off. His wedding anniversary.”

“Aw, that’s so cute. I’ll prepare his wife a belated gift tomorrow.”

He nods but says nothing. I swear Leo and Sam were personally trained by Eli to keep conversations to a bare minimum.

I powder my face and redo my lipstick. “So what’s this dinner about?”

“Have you tried asking him?”

“Yeah, and he said it’s a business dinner with some important investor who’s bringing his wife, and, therefore, it’s only tactical for me to join. He told me to keep my mouth shut, talk fashion with the woman, and behave. To which I said I can’t keep my mouth shut and talk fashion at the same time. He needed to provide more comprehensible instructions.”

I swear the corner of Leo’s mouth pulls in a smile before he schools it.

“You also think it’s funny, right?”

“I think nothing.”

“Come on, you must believe him to be absurd at times.”

He shakes his head once.

“You’re no fun.” I sigh as I slide the lipstick into my bag. “So any further information I should know about this Mr. and Mrs.…”

“Meyers. Robert and Janet Meyers.”

“Right. Them.”

“Can you try not to say the wrong names, for starters?”

“Don’t be silly. Rory and Jennifer Maybech. I definitely remember them.”

He glances at me with confusion and thoughts on how to subdue me without killing me.

“I was kidding.”

He narrows his eyes.

“Robert and Janet Meyers. I’m not that thick.”

He seems to question that internally as he focuses back on the road. “Robert is in his mid-thirties and the sole heir of his family’s long-standing business. They have cash to spare and Boss needs to make sure it goes to King Enterprises’ recent project. It’’s the only way for his father to bring him back to said project.”

“Why did Uncle Aiden remove him in the first place?”

“Lack of seriousness.”

I snort. “Eli kind of worships money and is a certified workaholic, so I find that hard to believe.”

“He walked out of an important meeting with no reason.”

“I’m sure he had one.”

“Yeah. Your impromptu visit to Remi.”

My lips part. “He…he left just for that?”

He nods once.

“Why didn’t you stop him?”

“You believe he can be stopped when it comes to you?”

I’m starting to think the answer is a resounding no.

Worse, I have no idea what to feel about the fact that I’m the reason he’s in a tough situation with his father and lost a project I’ve often heard him discuss with Leo.

I’d like to think it’s not my fault that he walked out due to a stupid reason like my attempt to provoke him, but it still nags at me.

Leo pulls up at the Ritz and my door opens as soon as the car comes to a halt.

I should be used to the view that greets me by now, but despite the time I’ve spent in this man’s company, the sight of him never fails to confiscate my breath.

Tall and elegant in a tailored black suit, and looking mouthwateringly alluring by just standing there.

He narrows his eyes as I step out of the car, careful not to trip and accidentally end up in his arms.

I blame my addiction to his touch and how viciously familiar I am with those big, veiny hands that he slips behind my back and then presses against my hip.

It’s suicidal to feel safe in his arms, completely illogical to recognize his warmth and scent as my home, and yet I can’t chase away those emotions.

If anything, the signs of withdrawal I felt for the entire day slowly disappear as his god-like presence fills up my surroundings, blinding me to everything else.

“Is there a reason you’re riding in the front seat?” His nonchalant voice carries in the air like a sinful promise.

It’s unfair that he makes everything seem sexual in nature. I blame his voice. Superior genes and all that.

“Leo and I are friends.” I wave at him. “See you later, Leo!”

The man briefly closes his eyes before he nods and drives away.

“Stop calling him that.” Eli’s tone turns clipped as he guides me through the entrance.

“I’m confused. His name is Leo. You know, it’s short for Leonardo.”

“I know what Leo is, and you will not call him that again. He’s Henderson.”

“Meh. I told you that’s too impersonal. I prefer treating people like actual humans instead of disposables.”

“His paycheck is definitely not disposable.”

“Again, money doesn’t buy interpersonal relationships. We need to work on that.”

“You need to work on behaving during this dinner, Ava.”

“Okay,” I say, mostly because I feel unintentionally guilty about the whole ‘he blew up a business opportunity and got kicked out of the project because of me’ fact.

“I mean it.” He glances at me. “There has to be zero fucking mistakes tonight.”

“What will I get in return?”

He drops his lips to my ear. “My tongue and cock shoved deep in your cunt and a few handprints on that arse. Whether those actions end in a mind-numbing orgasm or edging with no release is completely dependent on your behavior tonight.”

His warm breaths disappear, but a shock wave of shivers breaks down my spine.

Damn him and his crude mouth.

And why does he look completely cool and collected while I’m on the verge of combustion? Another pair of underwear is ruined.

Fantastic.

The waiter leads us to the table where a bald man with intense brown eyes is sitting with a meek woman, chestnut hair, slim figure, and a stunning Vera Wang gown.

“Love the dress!” I say as I hug her in greeting. “Spring/summer Vera Wang. My favorite.”

“Oh my. Thank you,” she says with a shy smile. “Love your handbag. Moynat Réjane?”

“This is my precious baby.” I stroke the bag as if it’s an actual pet.

“At the expense of interrupting the gibberish going on, I’d love to introduce myself.” The bald guy, Robert, takes my hand and places an open-mouthed kiss on the top.

I pull it away subtly and mask my disgust with my charming smile. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”

“The pleasure is all mine. I must say, she looks much more beautiful than the pictures, King.”

“I don’t believe you should be concerned with my wife’s beauty. Don’t you think, Mrs. Meyers?”

Janet turns into a statue and stares at her husband, who releases a loud cringeworthy laugh.

I glare at Eli as we sit down. He’s been warning me to behave for two days now, but he’s the one who’s ruffling feathers from the get-go.

After we order food and it arrives, I’m content talking tips about the newest niche brands with Janet as the men discuss business.

I try not to be bothered with Robert’s stolen glances at my hint of cleavage or the way he suggestively licks his lips when Eli isn’t looking.

He doesn’t seem to care whether or not Janet sees him, though, and I feel a crushing pity toward her. She’s a sweet woman, and although she’s several years older than me, I feel the need to protect her from the slimy bastard.

I don’t like him at all, but I don’t show that, because Eli needs him to get back into his dad’s good graces.

So I focus on Janet instead, trying to compliment her on her effortless chic taste.

“It’s tough times for a project of that grandiosity,” Robert says as he cuts through his rare-cooked steak and then glides the piece of meat through the blood like a creepy cannibal. “I applaud your confidence to make it work.”

“I don’t sell confidence, Robert. I sell facts. So when I tell you I’ll deliver a certain ROI, that’s exactly the amount you’ll get. Not a dime less, though more is negotiable.”

“You want my investment, King?”

“I want cooperation. A partnership, if you will. You get access to King Enterprises’ resources and I get temporary use of your cash flow.”

“I can give you that. Better yet, it’ll be an unconditional investment in your ongoing endeavors.”

I smile. Honestly, he looks like the worst type of husband, but at least he’s smart enough to trust Eli on money matters.

My husband is an expert at doubling and tripling investments, so this is in his favor.

He doesn’t look pleased with Robert’s words, though. His face remains neutral as he takes a sip of his drink. “What do you want in return?”

Robert drops his fork and knife to the dish but doesn’t release them as his lips curl in a lopsided smirk and then points his knife at me. “Your wife for a night. You can have my wife in return.”

My jaw nearly hits the floor. What the⁠—

I stare at Janet’s downward expression, her fingers curled in her lap, and the shocking realization that this is probably not the first time her husband has suggested this hits me in my bones.

My eyes fly to Eli, who sets his glass on the table, an unhinged smile curling his lips.

Oh God.

He’s not thinking about it, is he? I’d cut off his dick while he sleeps if he so much as⁠—

In a flash, Eli snatches the knife and jams it through the back of Robert’s hand. The blinding strength breaks the dish and Robert’s blood mixes with the meat’s as his hollowing scream fills the restaurant.

All eyes are on us and a few waiters rush over to the scene. Janet shrieks as she jumps up, and then falls back to her seat.

Eli stands with eerie collectiveness and buttons his jacket. “You’re lucky we’re in public or that knife would’ve been deep in your throat. Look at my wife again and I’ll gouge your eyes out.”

He grabs my elbow and pulls me up as I wobble on unsteady legs.

The waiters are fawning over Robert as he curses and acts like a spoiled brat toward the people trying to help him.

“Bin him, sis.” I pat Janet’s hand as she stares up at me with lost eyes. “You deserve so much better.”

And then Eli is walking me out of the restaurant amid gaping faces without batting an eye, as if he didn’t just stab a man.

The night air slaps my face as we stop in front of the hotel, waiting for the car.

My tongue is still in knots, but I manage to ask in a strangled voice, “Why…why did you do that?”

“Why not?” His grip slides from my arm to my waist, tightening on my hip. “You want to spend the fucking night with Robert, Ava?”

I shake my head frantically. He sounds and looks more terrifying than when he actually stabbed the man’s hand.

“Good, because there’s no option for you with another man.”

“Because you’d stab them?”

“Stab them, sabotage them, smash their goddamn lives to smithereens, force them to vanish without a trace. Take your pick. There’s no peaceful future for any other man in your life, wife.”

I swallow, the sound ringing in my ears. I knew Eli was behind the disappearance of my exes and any possible love interest, but I thought it was along the lines of my petty attempts to ward off the girls around him. I never thought it’d be exponentially frightening until now.

“What…what have you done, Eli?”

“The question is, what haven’t I done?”

“You’re sick.”

“You made me sick. Next time you parade yourself around, begging for attention, I want you to think about Robert’s blood and multiply it tenfold, because they’ll be swimming in theirs once I’m done with them. You’re my wife and those who don’t respect that fact will be dealt with accordingly.”

“Including me?”

“Including you.” And then his lips devour mine. It’s a violent kiss I can’t pull away from and a part of me doesn’t want to.

My reality flashes before me in bright red as he nips on my lip and I taste metal.

I bite his back, drawing his blood, cementing our marriage with an irreversible vow.

My husband is a full-blown sociopath, and I’m his insane, completely illogical obsession.