by Kasey Martin
We arrived at an office building, and Sawyer led me inside. I couldn’t get a good look at my surroundings before I was in a spacious office with the door shut behind me. I sat down on a large couch in the corner of the room, and Sawyer sat beside me.
“I’m the next Don in the Irish mob.” He blurted out, but before I could ask any questions, he continued, “The Abbott’s are another crime family making a name for themselves in the underworld. The Nash family is one of the largest crime families in the states, but there is a council that we all answer to in some matters. When you took that loan, you entered our world.”
I gasped in complete shock. I couldn’t believe all of the shit he was telling me. The intimacy that I shared with Sawyer had been unmatched, and I thought I knew him, but it turns out I had absolutely no idea who he was. I could blame it on being young at the time, but that was no excuse. I was fascinated with Sawyer Nash from the first time his deep voice caressed my ears. I was mesmerized by the dangerous aura that he exuded. I wanted to take a walk on the wild side, and I didn’t bother to ask any questions. Fuck me!
“My cousin said it was just a loan.” I tried to explain. “Joe assured me that it wasn’t a big deal as long as I paid them their money back,” I stated, confused. Joe wasn’t the most reliable person, but he was still family. He came through when I really needed the money.
“They never intended for you to pay them the money back, Sasha. They would easily get over a million dollars for you. Two-hundred-and-seventy-thousand dollars wasn’t anything to them when they would get you and the gallery in return. They didn’t ask you for any collateral, did they?” Sawyer shook his head, and I couldn’t believe how stupid I was.
I just assumed that the astronomical interest rate was enough punishment. I would be paying them almost double the amount I borrowed. I didn’t realize they knew that I wouldn’t be able to pay them the money back.
“So, I stupidly borrowed money from the mob, and they intend to sell me and take my building to get their money. And the only way I can prevent that from happening is by marrying you, a Don of another mob family, for protection?” It all sounded like a movie plot even when I said it out loud. I couldn’t believe it.
What the fuck is happening in my life? First, the man I’d run away from pops back up like an apparition, and now I have to marry him. I had to tell him why I left, and I couldn’t put us both in danger.
“I’m not the Don yet, but yeah. That about sums it up.” Sawyer nodded his face still grim.
“I can’t marry you. If I do, we’ll both die.” I almost choked on the words, but at least now they were finally out.
Chapter 6
SAWYER
“What do you mean? We’ll both die?” I was confused by the heartache that was etched across Sasha’s face. There was no light in her eyes, no dimples peeking at me, and no laugh spilling through her luscious lips. She wasn’t joking, and I knew whatever she said would have me committing murder.
“I-I was warned not to tell you. I can’t… my parents. I have to protect us all.” The tears welled in her eyes once more, and I was furious. I sat on the coffee table directly in front of her so we could be face to face. I needed to see her eyes while we had this conversation. I needed her to see the sincerity in my face; I needed her to feel it in my words.
“Sasha, baby. You can tell me anything. Please.” I never begged anybody for shit, but I would beg her.
“I came home one day to a masked man inside my New York apartment. I didn’t recognize his voice; shit, I don’t even know what color he was. He held me at gunpoint while he threatened me. He knew everything about me. Where I worked, where I was from, my parent’s address, everything. He said that your last wife was killed because of you.”
I was completely floored. I had no idea Sasha even knew about Cara. There were many things we didn’t speak about, and my dead wife was one of them. Sasha only knew that I was single with no kids; we didn’t go beyond that. I didn’t want to go beyond that.
“The man said that you didn’t deserve to be happy, and if I didn’t leave you, he would make me watch as he killed you and my parents before he killed me. He gave me twenty-four hours to leave, and I wasn’t supposed to tell you anything.” She sobbed loudly, “He said you didn’t deserve to know why I left. I was so scared. I’m so sorry, Monster.” Sasha’s voice was shaking as the sobs racked her body with tears were streaming down her beautiful face. I couldn’t help but pull her into my chest to comfort her. Whoever threatened her was as good as dead. I would kill him myself.
“You should’ve told me, Sash.” My voice was soft, but I was upset that she hadn’t trusted me enough to tell me what had happened. I was mad at myself.
“I wanted to protect you, Sawyer. He had a fucking gun!” She exclaimed as she pulled back from my hug to look me in the face. Her voice was hysterical, and her eyes were wild. I hated that she was so afraid. I pulled her to me once more, hugging her tenderly.
“That’s not your job, baby. I protect you, not the other way around.” I tsked.
“I thought you were a normal guy, an architect. I didn’t know about your family. I didn’t know how or why your wife had died; he just said it was your fault. I just… I just didn’t know.” Sasha cried harder as I rocked her back and forth.
It really wasn’t her fault that we didn’t know enough about each other to come to me. Sasha was my safe haven away from Nash Industries and the Organization. Not even Darby knew about Sasha at the time. I would spend all my free time with her in her small little studio apartment. She opened my eyes and made my dead heart beat again.
“I’m sorry, baby. This is my fault, but you don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll protect you from now on.” It was a vow that I would never break, so help me God.
***
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.” I couldn’t believe I was here. This wasn’t how I wanted to make Sasha mine. I didn’t want it to be out of some arrangement to be under my protection from another mob family. I wanted her to be mine because she chose me.
However, when we kissed for the first time as husband and wife, all my bitter feelings flew out the window. I reveled in kissing her once more. After she left, I thought I’d never get the chance again. I leaned in to touch Sasha’s soft, plump lips. Stealing a kiss at the baby shower had nothing on kissing her at this moment. It was meant to be a peck, a respectable kiss to seal the deal, but the taste and feel of her mouth was too much for me to handle. Before I knew it, my tongue was plunging into her mouth with an erotic motion that made my dick hard. However, the small moan that left Sasha’s lips as she pressed her petite body into mine had me wanting to fuck her right here.
Sasha was finally mine even though I had promised myself that I would leave her alone. Now that I knew the reason for her leaving, I knew that we were meant to be together. Our time was unfairly interrupted, and I had to find out by who. But first, I had to take care of my biggest concern at the moment, which was protecting my wife from Patrick Abbott’s lowlife family. But none of that could negate the fact that I was happy that Sasha and I were finally back together.
I continued to devour Sasha’s sweet lips. I slipped one of my hands into her soft fluffy afro, and the other was gripping her ass. I pulled her into my hard dick, and she moaned even louder. I was two seconds away from clearing the room and consummating the marriage. However, the justice of the peace cleared her throat, causing me to pull back from our intense kiss. I wanted to live in this moment forever. The sight of Sasha took my breath away. She wore an almond colored bohemian style dress and a flower stuck in the side of her glorious mane. Sasha was now my wife, and she would always make my pulse race because her beauty was unmatched.
I felt guilty that I couldn’t give her a big wedding surrounded by loved ones, and that we had to get married at the courthouse with Darby and Flynn, two people who I trusted more than anything, as our witnesses. Sasha didn’t want to tell her parents what was
going on yet, and I understood her concern.
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were good people who worried about their only child. They had already borrowed money against their mortgage to help Sasha, and she didn’t want them to worry about helping her any more than they already had. They had just won an all-expense-paid cruise, and Sasha was worried they would try to cash it in to help her. They had worked hard, and they deserved the free vacation, so I agreed to wait until after their upcoming trip.
And since Sasha didn’t tell her family, I followed her lead and didn’t tell mine either. Well, my father already knew. As the Don, he had to approve the union and place Sasha under our protection. After what happened to Cara, I knew he wouldn’t object to my marrying Sasha so quickly.
My father had arranged my first marriage. Cara’s family was also Irish mob, but they were still in the old country. The Callahan’s were a lively bunch of crazy fuckers who had a pension for killing. However, Cara was a sweetheart. Like me, she had known from birth what was expected of her. We were arranged from a very young age, and although we weren’t strangers, we weren’t in love when we married. We both agreed that it was something that we could possibly grow into, but we didn’t get the chance.
Cara and I were married less than a year when she was killed in a car accident. Her bodyguard, Doyle, also died in the wreck. It was officially ruled an accident, but both my family as well as hers was suspicious. The car was so horribly damaged and burned beyond recognition that they couldn’t find the wreck’s cause. And no matter how many experts we had, they couldn’t decipher the wreckage enough, and we never found out who or what happened. Because of that, the Council deemed it an accident. No matter who we suspected of killing Cara, I couldn’t seek revenge or retaliation. After her death, my father didn’t ask me for much. I did my duty and married like I was supposed to, so when it was time for the arrangement with the Bishops, it was Lennox’s turn.
And when I told my father about Sasha, I knew he would never go against my wishes. However, dealing with Conrad Nash was the easy part. But when I finally break the news to my mother, Anna was going to kill me.
“I never said, thank you for getting me out of this mess.” Sasha’s words brought me out of my daze. We were sitting in the back of the SUV, going to my house… our house. My mind automatically corrected.
Our home was located in an exclusive gated community. I trusted the new neighborhood because Andres Bishops recommended the place. Men like us had to have a secure location for our families, and if I could trust anyone about my safety, it was Andres Bishops.
“You’re welcome.” I said simply. I didn’t want her gratitude. I married her for purely selfish reasons. Yes, she needed my help, but after I found her again, I knew she would be mine eventually.
We stopped at the gate where a man I hired now worked the booth, Darby checked us in, and the gate was opened. Several minutes later, we pulled into the circular driveway.
We’re parked in the driveway, and neither of us moved to get out of the car. I knew Sasha was stalling, but I would entertain her for now. I knew she had questions, and I would answer all of them because no matter what, she’s not going anywhere.
“So now that we’re married, what now?” Sasha said, finally looking at me.
“I need to find and eliminate the threat. The Abbott’s aren’t going to go away quietly. Unfortunately, that’s not their style.” I frowned because just thinking about the Abbott’s made my head hurt. I hated those fuckers.
“I’m really sorry, Sawyer. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. We haven’t seen each other in two years, and I know this isn’t a traditional marriage. I don’t expect anything from you.” Sasha was looking out of the window as she said those bullshit words. Before I get mad, I want to clarify what precisely she meant.
“What exactly are you getting at?” I asked the question slowly because if she meant what I thought she did; Sasha was out of her motherfucking mind.
“I mean the last time I saw you, you were on a date with another woman. What will your girlfriend, Lola think about your new wife?” I could tell she was mad about Lola, but she was worried about the wrong thing. From the time I saw her again in that church, I was done with other women.
“All I have is a wife. You. And you know me well enough to know that you’re the only woman that matters to me.” I pulled her chin toward me so I could look into her big brown eyes. She needed to see the expression on my face. No, we hadn’t seen each other for a while. And yes, to her, this was an arrangement to protect her. But, to me, this was forever.
“Sawyer, I don’t expect you to forgive me for leaving or pretend that you didn’t have a life before you had to marry me so freaking unexpectedly. I know you were single and probably living your best life. I mean I’m spontaneous, but this is insane.” It was like she was pleading with me to cheat on her. No, this situation wasn’t insane, Sasha was insane.
I inhaled deeply so that I wouldn’t lose my patience with my new wife. I’m not sure if she was pushing my buttons on purpose or if she was really that selfless. Whatever the case may be, Sasha Nash was about to get a reality check. I pulled her across the backseat so that I could get right in her face. The little surprised yelp she released from her mouth almost made me chuckle. But this was not the time for laughter, Sasha needed to understand who the fuck she was dealing with.
“Mrs. Nash, I’m going to say this shit real slow, so you can understand who the fuck I am to you. I. Am. Your. Motherfucking. Husband. I don’t need another woman because you are my wife!” Sasha was bringing out more of my crazy than I wanted to show. However, each dismissive word toward our new relationship status has me losing my shit.
“But it’s been two years. We don’t even know each other anymore,” Sasha responded in a whisper.
“Then we will get to know one another. We are married now, and we will live as a real husband and wife. We’re not pretending like we’re strangers, and we’re not going on like it’s business as usual. I get that you don’t want to tell your parents right now so they can go on vacation without worry and that’s fine. But I’m not hiding our relationship because I don’t have to hide shit. Am I clear?” I was so close to her; our noses were almost touching. My large hand gripped her chin so she couldn’t turn away from my penetrating gaze.
Sasha glared at me with contempt marring her beautiful face, and her hands were balled into tiny fists. However, her smooth dark skin was covered in goosebumps as her chest heaved up and down. I wasn’t sure if my new wife wanted to fuck me or punch me. Maybe both.
Chapter 7
SASHA
I didn’t know if I wanted to punch Sawyer for manhandling me or jump his bones. His rough ways were something that always turned me on. I liked his no nonsense attitude and just taking whatever he wanted without giving two fucks about what anyone else thought.
But this situation was straight up crazy. I didn’t want to keep dwelling on the fact that I had to leave him especially now that I’d told him the reason. He was a lot more accepting than I ever thought he would be, and although he revealed his mob ties, I was still afraid for him.
I always sensed that Sawyer had a side to him that he didn’t show me, and it turns out, he was indeed a monster. But I didn’t realize he was in the mob. And not just a member but the damn leader. Oh shit! I’ma mob wife!!
I knew I couldn’t stall any longer, and the back seat of the SUV was suddenly feeling cramped with all the sexual tension permeating the air. We finally exited the vehicle and I took a deep breath. I had to gain my composure to enter my new life.
“Wow! This is where you live?” My mouth hung open in awe. The house was a spectacular sight. The modern, three-story, gray and white stone front made an impressive first impression. The balcony and elaborate archway over the front door made the entrance one of a kind.
“No, Sweetheart. This is where we live.” Sawyer kissed my forehead before sliding his hand into mine. The sight of the house made me momenta
rily forget that I was thinking about punching my new husband. After Sawyer’s little declaration I didn’t want to lose my cool so I stayed silent thinking about all the mistakes I’d made to lead me here. So I focused on the beauty of the house instead.
“This place is huge! My goodness, I mean I knew the whole Mafioso thing paid well. I watched Goodfellas and Casino, Robert de Niro is one of my favorites, but damn I didn’t think ya’ll really lived like this.” I knew I was rambling, but this entire situation was crazy. I’m naturally a talker with a bubbly personality, so sometimes when I’m excited I talk… a lot.
“I’m not a Mafioso.” Sawyer chuckled, and I frowned in confusion.
“You said you were a Don, and that your family is the mob, right?” I questioned still taking in the massive foyer. My eyes are wide as I swung my head from left to right in awe.
“I’m not a Don yet, but my family are Irish mob, not Italian. So I am not a Mafioso.” Sawyer explained in a calm tone. I’m glad he was answering my questions instead of treating me like I was an idiot. I was still pissed that he’d asked me if I was dumb. The asshole. But I didn’t want to argue and I still had more questions so I let that one slide, for now.
“Oh. Yeah, I can understand that. My bad. I didn’t mean to stereotype you or anything. I guess you already know I don’t know much about the mob.” I grimaced. Sawyer could be a dick, but I didn’t want to offend him. Just because he was an asshole didn’t mean I had to be one as well. It wasn’t in my nature to be mean to anyone anyway.
“Don’t worry about it. Let me introduce you to our house staff, and then I’ll give you a tour of the house.” I nodded my head feeling nervous all of a sudden. This was uncharted territory for us. In New York, we lived in a bubble. We basically spent all of our time in bed in my studio apartment. Now, we are sharing a life and apparently he had a staff. I really needed to know more about my husband.