Chapter 2 Flash Marriage

Caleb

The debtor was on his knees, bawling his eyes out as he begged for more time. I barely acknowledged him, feeling nothing but boredom and annoyance. Men like him never learned. They always thought they could buy mercy with tears.

I got up, having had enough of that. I didn't need to say anything to my bodyguards; they knew what to do.

I heard the man's cries and grunts grow louder as I walked out, but I felt nothing.

The door of the waiting car was held open for me and I got into the back seat, closing my eyes for a moment. As much as I'd love to go home, I still had one stop left... Bryce Jenkins.

Bryce Jenkins could be summed up in one word: parasite. He was a small-time dealer who'd bitten off more than he could chew. He owed me a lot of money, so much money that I knew for a fact he wouldn't be able to pay back, but he was useful enough to keep around. For now.

The bodyguards came out of the houses wiping their bloody hands on their handkerchiefs. They didn't need to report back, I already knew what they did in there and how they did it.

We drove in silence to Bryce's place. I half-expected to find security stationed at the gates, but there was no one around. Which actually made sense, because how would he be able to afford security?

The front door was unlocked, and we entered without a word. Something small and fragile slammed into me. I looked down to see a girl on the floor at my feet, her dark hair hiding her face. She was trembling lightly.

She looked up at me with wide, terrified green eyes, a few bruises were on her face. The thin white dress she wore did little to hide the marks of abuse that covered her skin.

Strangely, I had an unexpected flashback of a similar event and I frowned, willing the memory to get lost.

"What the..." I heard Bryce's voice and looked up to see him at the top of the stairs, looking pale. "Mr. Morano, I wasn't expecting you... so soon."

It was actually annoying to see him try so hard to sound confident while he was very obviously filled with fear. He came down the stairs, his eyes darted from me to the girl and back.

"She's... just my stepsister," Bryce muttered, then he hissed at the girl to get up.

His sister? Then, was he the one that gave her those bruises? It didn't seem like anyone else lived there with them, so it had to be him.

I already knew I didn't like the guy from the first moment he approached me, but seeing as he treats his sister like garbage, my dislike for him turned to disgust.

Yet, I had to remind myself it was none of my business.

I was barely paying attention, but he said something to her and she got up and left immediately. Bryce gave me an obvious fake smile and asked me to join him in the living room.

I had no reason to follow him, it was clear he didn't have my money, I could have to asked my bodyguards to give him the usual treatment, but I found myself following him.

When the girl returned, she was carrying a tray of drinks that she dropped before she could place it on the low table, shattering the glasses. Bryce exploded in anger, grabbing her arm roughly.

Seeing the look of terror in her wide eyes, I lost it. Before I could realise what I was doing, I told Bryce I would take her and forgive his debts. Debts of over a hundred grand! But I'd said it and I wasn't one to go back on my words.

I glanced at her. She was small and fragile, but she was pretty and I had a feeling she was stronger than she appeared. If she could deal with that parasite for however long it's been just the both of them, then she should be able to fill in 'that' position.

I got up without another word and left Bryce's house to the car. The next minute, his sister was escorted to the car and she slid into the backseat next to me.

She sat way too close to her door, shrinking into herself, as if trying to disappear. I could feel her raw fear from where I sat, as if she'd break it I so much as raised my voice. I had just saved her, and she was still scared of me? How pathetic.

"What's your name?" I asked and she shuddered at the sound of my voice. It was getting really annoying.

"Ava... Ava Jenkins."

I whipped out my phone and texted instructions to my lawyer. His reply came in instantly - just how I liked it - and I replaced the phone in my jacket pocket, looking up to meet the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror.

"Head to the courthouse." I told him and he nodded immediately.

It was simple; I had a goal and one of the things I needed to reach my goal was a wife. Now, Ava Jenkins was meek and controllable, I could easily mold her into whatever I needed... what better option than to use her?

I half-expected her to put up a fight or resist the situation anyhow she could, whether it was futile or not, but she remained silent, even as we got to the courthouse and the marriage license was placed in front of her.

She stared at it for just a moment, but then she picked up the pen and signed the documents. Totally controllable... she'll do.

"Congratulations, you're married." The judge said after I signed the documents. He glanced from her to me. I knew what he wanted to say, but he was contemplating it.

Because I wanted to ease her up a little - and maybe because I just wanted to do it - I reached over to grab Ava's waist, pulled her closer, buried my fingers in her thick hair and tilted her neck, sealing my lips to hers.

She felt like stone in my arms, trembling lightly but she didn't dare to move or push me away. I liked the way she tasted, the way her lips were soft against mine.

I broke the kiss. The ceremony was over, she was married to me. Now, for the next phase of my plan.

I took her home and led her to the second biggest bedroom right next to mine. Her eyes were taking in the decor while I took of my suit jacket and reached for my tie to loosen it.

"Strip." I told her.

I saw her shoulders stiffen as her eyes darted at me, widening. There was that look of terror again.

"Strip." I repeated, reinforcing my tone.

Her gulp was so loud, I bet the guys at the gates could hear it. But she slowly reached for the hem of her dress with shaky hands.

That annoyed me. I closed the distance between us in one quick stride, throwing my tie aside.

"Stop trembling. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done that already."

Saying that only increased her fear and her knees gave out.

Fuck! I was so not in the mood to deal with that.

"Get some sleep." I told her as I turned away from her, grabbing my tie and my jacket on my way out.

I might as well just call Valerie.