I don’t think I have ever been so hurt as much as Murphy just hurt me. If she weren’t pregnant with my child, I would have walked out. But I won’t, I won’t leave her or my child. I have to just push through. I pour another drink, I’m going to need it if this is how she wants to play. Mom comes over to me and asks if she wants me to call Baxter for a ring. I can’t answer, I just nod. She rubs my shoulder and walks away. I down my drink and turn around to see Murphy watching me. I grab the bottle and walk outside to the veranda.

Theo comes to join me. I don’t want to talk, so he just sits there. After a few minutes, he grabs the bottle and takes a swig. “You’re getting what you want. Quit pouting!”

I chuckle. “What I want, but not what she wants.”

“Do you love her?”

I look at him, pissed. Why the fuck does it matter to him or anyone how I feel?

“Does it matter? You heard her, she’s going through with it in name only.”

“It does matter, son. I have loved your mother for so long that I would have been willing to take her any way I could’ve had her. Even if it was in name only. Even if it were just to give you my name.”

“How do you love a woman like that?”

He stands and says, “With everything you have. With no question, and you pray that one day she will love you back the way you deserve.”

He walks back inside the house. I finish my bottle, then Avery comes outside and tells me that Baxter is here. I stand and follow her in. Murphy is sitting with everyone in the living room. Baxter stands, shakes my hand and congratulates me. He then asks where I want him to set up. Before I can answer, Mom tells him to go to her office.

I look at Murphy. “Would you like to help pick the ring?”

She shakes her head and remains sitting.

I lead Baxter to the office. He opens his case and sets up on Mom’s desk. He then motions me over once he has all the rings set up. He brought so many that I’m not sure where to start. He starts showing me different shapes and styles and says that when Mom called, he brought everything he had in my fiancée's size. I see a ring towards the back that captures my eye. I point, and Baxter smiles.

“I see you have excellent taste. I wasn’t sure because most women like clear diamonds, but this is something different. It’s a cushion cut five-carat light canary diamond surrounded by two carats of diamonds. The setting is vintage.”

He says it’s different from the rest, and it makes me think of Murphy; she’s different from all the women I know. “I’ll take it.”

Once the transaction is finished I walk Baxter out, thanking him for coming so quick. I return to the living room to make myself another drink. Mom says that she called City Hall and sped up the process for a marriage license. All we have to do is wait for it to be delivered with Judge Lirette.

Murphy stands and asks Mom if she can be seen to a room to relax before the ceremony. Mom has Jeffery show her and Cherry where they will be staying. The rest of the family disperses until it’s time. I’m left with my thoughts, my whiskey in hand, and a ring burning a hole in my pocket.

I call my men and ask if there has been any news on Judith’s whereabouts. They tell me they still have nothing. I lay my head back on the sofa in frustration. I must have passed out because Jeffery is waking me up, saying that everyone is seated in the dining room for supper.

I walk into the dining room to see everyone looking at me. Everyone except Murphy. She hasn’t looked at me since she agreed to marry me. I sit down, and the supper remains quiet.

As soon as we are finished, the doorbell rings. It’s Judge Lirette.

Murphy stands and says, “Let’s get this over with.” She hasn’t even changed; she’s still wearing the dress she’s had on all day.

I take another drink and stand by the judge who is now positioned in front of the fireplace. I start to laugh, thinking about the mockery we are making of this marriage. I mean, come on, this is not the way I saw my wedding day. Not that I ever really gave it much thought. I just always thought the woman I would be marrying would be much more thrilled at the idea. She doesn’t even try to pretend to enjoy any part of this.

All my brothers stand next to me, and Fallon and Avery stand next to Murphy. They weren’t asked to, but I guess they are trying to make this seem a little more normal. She still hasn’t looked at me. The judge starts; it's short but efficient in the scheme of things. He asks if I have the ring. I reach for my pocket, take the ring out of the box and throw the box over my shoulder. She extends her hand, and I put the ring on. It’s a perfect fit. She finally looks down at it and immediately looks up at me in shock. I think she likes it, but right now I don’t give a fuck. I just drop her hand. When the judge says you may now kiss the bride, I turn, bending to give her a kiss. She turns her face, trying to give me her cheek. Bullshit, that is where I draw the line.

I stand to my full height, looking down at her. Without any warning, I grab her around the waist, pulling her tight to my chest, and I kiss her hard right on her mouth. I don’t give a fuck who’s watching or that she didn’t want me to kiss her. She has had her way about everything else, and I’ll be damned if I am not going to kiss my bride. She tries not to open her mouth as she tries to push against me to get away. But I pinch her ass hard, making her yelp. When she does, I slip my tongue inside and start devouring her mouth. When I finally release her, she slaps me hard across the face.

She then turns and walks off. I yell at her, “I’ll give you a real reason to slap my face later, sweet cheeks.”

She doesn’t even stop. She just keeps walking away. Fuck!

Everyone’s trying to contain their laughter. “All right, show’s over, people, fuck off.”

I grab a bottle and walk back outside.

* * *

How fucking dare he? I cannot believe he’s kissing me like this and in front of everyone. I told him this marriage was in name only. He still married me anyway, so he should know I am not kissing or sleeping with him. I slap him and walk off as fast as I can. I need to get away from all of them. Do they not care that I didn’t want to do this? That I don’t want to be here?

Once I’m in the room, I close the door and lock it. If he tries to come in here tonight, he will find a locked door. That should be enough to let him know that he is not welcome here.

I sit on the bed and start crying. I can’t believe I’m pregnant and now married to this family. The family I have tried hard to get out of my life. I look down at the ring Zander put on my finger. It’s beautiful, probably the prettiest ring I have ever seen. How did he know that if I had a choice, this would have been the one? I hate the normal style wedding rings, this one is so unique and different. I will never tell him, but I love it.

I lay back in bed, trying to figure out my life and what went wrong and how I got here. What am I going to do now? I should be happy. After all, I got majority shares in my casino, it’s still mine. I even get to have control over it, and the debt vanishes. But it’s not the casino I worry about now, it’s Zander. What do I do about him? He got what he wanted, me. What about what I want? And do I even know what that is? No matter how much I want to deny it, I do have feelings for him. Stronger feelings than I have ever had for a man. Mom’s right, though, that’s why I am so scared of him. He will hurt me in the long run. Just like all the other men in my life, starting with my father. If I allow him to continue to dig deeper into my heart, he will shatter it beyond recognition. Then I will be no use to my child or myself. No, I must keep my guard up. I can’t allow Zander to break through my barrier again.

I wipe my tears away, deciding I need to take a hot bath and dress for bed. I’m so glad they brought all my things from the hotel. Sleep is what I need now. Nothing else matters.

Hours later, I’m wakened by a low sounding knock on the door. I choose to ignore it. I know it’s Zander.  A few minutes later, the knocking gets louder. Then louder. I yell out, “Go away!” The knocking seems to stop. I try to lay back down, but then the door swings open with a loud thud. Zander kicked the door in. He slams the door, staring at me with rage.

“Zander!”

He says nothing. He walks to the bed and starts removing his clothes. “What the hell are you doing?” He continues to strip down to nothing, standing there in all his naked glory. He is an amazing looking man. I have to divert my eyes to not want him as badly as I do. He pulls the sheets down and sees me in my bra and panties. He growls and gets in the bed. Before I know it, he has my wrist in his grasp.

“There will be no closed door between us. Do you hear me? You are my wife.”

“You’re drunk! Let me go, Zander! I told you, I may be your wife, but in name only.”

He laughs. “Do you think I would force myself on you, Red? I have never forced a woman in my life, and I sure in the hell am not starting now with my wife.”

He then pulls me by the arm and kisses me hard. It doesn’t last long, and he doesn’t try to go any further. He kisses me and releases my arm and says, “Goodnight, wife.”

I watch as he lays down and passes out. What do I do? I wait a few minutes then try to make an escape. I’m slowly trying to move out of the bed when I hear him say, “Don’t try it, Red. This is our bed and this is where you will stay. Leave and I will just drag your ass back.”

Damn him! I throw myself back down. Trying to fall asleep next to this sexy man every night is going to kill me.