Page 10 of Ruthless King

“But how can you have a wife without romance?”

“A marriage of convenience. That’s why you’re here, too, isn’t it?” He sits back in his seat, allowing me to breath properly again. “I want a wife to fill my nights with pleasure. I want children. That’s why I’m doing this. Why are you doing this, Aurora?”

“I’m doing this the same as you. I want children.” This is the truth. I know I would make a good mom. But I’m not going to have children with Nico because I’ll kill him before he can even touch me. He’s my father’s murderer. No matter how handsome Nico is, I can’t forget that fact.

“Then we’re aligned on that one fact. Now, tell my about your parents.”

I blink, then brace myself. I expected this. Beatrice taught me what to say.

“My father, John Keller, was a business man. He ran?—”

“I don’t care what he did for money. I have my own money. I don’t need yours. What I want to know, Aurora, is how you felt about your father.”

Beatrice didn’t prepare me for this.

Did Nico asks Amanda and Elizabeth the same question? Is that why they left this room in tears?

“I loved my father,” I answer honestly. That was another thing Beatrice told me on the flight to New York—blend truth with the lies. “He was the kindest man I knew.” My breath hitches, and my throat catches on the words. He’s only been dead a week now, but in my file, it says John Keller has been dead for years.

“How so?”

“It was just little things. Taking me out for ice cream. Asking me how my day was and really showing he cared about me as my dad. He didn’t just ask for the sake of asking. He wanted to hear what I had to say.” The pain of losing him hits me so hard I almost break down in tears.

But I hold it back. I won’t cry in front of Nico. Not when he killed my father.

Nico eyes me with curiosity. “Are you trying not to cry?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“Why?”

“Are you saying I can be vulnerable with you?”

A slow smile spreads across his face. “You shouldn’t be vulnerable with me, Aurora. That’s the first rule if you’re going to be my wife. Anything can be used against you in this life. You just showed me your first weakness.”

“What?”

“Your father is a point of sadness for you. It’s obvious. Learn to shut it down.”

“I can’t just push my emotions to the side.”

“In my world, you do.” He nods at Enzo, who opens the door. “We’re done here.”

He’s dismissing me. Somehow, I failed.

“Why don’t you tell me about your father?” I ask in a last ditch effort.

Nico stares at me a long moment. “My father isn’t my weakness, so you’re not going to get it out of me.”

I grab his hand before he can stand up. He lifts an eyebrow. “I don’t need to know your weaknesses. I just want to know you.” Please, let this work. He needs to choose me for his wife. Otherwise, I’ll never get the justice I need, and Beatrice will hate me even more than she already does.

He takes my hand in his, tugging me closer to him. “You want to know me, Aurora? Then get down on your knees and suck my cock.”

I gasp and wrench away from him. “No.”

“No? My mistake, then. You seemed like a woman willing to do anything to get what you wanted. I don’t like that. I like honesty.”

“You’re marrying a woman for convenience. How is that not the same as what I’m doing?”