For Better, For Worse: The Serpent's Contract Wife

I woke up with a start; the thunder boomed, and the windows rattled violently from the mere force.

What a downpour.

The sky was gonna fall over if this kept up. That definitely jump-started me.

I exhaled, ran a hand through my hair, looked to my side, and froze.

"Zade?"

My eyes travelled the room at speed.

"Zade!" I called out, and the thunder boomed again.

Panicking, I got out of bed, ignoring the discomfort from my abdomen. I had somehow taken off the heating pad between sleep, but that was the least of my worries.

I checked the bathroom, closet, and even his studio, but Zade was nowhere to be seen.

I should probably calm down, but I can’t. The second passed, and I went into a full-blown panic mode.

Before I could grapple with my own actions, I left the room.

My eyes were frantic as they searched everywhere, as though I could find him lurking somewhere.

His office.

Having that thought in mind, I made that destination my focus, and the more the thunder rattled the skies, the more I grew... scared.

At every waking moment, I had been at Zade’s side, and now I couldn’t find him; it felt like the world was coming to an end.

I got to the door, and I wasted no time opening it and walking in. It’s empty.

Shaking, I grew desperate and confused. My steps hastened until I was basically speed-walking. I made a turn toward the next hallway, and I saw lights coming from under a door.

Isn’t that the dining area?

I ran toward it in a heartbeat and opened the door, freezing in my tracks.

Oops!

There were men. Scary-looking ones that appeared as though they had never seen anything good or sweet in their lives, the kind that could rip you apart within milliseconds or put a bullet through your skull.

Oh god. What have I walked into? Stupid Anastasia!

They filled the seats like the coming of the apocalypse, and when I moved my eyes to the end of the table, I saw Zade.

He was standing with his hands braced against the table, leaning over it as though I’d interrupted a conference or something.

Compared to all the visibly scary-looking men, Zade had his charms, looking more like the devilish man he was, but that was the thing.

Because I knew, compared to all these men, Zade was the most dangerous of them all, and he didn’t need to show it or remove that irresistible smile on his lips.

"You weren’t in bed." The moment I said those words, my cheeks heated, but there was no going back now.

I had already embarrassed myself walking in here in just his dress shirt and disheveled hair.

"Leave."

I flinched, a crushing feeling settling over my chest so fast I thought I was breaking to pieces.

My eyes grew teary-eyed, but before I had the chance to humiliate myself, the men pushed to their feet and one by one they left without so much as looking at me.

I jumped when the door closed beside me.

He wasn’t talking to me.

"Does my kitten miss me already?" Zade teased, drinking from the tumbler, the t-shirt clenching on all those hard biceps.

I opened my mouth, but I shut it tight and just glared at him instead, my mouth pouting.

"What?"

"You left."

"Aah... will you forgive me, kitten?"

I crossed my arms. "I’ll think about it."

I still can’t get over how panicked I was when I found him gone. I blame my period.

"This meeting was important and needed to be held as soon as possible."

"You mean at 3 am with scary-looking men that can gut anyone with their bare hands?"

"Them?" He laughed. "Oh baby, they are harmless."

I almost believed him.

"They are from the undercity, aren’t they?"

"I’m from the undercity too, kitten. Every single man and woman who is willing to take and consume."

I gulped. "I never really understood how that worked."

"Want lesson 101? You’re part of the family, Mrs. Salvero."

My heart skipped a beat. A few months ago, he had used that name to taunt me, knowing it got under my skin.

However, a swamp of feelings flooded me like a wave, and I was close to dropping to my knees right there.

Why does he have to make it sound so sexy?

"Yes, Mr. Salvero," I replied, keeping my voice low, but it came off slutty.

He grinned. "Then come closer for your lesson."

I moved, and he sat down on the chair. The closer I got, the faster my heart raced. It was excitement.

The moment I was within arm’s reach, I knew he could do anything he wanted with me, and I’d let him.

I gasped when he yanked me onto his lap.

"You took off your heating pad. How’s your tummy?"

"Bearable. I’ll live."

He chuckled. "It’s not life or death."

"It is."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You grew up with brothers, so you wouldn’t understand."

"For you, I’m willing to understand anything." He pressed a soft kiss on my neck, then my chin, but he didn’t get to my lips as he leaned away, watching me like he had the most amazing creature in his arms.

I felt that way too, and I can’t describe how heavy my heart is, but not in a bad way.

"Are you sure you want in on this?" He switched.

"You ask me that now after everything we have been through? After what I’ve endured..." I paused. "After what you endured."

"I do admire the look in your eyes when you told Elliot off. That moment I thought I may make a boss lady outta you."

"Funny."

"You know my world, Anastasia. You were born in it, but you never baptized yourself in it. You were sheltered; you have always been sheltered."

"That changed when I married a Don."

"True, but you only had a glimpse, baby."

Goosebumps rose on my skin.

"Now we have a killer on the loose that’s targeting you, and I don’t need to explain how..." His jaw clenched. "...Furious I am."

"This is the scariest part."

"What is?" he mused.

"You’re so furious, yet I can’t tell."

"Trust me, baby. You don’t wanna see me when I decide to break this mask."

I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it.

"And before you say you have experienced what my rage feels like, that day at that bridge, then you’re wrong."

"G-Geez! Don’t get me more scared than I already am."

He chuckled deeply and tucked a few strands of my hair behind my ear.

"You’re scared of me, which is why you’re sitting on my lap right now. You’ve always craved danger, then and now." He moved his hand down and undid a button, and I sucked in breath when he grabbed hold of my breast.

"My spunky kitten."

"L-Lesson 101..." I stuttered, hoping to distract him.

"Yes, lesson 101, but first..."

"O-Oh—!"

He covered my tit with his mouth before pulling away, but still had his hand squeezing my breast like a stress ball. They were a bit on the tender side because of my period but it added to the sensation.

"This meeting was designed to find the killer—The hitman."

"H-Hitman?"

"That’s what they are called. Professional killers for hire who have only two things in mind: Money and kills. And these men that have been here are my network in the undercity that can help me find them."

"N-Network."

"There’s something more important than money and name when it comes to the undercity. Information."

I narrowed my eyes in question.

"The more network you have, the more power you hold over that place."

He doesn’t need to explain further; information has always been a powerful thing, and for the undercity, I could only imagine.

"D-Does that mean every Don has this network?"

"Not all, which is why some are just Don only in name. Like your father."

I’m guessing Zade wasn’t just a Don only in name. He started his own empire at a very young age, and that experience alone must be bigger compared to the others.

"S-So what did you find then? From your network."

"I could say they are pretty much useless right now. This hitman, they are paid by someone. And that someone is gonna be hard to find. The hitman may be sloppy, but he has someone capable on the side."

Annabeth. A voice said in my head, but the only way to make that true is if we find this hitman before he targets me again.

"I have a plan."

He arched his brow. "Do you?"

"Julius. He knows something."

"..."

"The reason why he introduced himself as Julius Morri was not to let anyone know that I was last. I think he’s trying to win my favor."

"I figured as much, but we don’t know his true agenda."

"Yes, but I can find out what he wants and more."

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