1
Victor
My finger slides across my wedding band, enjoying the weight and feel of it on my finger. It’s something I thought I’d never want but now can’t seem to imagine being without. I am unable to stop touching it. I shouldn't be shocked. I am obsessive by nature. It is how I’ve come so far in life so quickly. If I want something, I go for it. Many have said that I live up to my last name.
This is a first for me. I’ve never hunted a woman before. I’ve been too busy building my empire to worry about the opposite sex. None had ever sparked my interest. That was until Mackenzie waltzed into my life and tried to waltz right back out. She struck a match, tossed it and lit a fire inside of me that I didn’t know existed.
One that now eternally burns for her and only her. She thinks she’s clever. She might be but they don’t call me by my last name in business for no reason. I’ve needed every advantage I could get when it came to her. She’s going to make me work for it and I am more than willing to put in the work; I’ve already been doing it for a month. Each step she takes to try to dodge me only makes me hungrier for her. The more she ignores me, the greedier I am for her attention.
I pull my phone out of my pocket, stepping onto the elevator. My gaze meets Madison’s, who still looks a little startled from our quick meeting. Her eyes are wide and confused as the elevator doors close. I have no idea what my Mackenzie is up to. Her twin sister sits at her desk pretending to be her while she’s somewhere without me. Unbeknownst to her, it won’t be for long.
I should have known she’d do something like this. I push the button for the bottom floor, willing the elevator to go faster as I hit the call button on my phone.
“She’s not here,” I bark into my phone when Jackson answers the call.
“I followed her there this morning.” Jackson sounds confused. This is a first for him. I run my hand down my face. I was stupid. I really should have seen her doing something like this. The woman is crafty and probably got a thrill out of giving me the slip.
“It was her sister,” I inform him.
“Her sister? But-”
“Twins,” I mutter. I’m told they are identical. I don’t see it. I don’t understand why people can’t tell the difference between them. I knew the second I stepped off the elevator that it wasn't my Mackenzie sitting at her desk this morning. She actually switched places with her sister and didn't think I’d notice. Ludicrous. It’s more likely that my little wife knew exactly what she was doing. She probably thinks she’s driving me crazy but the only thing she’s doing is making me want her more.
“Find her.” I end the call as I make my way out of the building. I message Colt, letting him know that I have an emergency and need to reschedule our meeting. My driver hops out of the car. “In,” I bark at him, getting my own door. “Airport,” I fire next as he pulls away from the curb without asking a million questions.
Where did she go? Did she really think I couldn't track her down? That I wouldn't pull every string I could to find her? I know Jackson is scrambling now to get me every single detail he can about her whereabouts. I know without a doubt that he’ll find her. That’s why I didn't hesitate to head to the airport.
I message my pilot to have my private jet ready to go. There is not a place on earth my little wife could go that I wouldn't find her. She can run but she can't hide. This isn't about her not wanting me, it's about her not wanting to give me the control I demand. She thinks I want to rule her life but that’s the furthest thing from the truth.
It’s her heart I want to rule.
2
Mackenzie
Sitting on the beach with nothing to do isn't all it's cracked up to be. Some people might find this fun and relaxing, but to me it seems as though it’s a waste of time. I lift up my pineapple drink that is supposed to make me relax more and take a sip of it, trying not to think of the mess I’ll have to deal with when I eventually go back home. Maybe I should stay here forever. That would solve everything. I sigh, knowing that I’d miss my twin sister, Madison, too much.
“Can I get you anything else?” I look up at Nick, who is standing next to my cabana.
“Do people just lie here all day?” I might be doing this beach thing all wrong. That has to be it.
“Generally.” He turns to look behind him. “Are you meeting people?”
“No.” I shake my head. He turns back, looking as though he feels bad for me. I am on vacation alone. I wrack my brain trying to think of someone else that I could’ve brought with me. The only person I come up with is my sister. Why is it only now dawning on me that I don’t have any friends? “Nachos. I’ll take some nachos,” I blurt out, wanting to get the sad look he has for me off his face. Plus, food makes everything better.
“Coming up.” He turns, heading back up toward the resort. I huff, falling back into my seat. Giving Victor the slip wasn't as fun as I thought it would be. Not when I didn't get to see him all pissed about it. I really am too good at this.
He’ll never find me unless I want him to. I didn't think about missing out on his realization when I came up with my plan. I’m usually a very detail oriented person, but for whatever reason when the Wolf is around, I can’t seem to think straight.
He may think he’s the alpha in this pack but he’s got it all wrong. I would have paid a million dollars to see that cocky smirk of his slip from his face when he realized he couldn't control everything. That I wasn't a thing. That I do what I want when I want to.
I clench my thighs together, thinking about him barking one of his orders at me. I hate how my body responds to him. It did even before I’d ever seen his face. Victor and I had words a few times on the phone. I’d hung up on him when he was a dick. He’d showed up at the office. Now he won’t stop showing up. I already have one asshole in my professional life; I don’t need one in my private life, too.
The man is barbaric. I purse my lips, thinking about what he did. He’s gone too far this time. I take a deep breath, trying to get my emotions under control.
“I’m calm,” I remind myself. Only he makes me like this. I’m always calm. Except when it comes to him. Married. How the hell am I married to him? It doesn’t matter. I have a lawyer working on that. I’ll stay away until it’s all handled. Problem solved. I didn't believe it when Victor emailed me the marriage certificate. Until I saw my signature on it.
I stared at it for five minutes thinking it couldn't be real. I had Karen in legal at the office check. It was real. Filed with the city and all.
I must have signed it by mistake. I sign so many things in a day. He must have slipped it into something. I don’t know how he did it but he did. That’s fine. I’ll just undo it. I can be patient and wait until they deem me single again. My only hope is that I don’t die from boredom.
“Nachos.” I jump.
Nick sets the cheese-covered goodness down onto the table. “Sorry.”
“Thank you.” Now I am jumpy too. I give him a smile.
“I get off in an hour if you want me to join you?” Nick returns the smile. Oh, no. I gave him the wrong idea. I look up at Nick. He’s handsome. In that boy next door kind of way with his sandy blond hair and green eyes. He does nothing for me. My body is broken. It only craves assholes. One asshole, to be precise.