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Chapter 3

Rossalyn just stared at him for a few moments. Her brain seemed to fail to be able to process what he just said to her. Marry him? She didn't even know him that well, well really at all. The things she did know of him were uniformly not attributes she'd consider in a spouse. Not to mention, if she said no, what would happen then?

"What makes you think you'd want to marry me?" She asked in disbelief.

"Well, I must confess that I did quite a lot of background on you before our meeting tonight. You're very intelligent. It goes without saying that you value your family. Enough to try to save them from themselves. You have a great work ethic. You're beautiful. I think you'd be a great match for me." Josiah said, the description of her attributes sounding rather clinical and cold.

"Just the small issue that I find what you do abhorrent." She commented flippantly.

"Oh, I believe that you'd be able to grow to accept and appreciate what I do. When you're the strongest predator in the game, you don't have many threats." Josiah said with a shrug.

"Except for those that want to challenge you. Exploit your weaknesses." She said with a scoff.

"I have no weaknesses." Josiah said firmly.

"A man who takes a wife and has children has weaknesses. You might think you have none now, but I'd be under constant threat, not to mention if we have kids. Why would I ever want to do that?" She demanded.

"Because I'd protect you, and our children at all costs. Nothing would happen to you or them so long as I have any control over it." Josiah promised fiercely.

"What happens if I say no?" She asked, seriously considering walking out of the room that moment.

"Well, I suppose we'd go back to the arrangement as it stands now. Though I doubt you'd ever be able to stop doing what you're doing unless you just submit to the idea that if you stop paying the bookie, something tragic will happen to your brother. As I said it isn't their job, or in my interest, to stop him from his bad decisions. Not unless it negatively affects me or say.....my wife." Josiah sighed, a little dramatically.

"That is blackmail!" She said indigantly.

"No, sweetheart, thats just life as it is. Plain and simple. I need incentive to help you out of your situation. You can't expect me to forgive his debt for nothing in return." Josiah said sharply.

"So you're proposing a business arrangement between us? What would the terms be?" She asked him trying to regain a measure of control.

"It would be much more than a business arrangement. It would be a marriage. In my faith, we do not believe in divorce. So this would be permanent. You'd be my partner in everything. The saying what is mine is yours and all that." Josiah said.

"You.....I.....wha....." She was lost for words trying to process everything he'd said to her.

"Let me make this very simple for you. Do you want to continue doing this for the foreseeable future? Or do you want to put a stop to it? These are your options. Putting a stop to it involves marrying me." Josiah said, a little impatient.

"I know that!" She snapped at him then started pacing the room in front of him again in irritation.

"Then give me an answer!" He snapped back.

"I want it to stop! I don't want to do this!" She yelled at him, though tears pooled in her eyes.

"Good. Take my jacket. We are leaving." Josiah said and stood from the couch and held out the jacket he'd laid across the arm of the couch to her.

"Leaving? Where are we going?" Her shock made her freeze and stare at him like a deer in the headlights.

"Home. We have a wedding to plan. I don't see any reason to delay, do you?" He asked her shaking the jacket in a prompt for her to take it.

"Oh...this starts now?" She asked in shock, not sure what else to do other than take the jacket he was holding out for her to put on.

"Yes, this starts now. Your things will be brought to my house by morning. I've already taken the liberty to purchase some things for you as well." Josiah smiled at her as she put his jacket on and closed the front of it. The jacket positively swallowed her but he really liked the sight of her with his clothes on.

"I need to get my things from the dressing room here." She protested as he took her hand and started leading her toward the door.

"That has also already been handled. Everything is waiting for you in the car." He informed her.

"Cocky bastard, aren't you? So sure I was going to say yes." She rolled her eyes then glared up at him.

"You're a reasonable person and the only reasonable choice was the one you made. I felt assured you'd agree." He told her with a shrug.

She didn't give that a repsonse, as she wasn't quite sure what to say to that, if she was being honest with herself. But without any other reasonable protests to make, she allowed him to lead her out of the club's back entrance to the black SUV that was waiting for them.

The whole drive to Josiah's house she stayed quiet. Her mind was racing with everything that had been discussed and what was now expected of her. She didn't know how she was going to go through with everything. Of the things she imagined doing for her brother, marrying a mafia boss was never on that list of possibles. But Josiah was right, her brother had played her and without any way to force him into rehab, there was nothing she could do other than continue paying for his debts or sit back and let him get himself killed. She didn't think she'd be able to live with herself if she passively allowed it to happen by not doing anything to help him. But with Josiah on her side, he could force him into rehab and to get his life together.

The vehicle turned into the drive blocked by a black iron gate. She perked up, finally paying attention to where they were located and her jaw dropped from surprise. A beautiful, three story mansion stood at the end of the long driveway.

"This is where you live?" She asked, shocked.

"This is where we live." Josiah corrected her, emphasizing the 'we' slightly. "What did you expect?"

"I don't know, honestly. Just not this. I'll get lost in there somewhere." She said worriedly.

"Don't worry, I have a full staff that will be happy to guide you until you learn the place. It won't take long." Josiah assured her as the SUV came to a stop at the stairs of the house. "Welcome home, Rossalyn."

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