Chapter 44
forty-four
CALUM
“Will you do something?” She frantically waves her hands around the kitchen while Chef gives me a weary glance.
“What is it you want me to do?”
“Cal…they’re coming here.” She points out the back window. “Look! You can see them cresting over the hill! Help me!” my wife screams with frustration and tugs on her red hair.
Most people would probably think it’s pregnancy hormones, but it’s just my Vera.
Slipping behind her, I press my chest to her back and gather her in my arms. “Breathe… Deep breaths.”
“You’re infuriating,” she says with a little laugh, then spins in my hold.
With a pinched brow, she brushes a wayward curl off my forehead and asks, “Which gun should I grab? The Glock? Ruger?” As if considering it, she nods.
“The Smith and Wesson in the ankle holder. Excuse me.” She shoves me back and heads toward the swinging door.
I open my mouth to give more instructions to the staff, but my wife halts. “And you two need to pick something real to eat. You cannot feed our first daughter-in-law a fucking nut loaf!”
Once she vanishes, I murmur, “I like my nut loafs.”
“We’ll have some fruit leather and roasted chickpeas, too, sir,” the chef informs me with an arched brow beneath his tall white hat.
I purse my lips, reconsidering. My son and his appointed emerge from the fog, getting closer to the house. “Hmm, so I can keep my head and get to fuck Vera tonight, better add in something like pizza and sandwiches, too.”
His hand rests against his heart, but he nods. “With meat, sir?”
A heavy sigh escapes my chest. “Yeah…”
As long as I don’t have to touch it.
Should I be waiting in my office like the CEO of West Tech Industries? Or perhaps casually reading War and Peace in the living room?
“Maybe I’ll perch by the piano. I’ll look normal, then,” my wife says, scurrying toward the parlor. She doesn’t play any instruments.
Except my skin flute.
I’ll keep that comment to myself.
Instead of following her, I rest my hands on the metal door handles and wait. Fuck, it’s been a long time since I’ve been this nervous. I’m sure she’s a lovely creature. I trust Valen completely. Well, like ninety percent. Seventy-five. Maybe like sixty-nine point three three repeating, of course.
“They’re here!” I call out.
I throw open the back French doors and smile as my son and his fiancée step inside.
“Hey,” I say, super casually. So very copacetic that I almost fall asleep at how chill I sound.
“Hey, Dad. This is Olivia Cardell. Olivia, this is my Dad, Cal.”
The beautiful woman sticks out her hand to greet me, but it trembles when I shake it. Both of our palms are sweaty. She’s a lot different from someone I would expect my son to go for. Very well done for a geek, to be honest.
“Welcome to our home,” I tell her.
“It’s lovely to meet you, um, Cal.” She speaks so eloquently. Practiced and trained.
I wave her into the far room, where I already see Vera sifting through music books as if she’s choosing something to strike a chord. “My wife’s in here, and she’s been dying to meet you.”
Valen takes her hand and leads her there, casting me a small glance. I wink at him and give a nod of approval.
When we enter, my wife tosses her auburn hair over a shoulder and stands, hands folded in front of her belly. “Why, hello.”
My son snorts until I shove him in the back with my elbow.
“Um, Olivia, this is my mom. You can call her Veracity.”
Olivia gives her the same sweet greeting as my wife’s green eyes grow wide when she catches my gaze. I know what she’s thinking. This girl is polished, refined…
How my son, who barely left his room until a couple of years ago, one that always stunk of gym socks, moldy leftovers, and stale beer, ever grabbed her… Beyond me.
I think he took his cousin Adal’s advice on weightlifting. His muscles must’ve worked on her. I should probably work out.
But I’m not going to.
“I think the chef will have some food,” I inform them.
Valen rolls his eyes. “Good stuff or…your stuff, Dad?”
“Regular, normal, healthy, natural foods.”
“Those words don’t go together,” he argues.
My wife waves toward the piano keys to interrupt us, changing the subject. “I was just going to practice this piano, but I heard you come in. Would you like to sit and eat now, or play some billiards?” It’s so fucking cute. She must think that rich people all play the game. She’s trying so hard.
Valen pulls his girl in front of him and gives her a squeeze.
Olivia swallows. “Oh, you have a pool table? I don’t think I’ve ever played. That sounds fun.”
Valen tugs her toward the back hallway, and Vera grumbles to me under her breath. “I thought they all played pool… Do they not?”
Grimacing, I brush some of her hair over her shoulder. “I guess not.”
“Well…that’s just…disappointing.”
I snag her before we enter the room and press my lips to her ear until she sucks in a deep breath. “You’re doing fine. You’re safe. I got you.”
She wraps her arms around me and presses her face into my chest, then nods. It’s difficult to hear her mumbled voice, muted by my sweater, but I think she says, I love you.
“And I love you.”
When she takes a step back, she takes my hand with her. “I don’t think I can do this seven more times.”
I shrug. “So it is twins, then.”
She smirks but doesn’t respond. Only gives me some flirty eyes. Enough so that I follow her into the billiards room.
My son’s showing Olivia the ropes on how to hold the stick, angle for the best shot, and helps her bucket her first ball. She slaps his hand in victory, grinning.
We start a game of four, and as it progresses, Vera gets less nervous. And I think Olivia does, too.
Until my phone buzzes in my pocket.
“They’re making an announcement,” I say, then flip on the TV in the corner to the local news station.
“Why didn’t they call you in first?” Valen asks astutely.
“I’m not sure.”
Calum Von Dovish typically gets shunned. NU doesn’t want me, just my money. Or, more importantly, my secrets and tech. Those are what have kept me and my family alive up until now. That and my wife’s superior marksmanship.
We pause as the Dean of Student Affairs sidles up behind a podium on the front steps of the Cathedral of Seven Moons.
“This morning, the body of Northview University President, Harmen Harvey, was found in his home here on campus. Coroners are reporting he died of natural causes without any concerns or suspicions of foul play. His death was unexpected and sudden. Unfortunately, all current orders he was working on were left unsigned and, as such, will not proceed.”
Valen’s eyes meet mine. “Natural causes…”
“Yes. Strange,” I say. This could mean that they won’t come after anyone for the death, but it also may indicate something much, much worse… I hold my breath, not wanting to delve into that possibility, yet.
The dean continues. “We’re introducing an interim president until a permanent replacement is found. The new leader has been appointed by the board.”
Valen and Vera swivel their heads to me as Olivia continues to stare at the screen with wide eyes.
“Did you, Dad? Did the board approve already?”
I swallow through a tight throat. “No.”
Voice barely above a whisper, Olivia asks, “So what does that mean?”
Vera holds my hand, and I grimace, knowing all too well what may be coming soon.
“It means,” I tell them, “they wanted Harvey dead.” With a solemn gaze, I capture the eyes of everyone in the room. “Worse…they’re now operating without the board’s influence.”