Chapter 46
forty-six
XAVIER
For three years, I kept one eye on Calum Von Dovish’s son.
Just as the head of West Tech Industries did with my family.
We orbited each other at board events, exchanging an occasional glance.
Never a word. Just a nod of subtle acknowledgement.
But something in his stare told me what I needed to know.
Calum Von Dovish knew the truth. Just as I did.
The kids think the problems stop at Northview University. But it goes way deeper than that. Higher. To every level of government and across the country. Probably the world.
And that’s what I’m trying to fix. For them. For everyone.
Two years ago, at a political rally, I watched another society puppet ascend into office. I was there to play nice. Shake hands, make pledges, all while gathering intel to gut the campaign from the inside.
“Mr. Cardell, good to see you,” Governor Walker said with a plastic smile.
He pitched me The Viridis Initiative—a green movement meant to save the planet. I knew better. It was a front for trafficking.
The next weekend was another function. An unrelated party. And that was the day that Calum approached me with two words. A simple brush-off, coupled with that knowing look.
“Non Viridis.”
That evening? The entire office was raided. Governor Walker had distanced himself from the mess, stating the directors led it in a horrid direction without his understanding.
And me? I got an anonymous text.
Unknown Number
Ire hyacintho. Familia vulpes.
Blue foxes… There’s only one family that wears that name.
The Von Dovishs.
So when his son started tracking me, I let it happen. He was decent at it. Good, even. But not good enough to fool me.
Olivia had changed. I saw it behind her eyes. The fire that had once been there in high school, that slowly dimmed as she aged? It was back in full force. She was stealthy, but strong.
And I knew the look behind that kid’s eyes, too. One that stated he was desperate for my daughter. The same one I wore when I fell in love with her mother. He’s a man from a great family and one who I felt could protect her as well as we could.
So, I struck a deal.
But he still needs to understand that he cannot make one mistake with my daughter.
Heavy boots clomp up the dock and climb onto the Chris-Craft—a boat that never sees winter skies if I can help it. But Valen should learn to fish in the middle of December.
At least, that’s what we told him.
Ryan slings an arm around his shoulders, leading him onto the teak floorboards, then into one of the cream-cushioned seats.
“Life jackets?” Valen asks.
“You don’t know how to swim?” Henry asks, taking up the driver’s spot.
He hesitates for a second. “Yeah…I just. Sorry. I’ve never gone fishing like this.”
“You fish a lot?” Ryan asks him, grinning.
I settle into the passenger seat and pull up my fish locator app.
“I mean, in the summer. We have ponds. Creeks. That sort of thing.”
“So not a real fisherman, then,” Aiden mutters with a sneer, settling into his chosen seat.
I’m not sure it’s possible for the boy to look more uncomfortable, tucked between Olivia’s brothers. And perhaps someone less of an asshole would protect him, but I’m quite enjoying myself.
“You normally do this on Sunday dinners?” Valen asks with wide eyes.
I nod at Henry to take off, making the rest of the conversation impossible until we can stop and anchor.
Once we reach the center of the lake, things are quiet. Almost peaceful… I let time lapse as everyone soaks in silence. Then, I give Aiden and Ryan the eyes.
The boys stand and stretch for a moment, open the cooler, and pass around chilled beers. Valen takes one and pops the top with a hiss. I decline the offered beverage and cross my ankle over my opposite knee.
Henry slides over to grab a fishing rod, but I stop him with a hand on his forearm. “Not today,” I whisper low.
He looks confused. “Then…what are we doing out here?”
“We have a surprise for your sister’s boyfriend,” I say, not smiling.
My youngest son’s grin gleams in the winter sunshine. “Oh, cool.”
I hold up a finger to tell him to keep quiet about it, and he nods subtly, bouncing on his toes like he’s excited to share in the plan. But his brothers didn’t tell him for a reason. Henry’s too pure for this world.
“How did you meet?” Aiden asks Valen, and I know it’s because he wasn’t able to get any footage of their early interactions.
Other than a masked man rescuing Olivia from the madman in the Terror Tuesday cottages.
At least, that’s what Aiden saw on camera before he had to hand over the videos. For that act of bravery, I’m grateful.
Still…
The kid needs a lesson about what it means to be associated with the family of Cardell.
“In class,” he says, tossing back his beer, mimicking Ryan.
“That’s wonderful, man,” Ryan says, then grabs the back of his neck in a swift movement.
There’s a sudden tussle as Aiden grabs his feet until Valen’s suspended in the air. Ryan helps to carry him to the back edge of the boat. Henry howls like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever seen—and I agree.
My sons shove the boy down until his back arches and his head hangs only inches above the icy waters. Ryan grips his throat, then glances over his shoulder at me. Taking my time, I wander over to them and squat near the kid’s face.
“So…Valen Von Dovish… We struck a deal for my daughter. You wanted her appointment and her hand in marriage so as not to kill me, is that right?”
“Fuck, yes! Can we just— I want her, okay? I love her. I don’t know what I did wrong.” His green eyes are wild as he clutches Ryan’s arms, attempting to scramble up to a sitting position. But Ryan holds him down, closer to the water’s surface.
“Nothing. You did nothing. And you won’t either,” I instruct him.
Ryan dips his head into the frigid waves for a few seconds as he thrashes against my sons. His fingers reach for us, trying to resurface. When Ryan pulls him up by his shirt, he gasps for air, and his eyes grow wide as he takes the three of us in.
“You’ll treat her right, like a queen. And I, her father, don’t give a shit what the society says. She’s not to be shared.”
He shakes his head rapidly. “I’d never—”
The ends of his words are cut off as Ryan dunks him again. “Just for funzies,” he says, winking back at us. I give a nod of approval.
He brings him back up.
“If I hear differently… If you make her cry, I’ll have no issue strapping your feet to concrete blocks and having another fishing trip with just the boys.”
“I wouldn’t… No sir. No way—”
Ryan dunks him again, this time letting him soak under the water until his skin turns blue.
I feel bad for the kid. Olivia would hurt too much if we killed her appointed now. But at least he understands who he has to answer to if he ever fucks up. “Bring him up.”
Ryan and Aiden do, then toss him onto the seats in the back. Valen shivers violently until Henry hands him a beach towel with a loud guffaw. He’s laughing so hard, tears stream down his face.
“Dude! They got you. Best prank ever!”
Ryan smiles and grabs another beer, tossing one to his brothers, then hands one to Valen. “You good?”
Valen swipes the towel over his face, takes the beer, and nods. “Y-Yeah.”
“Great!”
Great, indeed.
I tap my beer can to his and slap him on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family.”