Chapter 18
Roxy
The manicurist massages oil into my cuticles, the scent of nail polish and gossip filling the salon.
We’re not over. Get it out of your pretty head.
I left him there, handcuffed, because I was worried I would let him talk me into… I don’t know what? A relationship?
That’s not what this is. And it never will be.
Yes, we are extremely compatible when it comes to sex. I can’t ignore the fact that the more sex we have, the hornier I get. Like a virtuoso, Liam Stone plays my body like a precious violin.
He’s getting to know the instrument, while already mastering the most complicated symphonies with it.
I haven’t had much sex in my life, but I’m making up for it every single day now. With a man I shouldn’t be friends with, let alone lovers.
Against the no-fraternization policy. Despite my better judgment. Contrary to my best interests.
I didn’t let him talk after he watched me fall apart on his desk. As far as I’m concerned, we’re over.
Running away from conversations. Good going, Roxy.
At least the partnership will be discussed and announced soon. A few more weeks of this madness and then… what?
We’re not over. Get it out of your pretty head.
I don’t even know what the endgame is here. If I become a partner, will Liam leave? My body shudders at the thought. Do I want him to stay?
Would he stay in New York if he’s not at Merged? Can we continue our liaison?
And what if I don’t become a partner? Fuck, I don’t even want to think about that. I won’t stay at Merged. I will sell the five percent back to Corm and walk out.
The thought alone feels like a death sentence. Jesus, this is complicated, even without Liam as part of the equation.
“Are you even listening to me?” my sister complains beside me, blowing air on her long nails.
“Sorry, Tee, I’ve been distracted.” I smile at my technician and inspect her work.
“You look tired. You really should stop working.” She purses her lips, and knowing her, she is already planning what we would do if I do, in fact, quit.
Tee is barely eighteen and quite sheltered in her bubble. She craves independence and freedom, but has no idea how much they cost in our world.
Father ignores her mostly, which is a good thing, I suppose. And with our brothers protecting her with their typical, slightly unhinged dedication, she probably hasn’t experienced many things a normal teenager would.
I know what a burden it is to be a woman in my family, but I’m kind of glad Tee is still shielded from the reality.
She deserves a normal life, and I need to play my cards well to give that to her.
“I love my work,” I counter. “Show me your nails,” I say, to change the topic.
She extends her hand to me, a purple polish glimmering in the light. “Do you like it?”
“I love it.”
After paying for our manicures, we head to a coffee shop across the street. I don’t have time to venture into the city much, but I always find time when Tee is allowed to visit.
I finally talked Nico into having her tag along, but the timing couldn’t be worse.
I’m distracted, exhausted, and too anxious about leaving the office.
Still, I would never say no to spending time with my sister. I feel guilty enough for leaving her behind. Even if it’s only for the time being.
“What’s new with you, Tee? I miss you so much,” I say, when we sit down after we get our orders.
I might not enjoy the timing of her visit, but it’s great to see her.
Taller than me, she has a paler complexion, and her dark hair is blow-dried into beautiful waves. She is the perfect daughter our dad wants. Not yet rebelling. Perhaps she’d never have to.
She licks the cream from her iced drink. “I kissed a guy.” Her eyes full of mischief, she looks around as if someone could overhear us.
One of Father’s men stands casually in the corner, and while he’s not listening, I know it always feels like it.
“You did? Who? When?”
Glad she is stealing these moments of normality for herself, I push aside my motherly need to lecture and protect her. I will research the poor bastard as soon as I get back to work.
“Papa was away, so I snuck out to a party.”
My heart stops and restarts. “You went to a party without your security? Behind everyone’s back?”
“Chill, Ro, you’re living in Manhattan without security. And how else am I to go to a party if not behind everyone’s back?” She rolls her eyes.
She’s the only person who can call me Ro.
I breathe in and out, not sure how to navigate this.
“Come on, don’t tell me you never did that,” she huffs.
Fair enough. Though the only time I did that, the boy almost lost his hand when Rowan, my oldest brother, caught us. I’m not sharing that gory story with Tee.
“Okay, but don’t make it a habit.” I take a sip. “Tell me about the kiss.”
She scrunches her nose. “It was wet and weird, I guess. I’m not sure what the fuss is.”
I hide my smile behind my cup. “The first time can be awkward.”
“Maybe I’ll try it with a girl next time.”
“Just be careful. Don’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable with, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I might be eager to leave the golden cage, but frankly, the world out there feels a bit scary.” She closes her mouth around the straw and takes a loud sip, the slurping sound making me wince. “What about you? Are you dating anyone?”
“I don’t have time for that,” I say, but heat spreads through my cheeks.
Her eyes widen. “There is someone.” She claps her hands. “Let me live through you vicariously. Please. Pretty please,” she sing-songs and bats her lashes.
I laugh. “Nothing to tell. It’s not serious. In fact, it’s already over. Listen, Tee, I will become a partner soon, and then you will move in with me.”
She smiles, already skeptical about the option. Already resigned to the destiny written by our father’s needs.
“It would be nice,” she says, but I sense she doesn’t believe the possibility. “I’m trying to talk Papa into letting me spend a weekend with you. I need to lose my virginity.”
I almost spit my drink. “What the hell, Tee? First, there is no way Father will let you stay for the weekend. Second, you don’t just… How would that even work?”
She shrugs. “We would go out. You’ll be my wing-woman, and I’ll find myself a willing participant.”
I sigh, wanting to protest, but I know that at the moment, this might seem the only way for her. “Your first time should be special.”
“Special is for normal girls with normal families who spend March breaks in Florida. I need to plan something as quickly as possible.”
“What’s the rush?”
She stirs the drink with her straw, biting her bottom lip. “You’re right,” she blurts.
Her gaze leaves me, and she waves her hand and smiles. It looks genuine, but she was going to share something and changed her mind.
I follow her gaze and see Nico at the door of the coffee shop, with two men behind him.
The visit is over. I stifle a groan.
With his typical swagger, our brother saunters through the room, all eyes on him. Men with hatred. Women swooning.
That’s how he affects every space he enters.
That’s how it has always been. Nico is the second oldest, and probably the most troubled of all my brothers.
“The car is waiting.” He gestures with his head for Tee to get ready.
“So soon. Come on, Nico, let me stay longer.” She pouts.
“I need to head back.”
We both stand, knowing there is no point in arguing.
She wraps her arms around me. “I will come soon, I promise.”
“I love you.” I squeeze her a little tighter.
She blinks away tears and turns to Nico. “I hate you.” She storms out.
“Good to see you.” My brother nods.
I snort. “Is it?”
He shrugs. “I’m sure we will be seeing more of you soon.”
“Don’t be so sure.” I fold my arms across my chest, leaning against the table because the room spins slightly. Have I forgotten to eat again?
“The clock is ticking, sis.”
Despite my being light-headed, I straighten. “I still have time. And believe me, I’ll use it well.”
Nico nods. “I don’t doubt that. You’re the only one who ever played the game better than Dad.”
The corners of my mouth curve up. Nico is the least mercurial of the men in my family. Fighting many demons, he covers his traumas with a smile, dazzling the people around him.
Handsome, playful, and dangerous.
His praise settles heavy in my chest. Nico’s approval shouldn’t matter this much, and yet it does.
I’ve spent my life proving I can play the game without becoming like them. Hearing that I might be better than Dad feels like winning and losing at the same time.
“Did she tell you?” he asks.
“Tell me what?” I frown. Do they know she’s been sneaking out to a party?
“Dad is marrying her off.”
“Bullshit. She didn’t say anything.” I look out, glimpsing Tee entering the car. She said nothing, and she didn’t look… The urgency to lose her virginity. Fuck.
“She wouldn’t, would she? You two keep protecting each other from everything. Including the truth.” He shrugs, and winks at the woman at the table beside us.
I roll my eyes and consider warning her off him, but I know she would just turn that against me.
“But Father promised.” My heart hammers in my chest.
I’m so close to saving her. I can’t fail. Part of my deal with him was that he would leave Tee alone.
Nico pulls out his card. It’s not really a business card. It’s more of a calling card. My brother has a phone number he uses for women only.
He flips the luxurious card between his fingers. “This might be one of the few times he breaks the promise.”
He takes the hand of the woman beside us and kisses her knuckles. I swear, she almost faints. Giving her the card, he turns back to me.
“You’re incorrigible.”
I don’t understand it, but I know the woman will call him. And will end up crying her eyes out once he’s done with her.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Dad’s plans?”.
Nico shrugs. “You haven’t been answering your phone.”
Shit. The one time they were not calling to exert their authority and control me. If I knew, I would have… what?
Talked to my father? I might have won one round with him, but my influence doesn’t reach that far.
“She will be eighteen soon, and then she can live with me.”
Nico will not tell our father about my plans. And even if he did, Father would laugh, dismissing it.
“He might believe you’d pull it off, and that’s why he’s rushing. To have her engaged and probably wed before her birthday. He needs a legitimate alliance, Roxy.”
I lower my head, shaking it. I’m so close, and I might still fail. If I pulled her out of there now, he wouldn’t hesitate to report me. She isn’t going anywhere until she’s eighteen.
“Look, if you were home, it would be you,” Nico suggests.
“Are you saying I should be relieved he’s pawning her off?” I let out a disbelieving laugh.
Nico looks at me, unimpressed. “I’m saying, maybe it’s time to return. For Tee. You can handle a husband, but she is too young.”
How fucked up it is that my brother guilts me into returning because he is worried about our younger sister? He accepted there would be a sacrifice—because there is no other word to call it.
He wants me to step in and save Tee.
And he might be right. That might be the only option.
“And you better decide fast, because he will try to pawn her off to people who are way worse than his current contender. The older he gets, the more unhinged he is.”
A shudder ripples through me at the idea of my innocent sister being sold. Nico is right. I’m better prepared to handle it.
“What’s the alliance?”
“It’s not that bad at the moment. He craves legitimate business expansion. If he gets it, it would please and occupy him enough to buy us time to get Tee out of his grasp.”
I want to hug Nico for understanding. For trying to save our sister. It’s nice not to be alone fighting against our father.
I wish he’d offer a solution that doesn’t involve a sacrifice to appease Father. That he would help us escape the grim future. Can I ask him for help?
“Who did he pick this time?”
“He’s still after a ticket into high society.”
“Who?” I urge.
“Liam Stone.”