Chapter Nine #3
Finally, she takes an uncertain step back. “The alliance between the two of you, it’s not just about business, is it?”
“Ask the goddamn question.”
London clenches her hands into fists. “It’s personal. Your father brokered some kind of deal in exchange for her family’s help.”
“Yes.”
London inhales sharply. “How personal is it?”
“Do you really want to know?”
She gives me a small nod.
“We’re pretending to be engaged. Thatcher has been trying to ally himself with one of the powerful families for years, and we need the numbers and resources.”
London presses her lips into a thin, white line.
I move closer and wait for her to look at me. “You know there’s nothing between us. You know there’s no one else.”
London’s face gives nothing away. “Do I? I only know what you tell me.”
I frown. “Do you have any idea what I’ve risked for you? And keeping you here when my father is a breath away, waiting for me to fuck up…”
“If I’m such a liability, why are you keeping me around?”
I bark out a laugh. “Goddamn feelings. My father was right about them being a hassle.”
London stares at me in disbelief.
“Elise Thayer and I are not involved in any way that counts,” I say slowly. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement championed by our families.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Silence stretches between us.
London runs a hand through her hair. “What did you think I was going to do? Did you think I would cause a scene or go to the press or something?”
“No.”
“Bullshit. You were worried about my reaction. You’re the one who insisted we be honest with each other and not keep secrets.”
“You knew who you were getting involved with.”
London points a finger at me. “Don’t you fucking do that. Don’t act like this is my fault when you’re the one who doesn’t know how to be in a relationship. So, there are parts of your job that I won’t like and things you have to do. I can wrap my head around that.”
“Including the fact that I have to drape myself over another woman in public?”
London winces. “I’m not crazy about it, but I know there’s a lot about this—your—world that I don’t know. What I don’t appreciate is being lied to.”
“I didn’t lie to you.”
London purses her lips. “You kept it from me, and that’s just as bad.”
“If you’re looking for full transparency, this won’t work,” I tell her evenly.
“Even if you think you can handle it, you can’t.
I’m not patronizing you; it is a fact. Do not expect me to find you at night and share every detail of how my day went.
I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it was necessary.
You have enough on your plate, and I didn’t want to upset you. ”
My headache is pounding now, making me more impatient than usual.
I know I’m supposed to ease her into things, but I don’t have time to when we’re in the middle of a goddamn war.
“I don’t expect you to tell me everything,” London whispers. “But at least the things that matter. You should’ve told me.”
“She doesn’t matter.”
Why can’t I make London see that?
The cameras, the pictures, the whole charade…none of it means anything.
“Elise Thayer is a means to an end,” I add, after a lengthy pause. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“I need some space.” She turns away from me. “I think we should sleep in separate rooms tonight.”
Her words feel like a dagger through the heart, and I’m tempted to ignore them.
But I know it won’t do me any good.
I’m wading in unfamiliar waters, and the last thing I want to do is to sink because I don’t know how to be in a relationship.
For now, we’ll do things London’s way.
I draw myself up to my full height. “Don’t try and sneak downstairs again, or I’ll punish you myself.”
Without waiting for a response, I storm downstairs.
At the foot of the stairs, I spot Elise, who has a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
My fingers move to the first few buttons of my shirt, and I make quick work of them.
Then, I snatch the drink out of her hand and watch Elise through a thin plume of smoke.
“Trouble in paradise?”
“Don’t,” I warn between sips. “You and I are not friends.”
This arrangement has caused enough trouble for one night.
The last thing I need is for London to catch us whispering.
Elise drags in another breath and blows it out. “We could be, you know. I see no reason why our arrangement can’t be beneficial on all levels.”
I level Elise with a blank look. “Did my father put you up to this?”
Elise takes the drink from my hand and downs it. “Nobody puts me up to anything.”
“Mind your own damn business then,” I snap back.
A short while later, Elise disappears, and I stalk off toward the basement. Mathew’s voice drifts upstairs, and I hear him mention my name and London’s. Then it goes quiet, and I head downstairs, pausing at the bottom to roll up my sleeves.
A dark-haired man is tied to a chair in the center of the basement, a single light bulb dangling over his head.
Blood is caked to the sides of his face and his nose, and he’s breathing heavily.
As I step closer, the prisoner watches me through his swollen eye.
I yank him back by his hair and wait until he’s done hissing and looks at me.
“I can make this quick,” I tell him, “or we can keep doing this. Your choice.”
He says nothing.
A heartbeat later, he doubles over when I punch him in the side. I see Thayer in the background, his nose wrinkled in disgust. My father is standing next to him, his knuckles bloodied and bruised.
I recognize the murderous glint in my father’s eyes.
It’s going to be a long night, but the man brought it on himself.
He knew we’d retaliate.
Hours later, my blood is still pumping when I go upstairs and step into the guest bathroom.
After running my fingers under warm water, I turn the past few hours over in my mind.
In the kitchen, I retrieve an ice pack and press it against my hand.
On my way upstairs, I hear a few hushed whispers coming from my study.
Frowning, I move in that direction, and Olivia steps out with Carlisle on her heels.
I melt into the shadows and watch them gesture furiously.
Carlisle looks up and spots me, and some of the color drains from his face. Olivia wheels around and scowls. I stride toward them and give Carlisle a meaningful look that has him hurrying off. Once he’s out of earshot, I turn back to Olivia and ignore the knots in my stomach.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Don’t you have anything better to do than spy on me?”
“Livvy—”
“Don’t.” She holds up a hand. “I know what you’re going to say. I’m not stupid. I’m being careful.”
I blow out a breath. “That’s what you said last time.”
There’s too much shit going on for me to add worrying about Olivia to my list.
Having her here is supposed to make things easier.
Fucking hell.
When did Olivia start keeping secrets from me?
Probably around the time you started hiring a team to take shifts, keeping an eye on her in Paris.
“I’m here,” Olivia says. “That should be enough.”
“Be careful around Carlisle.”
Olivia raises an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you be keeping an eye on London? Don’t look so surprised that I know about her. You know how Mathew likes to run his mouth, especially if it involves one of your screw-ups.”
I huff and say nothing.
Olivia takes a step in my direction and lowers her voice. “You know that Dad is waiting for the slightest whiff of trouble to get rid of her?”
“I don’t need you to fucking remind me of what’s at stake,” I snap back.
A few moments later, after retrieving a bottle from my study, I storm upstairs. The door to my room creaks open. London is on her back, hair splayed behind her, and her fingers linked together. Her chest rises and falls evenly, and she doesn’t stir when I slowly let the door click shut behind me.
I reach for the dresser chair and brace it against the door.
Then, I use my teeth to pry open the bottle and take a long swig.
London stirs.
I watch her through hooded eyes as she flips onto her side and curls against the pillow. Then, she releases a deep breath and goes still again.
I know I’m supposed to give her space, but I can’t leave her defenseless.
All it’ll take is one look at us coming out of different bedrooms for my father to sink his hooks into her.
I’m not going to let him touch her, even if it means spending the night in an uncomfortable chair watching over her as she fumes at me in her sleep.
I can handle her being upset and confused and even pissed.
But I can’t handle the thought of anyone harming her.
Halfway through the drink, I stand up and walk over to the bed.
After retrieving a pillow, I prop it up against the dresser and slide against it. A few sips later, I’m cursing my father’s name and wondering if this was his plan all along.
He wouldn’t have risked a shooting to expose the arrangement to London, but somewhere in his warped mind, he thinks Elise is a better fit.
What if the alliance is a ruse meant to push us together?
What if he’s trying to dangle Elise as a better prospect?
She comes from the same world, so it makes sense.
I frown at London’s sleeping form and try to picture Elise instead.
I know that being with someone level-headed and experienced like Elise is better in the long run, but that doesn’t change how I feel about London.
I’ve already risked everything for her once, and I don’t regret it.
As my eyelids grow heavy and I fight sleep, my thoughts drift to my father, and the lengths he’s willing to go to secure his empire.
I wonder how long it will be before he throws me to the wolves.