9. Over My Dead Body
Over My Dead Body
CARTER
“Carter, I’d like a word with you.” Brad Devereux, Sara’s father, called from the doorway.
“Of course.” I reluctantly followed Brad into his office and took a seat in the leather chair across from his desk, realizing it was an ambush. Richard Sinclair and Samuel Mortarulo were seated on the leather couch off to the side, smoking cigars and sipping amber drinks.
I’d sat in here many times before, and while I was wildly grateful to the Devereux family for keeping an eye on me after my parents had died, I wasn’t that uncertain teenager anymore, hadn’t been for a long while now.
I knew Brad meant well, but I didn’t come back for these pressure-filled conversations. If anything, I’d come back for personal reasons, and the smell of Sara’s spiced apple cobbler wafting through the house was certainly one of them.
Brad lit up a cigar before motioning to the box, offering me one, but I shook my head and settled into the plush leather chair with my old-fashioned still in hand.
“Have you considered The Society’s offer?” He asked, and I realized we were getting straight to it today.
Of course, I had seen the stack of letters that had somehow mysteriously appeared on my kitchen counter when I’d come home. How or who had left them there, I wasn’t entirely sure because the security cameras didn’t log anyone entering or exiting. Violating didn’t even begin to cover it.
“I’m still thinking it over.” I lied, watching him and the other men carefully.
Even now, I could sense Brad was in deep, just like my father had been, and it made me uneasy.
At this point, he was just another voice badgering me to come back to Briar Rose, and it wasn’t much better than any of my father’s friends, haranguing me to do the same.
He nodded. “I understand you’re going through a phase right now, Carter, but I can assure you, your father would have wanted you to follow in his footsteps, especially in joining the organization.”
I cringed at the comparison. I loved my father, I truly did, but I wasn’t all that confident I was anything like him. In fact, I really hoped I wasn’t. “Well, he’s not here anymore, so unfortunately he doesn’t get a say.” I said, cramming all my emotions back down as politely as I could.
Brad sat forward, and the tension in the room increased as something frustrated, or maybe even panicked, flashed across his expression.
“Carter, I’ve hesitated to say this until now, but there are agreements that were made long before you took over the estate.
Do you understand?” That was a new piece of information.
“What agreements?” I asked warily.
Brad’s gaze shifted to Samuel, almost as if he were looking for permission. “Your father was right in the middle of some very important work with the organization, and we’ve all been very patient over the years, waiting for you to continue what he started.”
“Brad, I have a career.” I countered skeptically, “Aside from maintaining the estate itself, I’m not interested in settling down in Briar Rose. I’m sorry, it’s just not in the cards for me anymore. ”
“I’ve already spoken with The Society Director and they’ve agreed to make an exception. They will allow you to join, even if you’re only here part time.” Desperation saturated his request under the unyielding timber of his tone.
“You’re not hearing me.”
Brad put his hand up. “If you’re going to refuse, then I would implore you to turn the estate over to me, so that I can uphold the agreements your father made.
” Was he serious? There was no way in hell that was happening.
“There are requirements that must be met to uphold your family name. Your membership is long overdue, and The Society is growing restless. They’ve been very patient over the years, letting you run rampant, and I fear that patience is running thin. ”
I was stunned, actually couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth.
“You know I’m not going to do that.” I scoffed as he indifferently puffed his cigar again.
“Brad, why don’t we just cut the bullshit because I’m honestly pretty sick of this cloak and dagger nonsense with the three of you.
Maybe if you tell me about these agreements you’re referring to, we can figure something out, but frankly, I’ve had just about enough of this . ”
“Son, the details are completely irrelevant, and whether you like it or not, you’re a cornerstone of the Briar Rose community, so you will uphold this longstanding tradition.”
I shook my head, growing more frustrated by the minute. One of the few people who’d stood by my side in all this was suddenly turning on me, and in that moment, I realized he’d never been on my side to begin with.
“If you were to join, I would consider giving you my blessing.” Brad stared at me for a long time until realization slowly washed over me.
“I only want the very best for my little girl, and I already have several offers.” He added, shooting a glance in Richard’s direction.
“After she completes her master’s degree, of course. ”
“Offers?” I puzzled, desperately hoping he didn’t mean what I thought he did.
“For her hand.”
I laughed humorlessly. “Brad, you can’t possibly be serious.
” Another indifferent puff of his cigar.
“You can’t force her into an arranged marriage—that’s—that’s absurd.
” I honestly wasn’t entirely sure if Richard was offering himself or negotiating for someone else.
Someone younger, hopefully. What was I even thinking?
Fuck no , none of this was happening at all. Over my dead body.
“Like I said, it’s a longstanding tradition.” Brad murmured as I gaped at him. “I could be persuaded to shift my approval in another direction. If you were to concede, that is.”
“What the hell does Sara think of this?” I demanded.
“She’ll do as she’s told.”
“And what about Charlotte? What does she think?” Surely Sara’s mother was against this.
“How do you think Charlotte and I met?”
What? I shook my head in disbelief. This had to be some sort of strange fever dream. “She won’t do it.” I practically growled, knowing Sarafina was incredibly stubborn, not to mention she absolutely hated being told what to do.
Brad sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I know my daughter, and despite what you may think, I do know what’s important to her.”
“Oh, and what’s that?” I scoffed incredulously.
“Stability.” He murmured, and I hated knowing he was right, at least about that. “She’ll never have that with you. Not unless you return to Briar Rose and uphold the commitments you’ve so ignorantly left fraying.” He snapped, practically trembling with frustration.
Stunned would have been an understatement.
Just then, Sara’s mother came into the office, gaze sweeping over Richard and Samuel before she gave her husband a pointed look. “Come on, you three, this is a day for fun.” Charlotte looked at me warily. “Carter, can you help me with something in the kitchen? ”
I was being rescued, thank God. “Of course.” I nodded to Brad, not bothering to acknowledge the other two. “Thanks for the chat .”
What the actual hell was I supposed to do with all this information? There was no way in hell I was going to stand by while Sara was bartered off like a mail-order bride.
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
“It looked like you needed saving.” Charlotte said, looping her arm through mine as we headed down the long corridor, our footsteps echoing as we headed away from Brad’s office towards the main living areas.
“It’s alright, I know he means well.” I assured her, even though I was quickly coming to the realization that wasn’t even remotely true.
Charlotte stopped and faced me, reaching up to cup my face while her voice lowered. “I know he likes to talk about all that Society nonsense with you, but I want you to know your parents would be proud of you, no matter what.” She smiled, emphasizing, “ I’m proud of you, Carter.”
She patted my chest in a motherly way that made me ache for my own mother, even if I was a grown man who flew fucking fast planes and beat people to a bloody pulp, professionally— if they were lucky.
“I admire you, actually, for knowing what you want, and being able to go after it. It’s an honorable quality.
” She smiled while I blinked rapidly and cleared my throat, any response getting stuck there.
We continued down the corridor, her voice turning pragmatic. “As a reminder, Liam and Sara aren’t aware of The Society and I’d appreciate it if we could keep it that way.”
I hesitated. “Charlotte, what exactly do you know about the organization?”
She hummed, “You know, Carter, that is an excellent question, and I wish your father were around to tell you more, but if he were, you probably wouldn’t even be dealing with all this.
” She was quiet for a moment. “If you really want to know, you ought to respond to their requests to meet with you—it might be worth finally sorting all this out for yourself.”
“Are you in The Society?” I quietly asked, knowing if there was anyone in Briar Rose I could trust. It was her.
She chuckled softly. “Membership is strictly confidential.”
“Oh.” Maybe she didn’t trust me .
“But no, Carter, from what I gather from Brad, they only extend invitations to the head of each household.”
“So the men.” I swallowed hard, unease washing over me as I strung everything together.
“You’re quick.” She chuckled with a glint in her eye as she shook her head at the truth of my realization.
“Charlotte,” I treaded very carefully. “He mentioned some arrangements after Sara’s college graduation.”
“He said that?” She immediately stopped walking and studied me for a moment, her eyes swirling with alarm.
I cleared my throat, uncertain if I should even bring it up. “He also mentioned that’s how the two of you met.”
She looked surprised, if not a little anxious. “About that.” It was almost a plea. “The kids don’t know.”
“I won’t say anything.” I quickly promised, feeling my heart split in half—after everything she’d done for me, and all this time, I’d had no idea. “It’s not my place, but, Charlotte, if any of you ever need anything. ”
She huffed a laugh. “You’re a sweet boy, Carter, you always have been, but I try to keep the things that aren’t in my control out of my worries.
” She smiled up at me, taking on a motherly tone that told me we were done discussing it.
“But that’s enough of all that. With regard to Sara, don’t worry.
I’ll talk to Brad and set things straight. ”
Then she muttered more to herself. “He’d never get her down the aisle anyway.
What was he thinking, negotiating her future like that?
Just ridiculous.” I grimaced in agreement as her tone shifted.
“I’m just glad you’re doing well and that you can finally join us for the holidays again.
We all are.” Her tone turned curious. “Especially Liam, and Sara, of course.” She looked up at me, searching my eyes, and I did my best to keep my expression blank.
“It’s good to be home.” I agreed quickly, looking away after an inconspicuous amount of time had passed.
She chuckled and patted my arm affectionately.
“Just remember, all good things take time. Be patient, and most of all, Carter, be persistent. ” She stopped before we hit the dining room and looked me dead in the eyes.
“If you haven’t figured it out already, you have more leeway than you realize, and I think now might be the perfect time to start using it.
Time is a fickle thing, don’t let too much of it pass or you might regret it. ”
I opened my mouth to ask what exactly she meant by that because if she meant what I thought she did—but River started crying, a tiny little howl amidst the clatter of small, arguing voices at the end of the wide hallway.
“Oh dear, I wonder what that’s all about.” Charlotte quickly headed towards the sound of tiny, upset voices chiming like the mother hen she was. “Now, now, who did what?”
I stepped into an alcove and, for a long moment, I just stood in the dimly lit hallway and let the silent tears fall.
Charlotte wasn’t my mother, but she was certainly the next best thing, and she was proud of me.
Who I was. Who I’d become. I know she didn’t know all the dirty little details of my life and my violent career, but part of me knew even if she did, she still wouldn’t judge me.
I liked to think my own mother would feel the same.
But it didn’t take long before Brad’s words were replaying in my head like a broken record. She’ll do as she’s told . Like hell she would.
I thumbed the damp from under my eyes and threw one long gaze over my shoulder towards Brad’s office, realizing in that moment that he wasn’t any different from any of my father’s associates. He was ignorant, and selfish, and possibly incredibly dangerous.
He wanted something from me, needed it so desperately he was willing to use his own daughter as a bargaining chip, and the realization chilled me to the bone.
Sara wasn’t a bargaining chip though, she was the dealer, controlling the entire game, and maybe—it was time I dealt myself in.