Chapter Six
Irvin
The next morning, I stop by my father’s home before my noon classes start. He informed me that he wanted to speak to me about something important concerning Lilac. I find him in his study, leaning back in his mahogany chair, sipping from a crystal glass, which I assume is filled with bourbon.
“Sit, son.”
He sets the crystal on his marble-top desk and pours me a glass, sliding it to me, but I leave it be. This isn’t father-son bonding time, and whatever it is, he needs to spit it out.
“What do you need, Father?” My tone is sharp as knives.
He edges forward, pressing his elbows on the desk. “What’s Lilac’s real name?”
I cock an eyebrow, stroking the back of my neck. “Lilac Lauren.”
He clasps his fingers together, an unsure expression on his face.
“Are you sure? When I put her name in the database, there’s very little to no information on her. I suspect the transcript she submitted to the school is fake. It’s like she’s wiped from the system.”
There isn’t a person we can’t find. Something is off. I don’t think he looked because he doesn’t want me marrying her.
My gaze lingers on the flames dancing in the built-in fireplace. “I don’t believe you.”
He hands me a manila folder, then eases back into the chair.
“See for yourself.”
Slowly, I open the file. A picture of Lilac when she first started at North Haven University stares back at me. Her lavender hair was short at the time, and her gray pupils are dull. My eyes roam over her social security number and date of birth.
“I couldn’t find a birth certificate.”
There has to be information on her somewhere. He’s not looking in the right direction, surely.
I hand the folder back to him.
“Maybe she was born out of the country?”
“I checked. I even had Kyle look into it, and he said he couldn’t find anything,” he states.
Kyle is Jameson’s father. He works in the IT department, but he’s also part owner of the club, like my father.
They’re good friends. Since he found out his wife was fucking me, he hasn’t spoken to me.
And Jameson? Our relationship isn’t rocky, which is strange.
He didn’t seem upset about it, to be honest.
Shaking my head, I lean into the chair, stroking my goatee.
I know she’s hiding something because when I ask her questions about her past, she instantly switches the conversation and starts making up shit.
I’ll find out what my pretty princess is hiding.
I close the folder and toss it in the trash.
Something is definitely off. We usually can find information on anyone—even if they use a fake name. But for some reason, my father couldn’t do it.
However, I’ve been obsessed with her from the minute I laid eyes on her last semester.
Her innocence draws me in, and she’s a good girl that I want to corrupt. I love her charming personality, the way her eyes light up over the simplest shit, and how she’s so down-to-earth. She needs my control and protection, that is the only way I can keep her safe from herself and others.
“I found someone else for you to marry. Her name is Tanya. She—”
I ball my fists, keeping them glued to my lap.
“No. I’m still going to marry Lilac.”
“You can’t do that,” my father snarls.
I spring to my feet. My heart pounds. “I will. It doesn’t matter who she is to me.”
My father’s nostrils flare.
“I forbid it. You’ll marry whoever I tell you to marry.”
I laugh bitterly, straightening my blood-red tie. “You’re really going to stop me from doing what I want?” I dig my nails into my palms. “I will beat the living shit out of you if you stand between me and Lilac. I mean it. I want her.”
He stomps to me and yanks me by the collar. I glare up at my father.
“You would go against your own father for her?” His tone is sharp as a razor.
I would burn this city down if anyone gets in between me and Lilac.
“Yes.”
He lets me go, steps back, and thrusts his fingers through his hair.
“I’m not sticking my neck out for you. This is our legacy, and you not knowing where she comes from can corrupt it.”
“I’ve made up my mind.”
“The board members don’t tolerate disobedience, so you’re on your own. The trials aren’t worth it. They’re there to break you in Tartarus. Make you go insane.”
Tartarus is our prison, where they torture those who don’t follow the rules. Eventually, you either go insane begging for death, or you will die there.
I slide my fingers into my pants pockets.
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take. She’ll be worth it.”
My dad is pissed off about me going against the board members and their stupid-ass traditions, but I don’t care.
He sent me countless messages today, threatening to disown me—but he won’t.
He called me stupid for trusting Lilac, which might be true, but again, I don’t care.
He worked my nerves so badly that I ended up blocking him.
After class, I park outside her condo. I take my helmet off and grab the one I bought her earlier. She’s going to be married to a biker, she needs her own helmet.
I punch in the code at the panel door and step inside, inhaling the fresh lavender scent. All the lights are off, so I slither into her room. I lean in the arch of the doorway, watching her sprawled on her queen-sized bed, nose deep in a book.
She’s adorable, her tongue sticking out as she turns the page. Her metallic eyes latch onto mine. She freezes. Blinks rapidly. Screams. Pillow flies at me.
“Geez, Irvin, you scared me. Why are you standing there like a creep?”
She lies back down.
“I revoked your rights from entering my home the last time I saw you,” she declares.
She sets the book on the nightstand. Her black tank top squeezes her torso, and her silk pajama shorts ride up her ass.
She revoked my access, but that didn’t stop me. She needs to learn she belongs to me.
She sits on the edge of the bed, twirling her hair. “Seriously, what if I had company?”
I sit, my gaze studying the curve of her long legs, and my pulse accelerates.
“I would make them leave.”
She pouts, tilting her head.
“What if I had a man over and I was getting dicked down?” She smirks.
I’d slit his throat, but I don’t say it. I saw the look on her face when I told her I killed the guy responsible for my mother’s death.
I stroke my knuckles across her face.
“Get dressed. We’re going for a ride.”
She grimaces and rolls her eyes. “I need to finish this good book.”
I glance at it. “Not for class, is it?”
She shakes her head. “No, but I don’t want to go out.”
“I’m not asking again,” I threaten.
“What crawled up your ass?”
“Nothing, but if you don’t get dressed, I’m going to crawl up yours.” I smile. “Or more like my dick will.”
She bites her lip, shakes her head, and strides to the bathroom. She comes out in leggings and a sweater with the school logo.
She’s fucking hot.
I want answers about her past. When we went skating, she was tight-lipped—but I have to earn her trust first. I should be worried about what she’s hiding, but I’m not. Everyone’s got skeletons.
Outside, I hand her the helmet I bought, put on my own, and hop on. She gently perches behind me.
Her tits brush my back. She slides icy fingers under my jacket, squeezing me tight.
I intertwine my fingers with hers, squeeze, and let go.
I want to fuck her, but I have questions—and we can fuck after the wedding. We have our whole lives for me to be buried between her legs.
Skyscrapers and decayed buildings blur past us. The city is alive and vibrant despite its harsh weather. I ease into the parking lot of the infamous cliff overlooking the glassy black sea. The wind bites into my bones.
She hops off the bike, peels off her helmet, and sets it on the leather seat.
“It’s cold as shit. Why are we here, Irvin?”
I pull out my vape pen, inhale deeply, and exhale into the frosty air. The air smells of earth, dark and rich.
My gaze lingers on Lilac. Her stormy eyes brighten the gloomy sky. I stroke her thick, silky hair, and with her chest pressed to me, the world narrows to just her and me.
“I missed you earlier. I wanted to take you out on a date again.”
She snorts, then pulls away. “You and your dates.” She rolls her eyes, snatching the vape and inhaling. “Dates I didn’t ask for.”
She sits at the worn picnic table, knees pulled to her chest, staring at the pale moon over the waves. The wind blows her bangs.
“Ever feel like your life is like the wind?”
I sit beside her, bringing her between my legs. She rests her head on my chest, and I press my lips to her forehead. She sighs.
“What do you mean, princess?”
She shakes her head, nibbling her bottom lip. “Never mind. What I’m thinking is stupid.”
I slide her hair aside, cupping her chilled face. “Nothing you think is stupid.”
Her gaze drops to the white sand, then back at me. She hands me back the vape and bites her lip. “Like you don’t know where your life will take you.”
I wish she would open up.
“Yeah, I do,” I say honestly.
“I feel like all my life I’ve been running. Running from something.”
“From what?”
She freezes. “It’s nothing important. What are your plans after graduation? You don’t have a wife—will you be taking over the American Billionaire Club still?”
She doesn’t want to talk about herself, so I let it go.
I squeeze her hand. “My wife has already been chosen. I’m getting hitched in two weeks.”
Tears shine in her eyes. Shoulders slump. “I—I had no idea you were getting married so soon.”
Why would she be upset if she thought I was marrying someone else? She made it clear she doesn’t want anything to do with me because of the stupid arranged marriage.
I tilt her chin so our gazes meet. Her eyes are thundercloud gray—so pretty.
“Are you upset I’m getting hitched to someone else?”
She clears her throat. “What? No. Of course not.” She strokes her temples. “So, who is she?”
“I haven’t met her yet.”
She straightens. “That must suck, not having choices with the secret club.”
I twirl a lock of her hair.
“My life’s always played out like that. I get married, inherit the club, and that’s it.”
“You don’t have dreams beyond that?”
The only thing I dream about is making her my wife and loading her up with babies after graduation. She’ll be mine forever.
“No. No reason to think about it,” I lie.
She snatches the vape again, inhales deeply, and coughs.
“Easy, princess.” I smile.
She giggles.
In that moment, she looks more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen. I cup her face, stroke her lips, and slam my mouth onto hers. Her lips are soft, cold. I slide my fingers into her hair.
Her head jerks back, eyes narrow.
“What are you doing? We shouldn’t—you’re engaged to someone else,” she lashes out.
I don’t care about the lies I told her. I slam my mouth against hers again. This time she doesn’t stop me.
She kisses me back, claws at my sweater, sliding her hands across my torso.
I pick her up, lay her on the bike, and remove her pants. I lick her folds and clit until she dry humps my face and comes all over me.
Her breathing is shallow, eyes glossed over. “Can you take me home? I’m not feeling well.”
Why has her behavior changed?
Back in her apartment, she removes her clothes, changes into pajamas, and slides into bed.
I take off my jacket, place it on the chair, then slide in beside her, pulling her close.
She rests her head on my chest.
“When will you meet your new fiancée?”
I stroke her hair. “I have paperwork to carry out first, then the ceremony.”
Tears gather in her eyes. She covers her face.
I remove her hands. “Tell me what’s wrong, princess.”
“I don’t know. Maybe the weed.” She closes her eyes, then opens them and kisses my nose. “It’s too bad you’re marrying someone else so soon. I was hoping I could have you longer.”
Yep, that’s the weed. She hit the vape a lot.
“Princess…”
Her eyes droop, dilated. “I thought you’d turn out like someone else I know. Which scares me.”
She zones out, staring into space.
I grip her chin, stroke her cheek. “Who?”
She freezes, and my chest hammers. I draw her to me, brush my lips over her temple, and feel her melt into my arms.
“My ex,” she mumbles, drifting to sleep. Seconds later, she snores.
What went on with her ex? If he harmed her, I’ll hunt him down like an animal. No one touches what’s mine and gets away with it.
My phone dings.
Harrison: Thank you for your donation. What you requested has been completed.
Me: You’re welcome.
I tuck my phone in my pocket and exhale into the quiet room. Stroking Lilac’s forearm, I brush my mouth against her forehead.
Lilac will be mine sooner than expected.