Chapter 28 #2
My father glares at me, the vein on his temple ready to pop. His jaw is so tight, he must be swallowing his enamel by now.
Ignoring me, he turns to Liam. “Do you know each other?”
“Of course,” Liam responds, sharp. Final. “We’ve been dating for a few months.”
My father’s fist descends on the table, the cutlery rattling. “Why did I not know this?” he roars at my brothers.
All of them stare at their plates.
“You know now, Victor, and I hope we have your blessing,” Liam says nonchalantly. “You can discuss the details with my father, but if you don’t mind, we will take our leave. Roxy has an important meeting tomorrow morning.”
I widen my eyes.
“An important meeting?” Father scoffs.
“You didn’t tell them, sweetheart?” Liam kisses my hand again. Since when did he become such a comedian? I don’t know anymore whether to thank him or be mad at him. “Roxy is being named as the fourth Merged partner tomorrow.”
Now all eyes snap to me. My heart beats in my chest like a spooked horse. The pride in Liam’s voice, the scoff on my father’s face, the surprise on Rowan’s, the excitement in Tee’s eyes… it all brings heat to my cheeks.
“Good for you, sis,” Nico speaks first.
My father barks out a laugh. “Just because I gave you a longer leash… You can’t do that. That’s preposterous.”
I sag in my chair. Not deflated, not disappointed. I decided a long time ago that I don’t need my father’s approval.
But until this moment, I was hoping for it. Hating the stupid hope, but unable to shake it.
Today, for the first time, I take pride in my achievement, and his reaction doesn’t taint it. Maybe it’s the quiet support Liam is giving me. Has been giving me.
“Better watch how you speak to my wife,” Liam growls, and I almost choke on my saliva.
My heartbeat takes a tumble. I’m used to standing up for myself. Someone else doing it should appal me. It doesn’t. It doesn’t feel like an intrusion. Like an attack on my autonomy.
It makes me grateful, and if I’m honest, a bit aroused. The growl and the sentiment behind it are a macho routine, but fuck if I don’t love it. Jesus.
“Watch your tone, boy,” my father snaps. “She’s not your wife yet.”
“I’m sitting right here.” I snatch my napkin from my lap and throw it onto the table.
“I thought the arrangement between the Stones and the Locks was important to you, Victor,” Liam says. Picking up my fork, he spears a roasted potato and pops it into his mouth. “Oh, and where are my manners? Happy Birthday, Victor.”
He pushes an envelope across the table. My father glares at it, but his curiosity wins, and he palms it.
Whatever he finds in there brings a smile to his lips. “Well, let us toast the happy news. Finally, we have a wedding to plan.”
Everyone raises their glasses in an awkward toast. Liam snatches mine before I take a sip and drains it.
“I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. We’ll see you soon. Oh, and perhaps as an engagement gift, you can let Tawny visit us for the weekend in New York next week.”
It’s not a request; it’s a statement. And something in that envelope must have pleased my father enough that he nods.
Okay, I might be upset about Liam’s meddling here, but he might have redeemed himself a bit with this thoughtful request.
And if I’m frank, the whole charade worked well because, at least for now, Tee is safe.
Liam stands and pulls back my chair. “Shall we?”
I really don’t know whether I’m mad or grateful. Or a mixture of both.
I give Tee a hug and follow Liam out of there.
“What the hell? That wasn’t an hour,” I argue as soon as the door closes behind us.
Okay, not the most pressing point. I should really be more upset about him doing all of this behind my back.
The result, however, works, so maybe I can accept his way of arriving at it. Argh. The man is infuriating.
“It felt much longer.” The worry in his eyes disarms me.
“So you thought you would barge in and blindside me with a marriage announcement? How dare you?”
“I was planning to give him the birthday gift only, but then the server was slipping out, and I overheard his plans for Tawny, and I thought more was needed.”
I glare at him. As much as I hate to admit that more was needed, and he offered just the right amount to get me some time to figure out how to get my sister out of my father’s hold.
“What did you give him?” I ask.
“An invitation to join a prestigious business club.”
I snort. “How did you get them to invite my father?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He kisses my forehead.
“Jesus.” I lean into him for a moment before I press further. “I thought we put the marriage talk on hold?”
“I clearly remember you proposing.” He shrugs.
“And then regretting it.”
“You must agree that it still makes sense.”
“You still want your revenge.”
His jaw tightens. “If you really think that is my reason, you haven’t been paying attention this past week.”
He laces his fingers through mine and leads me out of the restaurant. I stare at our connected hands. It doesn’t feel like surrender letting him lead. And I feel my grip on myself loosen. I breathe through it.
Liam hands his ticket to the valet.
“Okay, Thunder, I still want to know what your father has on mine.” He squeezes my hand. “For whatever reason, my father, usually a reasonable man, is trying to destroy his children’s future. He’s been forcing your brother on Lottie now.”
“Jesus,” I sigh.
“Exactly.” He squeezes my hand.
“So, if you marry me, my father will be pleased. Whatever the debt is, it will be paid. You wouldn’t need to know what it was.”
“I’m not sure I can count on that. I don’t know about you, but I’m not planning on doing your father’s bidding when at the helm of one of his companies. So our union might not satisfy their need.”
My stomach tightens at his words. Why is he marrying me? Am I really going to go through with this?
“So this is a fake marriage?” I ask, wishing he would say yes, because I’m not ready for anything else. Hoping he will deny it at the same time. Fuck.
He studies me for a moment. There is a war behind those perceptive eyes. One I wish I understood.
He sighs. “You want to help your sister. I want to help mine. This is the best solution.”
His answer should make me happy, but it doesn’t land that way. “Is that all?” I ask before I can stop myself.
“That’s all you’re willing to accept.” He looks away.
“You don’t have to marry me,” I breathe out.
“I know that.”
He takes the keys from the valet, and I will my stupid heart to regain its natural, healthy rhythm.
He starts the engine, but doesn’t step on the gas. Instead, he turns to me. “I want to.”
“Why? You really don’t have to do the right thing because I’m pregnant. I don’t need a gentlemanly gesture.”
“This isn’t about doing the right thing.”
“Then what is it about?”
He sighs. “I want you. Not because I have to. Not because of your father. Not because of the baby.”
My chest tightens, my throat burning with emotions I can’t control.
“I love you, Little Thunder. I know it doesn’t fix anything. I love you even though I’m terrified you won’t let me.” He reaches for my hand but stops. “I’m just asking you to let me stand here with you.”