Epilogue
DANE
My wife thought it would be nice to plan a pleasant family dinner.
“You’ve been a real asshole lately.” Thorne cuts into his steak. “Even more than usual.”
Pleasant isn’t exactly the word I would use to ever describe my sons. Even though I would die for the fuckers.
Fox refills his wine glass without looking up. “Fuck off.”
“See?” Thorne looks at Tate. “Told you. He’s been like this for days.”
“This isn’t new.” Tate corrects his youngest brother. “Fox is always an asshole.”
I have my hand on Whitney’s thigh under the table. She’s wearing the device I told her to wear tonight. Playing with my wife is far more appealing than whatever bullshit my sons are terrorizing each other with this week.
“Maybe Fox just needs to get laid.” Sloane’s tone is innocent. “Isn’t that what causes bad moods in men? When they aren’t getting any?”
Whitney nearly chokes on her water, then stares across the table at her daughter with wide eyes.
“What?” Sloane shrugs. “I’m just trying to help.”
Fox’s jaw tightens. “Nothing is fucking wrong. And I don’t need help from anyone at this table to get pussy.”
“Funny, I don’t recall the last time I’ve seen you with anyone.” Tate grins. “Don’t be embarrassed, big brother. Thorne and I can give you a few pointers if you need them.”
“You are so fucking dead.” Fox drops his fork and punches Tate in the shoulder. “We’re going out after dinner, brothers. I’ll take two women home just to remind you who the fuck I am.”
Thorne leans closer to Sloane. “Come out with us and watch the show, little sister.”
My sons can be assholes, but I’m pleased with how they have treated Sloane and accepted her as one of the family. I know they would make sure nothing happened to her.
“How are you enjoying school?” I ask Sloane, changing the subject before my sons end up in a brawl. These men sit on our board and oversee the future of our empire, but from the way they act, you’d never guess they wear suits for a living. They’re just as I fucking raised them to be.
“Classes are harder than expected.” Sloane says, buttering a piece of bread.
“That’s because you’re actually trying . . . unlike someone else.” I glare at Thorne.
“What difference does it make if I go to fucking class? You’ve ensured that I will pass. Do you want me to go to class or to complete the assignments you give me? Besides, it’s not like I don’t already have a job.”
Whitney squeezes my hand under the table. She’s grateful that Thorne is always watching over Sloane. As he should. I don’t tolerate failure from my sons.
“Don’t worry, Dad,” Tate jumps in. “Thorne knows how to close the deal. Unlike . . .” He nods toward Fox.
Fox sets down his wine glass hard enough that I thought it was going to break.
“Goddamn, you must have it bad.” Tate doesn’t bother to look up from his plate. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Don’t you ever shut the fuck up?” Fox grips Tate’s collar, and Tate doesn’t even flinch. “Eat the meal that Whitney prepared and mind your own goddamn business.”
“Oh shit.” Thorne smacks his hand on the table. “Who is she, Fox?”
“There’s no woman. Besides the three that I’m now taking home with me tonight.” Fox’s tone makes it clear the discussion is over.
I know my son. There’s absolutely a woman. And whoever she is, I’ve never seen anyone affect my son this way. Hopefully he’s finally thinking about getting married, because if he doesn’t on his own, he’s going to do so when I tell him to.
I’ll deal with that later. Right now, I’d rather tease my wife for what’s coming to her after our children leave.
Sliding my phone from my pocket, I open the app and tap the screen to activate the device. Since this is just a reminder, I start at a low setting.
I glance at her and wait for her reaction, needing to see that look in her eyes.
She doesn’t stop her conversation with Sloane, and I grow impatient.
I adjust the intensity higher. Still nothing.
Her breathing is even, and she’s able to carry on speaking with Sloane. Her expression shows no awareness of what she should be experiencing.
Oh, my kitten is in so much fucking trouble. The little brat sabotaged it.
I catch her eye. Her mouth curves into the smallest smile before she turns back to Sloane.
My girl is due for a good punishment. It looks like she chose tonight.
My cock hardens. She knows I won’t let this slide, and she did it anyway because she wanted me to break her.
That’s my wife. Always pushing to see how far she can go, so I’ll remind her who owns her.
“Dad.” Fox’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Are you listening?”
“No.” I set my phone down and tighten my grip on Whitney’s thigh. “What?”
“The European office. The plan for the meeting tomorrow?”
“We’ll discuss it in the morning.” I’m not interested in business when my wife is sitting here pretending she didn’t just defy me. I’m planning exactly what I’ll do with her.
“Dad wants you all to hurry with your dinner.” Thorne teases. “Besides, we have to see our badass player of a brother in action tonight.”
Fox releases a growl. “Dad only needs one heir, fucker. And it isn’t you.”
Whitney catches Fox’s attention. “Does that mean you are thinking about settling down?”
The table goes silent. Tate and Thorne both chuckle. I could kiss my devilish little wife right now if she weren’t in so much trouble.
“Not you, too. Can’t someone in this family just let me live my life in peace?” Fox’s jaw tightens, and he stares directly at Tate. “I’m going to fuck whoever I want until I’m good and fucking ready to marry. So find someone else to torture with your bullshit.”
Tate grips his brother’s cheeks. “This is definitely the face of a man who needs a wife.”
Fox wraps his arm around Tate’s neck in response, bumping the table and making our glasses shake.
“Foxworth Sinclair," I yell, using the tone that all of my boys know means I’m not fucking playing around. I don’t give a fuck how old they are, they will listen.
Fox releases his brother, but punches him in the side before settling back into his chair. My boys would die for each other, but they love to find each other’s buttons and press the shit out of them, too.
If anyone else talked to one of them the way they talk to each other, that person would no longer be breathing.
“Fox and I will discuss this matter soon,” I say to the table, “without the rest of you. So leave him be.”
Fox goes very still. “What the fuck does that mean?”
I draw a breath, not intending to discuss the matter with him at present.
“I’ve already started negotiating options for you.” I reach for my wine. “I’ll have my top three selected by month’s end.”
“Fuck that.” Fox pushes his chair back. “You can’t make me marry some Dove of your choosing.”
“You will do as I say.” I meet his eyes. “And you’ll fulfill your responsibilities. All of you will marry within our world, so I’m just going to help you narrow your choices.”
“God, you want control over everything.” Fox stands. “But you forget that I’m your fucking son, and I like a fair bit of control, too.”
I take a sip of wine, not bothered at all by his outburst. “You’re a Sinclair. That comes with expectations.”
Sloane looks like she wants to disappear. If she hadn’t joined my family, she’d be Mrs. Victor Ashworth right now. The soon-to-be-punished Whitney is barely concealing her amusement at the situation.
“This is bullshit.” Fox grabs his jacket. “I’m out of here.”
“Three months.” I set down my glass. “The clock is ticking.”
“Go fuck yourself.” Fox heads for the front door, slamming the door loud enough that I hear it from the dining room.
Tate starts laughing. “God, this is going to be fun to watch.”
“I’ll start on you soon,” I say, leveling a stare at him.
“Are you really going to force him to marry?” Whitney asks.
“Yes.” I slide my hand higher on her thigh. “Just like I forced you.”
“You paid fifty million for me at an auction.” She covers my hand with hers. “That’s just good business.”
Thorne chokes on his wine. “Jesus Christ.”
“You are so right about that.” I run my fingers along her panties to see if she’s wet. And of course she is. “That investment continues to pay dividends.”
“I think we’d better go make sure our brother isn’t having a drunken orgy at Dolly’s,” Thorne says, rising from his chair and motioning to the others.
Tate sets his napkin aside. “Sounds like a good time to me.”
Sloane hugs Whitney. “Thanks for dinner. It was . . . entertaining.”
“Text me when you’re home safely.” Whitney kisses her cheek, then looks at Thorne. “Don’t let anything happen to her.”
“I’ll keep an eye on her.” Thorne says.
They all leave, and as much as I love them all, I am glad as fuck that they are gone. I pull Whitney from her chair and drag her to the stairs.
“That was fun,” Whitney says as we climb the steps.
“You enjoyed watching the drama of the evening, didn’t you?”
“I did.” She doesn’t hide it. “Fox reminds me of you. Always wants to be in control and wants his own way.”
“Too fucking bad.” I push her up the last few steps. “Because I’m the one who will get my way.”
“That makes you so much fun to fuck with.” She looks at me over her shoulder.
I guide her through the hallway to our bedroom.
“Is that what that shit tonight was about?” I open the door and pull her inside. “You think you’re fucking with me?”
Her breathing changes. “I don’t know what—”
“Don’t lie to me, kitten.” I lock the door. “We both know exactly what you did.”
I close the door and then press her against it.
She shrugs. “Maybe the device wasn’t charged.”
“You are in so much fucking trouble.” I grip her chin. “Time to remind you that when I tell you to do something, you fucking do it.”
“Is that right?” She runs her hands up my chest. “Why don’t you go ahead and make me?”
I kiss her hard enough to bruise. She moans and fists her hands in my shirt. When I pull back, her lips are swollen.
“Take your fucking clothes off.” I step back and cross my arms. “And hurry the fuck up.”