CHAPTER THREE
– LUELLA –
The ride home is in utter silence with a load of tension in the air. Macsen was sitting across from my father and me in the limousine, while there was a seat in between me and my father...it felt like we were miles apart.
I shocked the hell out of both of us when I stated the fact that I didn’t trust him anymore. Anger quickly took hold on his face, driving the shock away, while I was still surprised at myself for saying it out loud.
Now we’re sitting in my father’s office. He’s behind his desk glaring at us while Macsen and I are in chairs across from my dad. I know damn well why he’s pissed, and not just due to the lack of my trust. It’s the fact that I went to Wisely Dicey instead of talking to him.
“We’re not getting anywhere if he stays in the office,” my father grits and turns to Macsen when he adds, “You can wait outside while I talk to my daughter. She’s home and doesn’t need a damn bodyguard.
Which is fucking bullshit to start with because Luella is very capable of keeping herself safe.
The issues at hand are between me and my daughter, and I sure as hell am not a threat to my own damn blood. ”
“No?” I instantly snap back. “I’m not so sure about that after what happened a few hours ago.
I had my doubts when I had to kill my husband only hours after we were married, but today I met my new fiancé, and hours later I had to kill him.
It’s more than a coincidence, don’t you think?
Especially when you’re the one who arranged both.
So, who else should I doubt? Please tell me because my mind is a fucking mess right now. ”
My hands are shaking and I quickly fist them together to hide it from both men in the room.
My father is shooting daggers at Macsen.
“If you say you’re my daughter’s bodyguard, does this mean your loyalty is with her?
Not with the government? How is that even possible when you’re the vice president of Wisely Dicey?
Is this some sort of scam to infiltrate and put me and my daughter behind bars? ”
Now my father looks at me with disappointment. A turmoil of emotions hit me and I have no damn idea why I’m so damn hormonal, doubting everything I’ve ever believed.
“Your daughter came to me, not the other way around,” Macsen states.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” my father grits.
Macsen turns to me. “Right now, my loyalty lies with Luella.”
Relief is warming my chest until it comes to an abrupt stop when my father grunts, “Nice save, asshole. Adding right now means it can change at any time. Which is probably why you agreed to help Lu, even if this is a selfish way for you to score big.”
A sinister smile slides across Macsen’s face when he turns to look at my father.
“We might have a contract with the government, but we do whatever the fuck we want. If that entails grabbing you by the balls and throwing your ass in jail, you would have felt our wrath on those raisins between your legs a long time ago. So, why don’t you cut the bullshit, walking around the confrontation your daughter is seeking?
Tell her the fucking truth, it’s what she gets from me, and I now see why she came to me instead of going home due to the shit you put her in. ”
I don’t think I’ve heard anyone speak to my father the way Macsen just did.
“I should kill you,” my father states in a normal tone.
“It doesn’t matter if anyone has seen me hours before your death or can link me to your disappearance in any other way.
I won’t spend a single minute in jail because of who I am.
I’ve been around longer than you, and will still be here when your bones have turned to dust, understood, boy? ”
“It’s Macsen Cade, Macsen to friends, VP to my brothers.
Never Mac, sure as hell no one calls me boy, Holland.
I couldn’t give a fuck what threats you throw at my head; nothing you’ve done so far impresses me.
Now, again, give your daughter the respect she deserves and tell her about your ulterior motives when you arranged those two marriages. ”
If I thought there was a load of tension in the car? It doesn’t compare to right now.
Not liking any of this I say, “After everything I’ve done for you I think I’ve earned the privilege of knowing your ulterior motives. You know very well I never ask anything and always follow any order you give.”
My father eyes Macsen. “Any chance I can get you to sign a contract?”
Macsen gives a curt shake with his head. “You’re not going to arrange anything when it comes to me and Lu.” His eyes settle on me. “No offense, sweet tits, but your track record sucks when it comes to your father having a hand in arranged relationships.”
Sweet tits. He called me that the first time we met...while I held him at gunpoint I might add.
I can’t help but snort and my heart leaps when he shoots me a grin in return. My father clears his throat to gather both our attention. He doesn’t say anything at first and only glances from me to Macsen and back.
It’s as if he’s finally getting the fact that he owes me this, or whatever his reasons are to give me honesty, when he says, “I needed your first husband’s territory.
Years of war were taking its toll on both sides, his especially.
I knew the fucker wouldn’t give in and risk his own life in an attempt to kill me.
Though, he did underestimate the fact that his death would be my gain since the men underneath him didn’t like him anyway because he treated them like shit.
Killing me meant his death ’cause my men are loyal. ”
Anger burns deep in my gut. I thought the marriage was real. A turning point in my life. Man, do I feel stupid. Not to mention, my father knew damn well my husband would die and he still used me like a pawn to be fucked by the enemy...literally.
My father waves a hand through the air. “Don’t give me that look, Lu. Women in our world accept an arranged marriage at that age.”
I lost my virginity all because...
“The arranged marriage with Gideon Wilton is because he’s taking over as underboss from Dudley soon.
Where Dudley might be loyal and manage his territory the way Bosco and I condone, his son has a certain reputation.
Their territory has a high mortality rate.
It’s sloppy and eventually it would lead to unwanted law enforcement attention.
I’ve been trying to gather information for months without result and I need to know what they are up to with the steady growing wealth they’ve gained in two years.
It’s like a switch being flipped. Unfortunately for me, their men are loyal to them and my investigations have led to nothing.
It’s why I explored suitable candidates. ”
I’ve heard enough. “You used me as an excuse to gather information, knowing it would lead to an official arranged marriage for the sole reason for you to stick your nose in their business?”
He shrugs and I see red. Sharp steel is suddenly in my hand and I’m moving my arm to throw it when a strong grip holds me in place.
Macsen might have stopped me from throwing a ninja star at my father, but he can’t stop my mouth.
“You had the enemy take my fucking virginity. Make me fucking believe I was going to be a wife, start a family. An opportunity to build something of my own. All of it bullshit with no value other than it being another fucking job for you.”
“You’re throwing an awful lot of fucks around, sweet tits,” Macsen murmurs right next to my ear, and it’s only then I realize he’s holding me in a death grip. “I’m not complaining, and you have every damn right. Just...don’t lose yourself to your father’s stupidity.”
My father keeps staring at me and there’s a flicker of something in his eyes I can’t decipher. Other than that, there’s no damn emotion on his face from my outburst.
“Let her go, Macsen,” my father states. “Lu’s outbursts are rare, but they never last long. Now, tell me what you saw a few hours ago. The news has spread that there was an attempted assassination on Gideon Wilton. I assume you had something to do with it since your location put you there.”
Anger is flaring back up, but this time it’s Macsen who shares my fury when he snarls, “You’re tracking her as if she’s an asset that needs to be kept on a fucking leash?”
Again he waves his hand as if he can diminish a fire with a single wave. “Only for her own safety.”
“Keep lying to yourself. No wait... you’ve been doing that for fucking years resulting in your own blood not trusting you anymore.” The words Macsen just threw out into the open make my father wince and I realize they hold truth.
“You don’t understand my world,” my father grits, and looks at me when he tries to turn the discussion back to his earlier question. “The attempted assassination...”
I cut him off with the words, “Wasn’t an attempt. I shoved my knife up his skull through the underside of his jaw. Fucker was dead before he hit the floor. I assume the other spare copy I saw will take his place, as if the fucker has more than one life in this game they call living.”
My father frowns. “Impossible. Dudley only has one son.”
“Maybe they did some plastic surgery shit on others or neglected to register twins at birth, who knows? I saw it with my own eyes. One Gideon was fucking a man in the ass while another Gideon was jerking off in front of it. That one needed to coat his own cock with blood by gutting the man so he could spill his cum. There was another voice in the room that said, ‘and we’re out,’ and then one Gideon walked out of the room to take a shower.
He walked in my direction and had to take him out or get caught. ”
My father curses. “With everything you just mentioned? I’m pretty sure those scumbags are making fucking snuff films. It explains everything, especially the switch in earning money like water. It’s a good thing there’s more than one Gideon, ’cause that means I get to kill him myself as well.”