Chapter 5 #2
I held back a smirk at that. My father loved playing the victim but he never was one. “It’s what you were good at. I learned from the best.”
“Stop being such a fucking recluse and do what you’re told. I hear that you are letting this wedding continue. It’s a monstrosity is what it is.”
I leaned forward, trying to collect my temper. “You don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to her. We both know this.”
“I gave in when she decided to be a lesbian.”
“You don’t decide to be a lesbian, you asshole. But we both know this.”
“I gave in. But why does she need to make it legal? To flaunt it in front of our society.”
I didn’t want to get into the logistics of finding someone that you loved and wanted to spend your life with.
While I had never done that, the fact that my sister could was a triumph considering how we were raised.
Our father didn’t love our mother. But their families had wanted a merger that went beyond paperwork, and they had been perfect for each other in that evil, corrupt way.
I didn’t want to get into the concept of marriage, and the fact that my sister being legally able to marry when it was still newly lawful these days. He would never understand who my sister was, or what she deserved. Because she deserved the world.
“You do not have a say in it. Frankly, I’m glad that you said you wouldn’t be coming.”
“Of course we aren’t. We’re not going to allow this to happen.”
“Stay away from her. Stay away from her fiancée. And stay away from me. We’re not your family anymore.
You made your choices, and now you have to deal with the consequences.
You don’t have a line. You don’t have a legacy.
You just have hatred. If you come near her again, I will end you.
If you try to hurt this wedding, I will end you.
And believe me, I have enough anger within me to make it happen permanently. ”
My father was silent for long enough that I was afraid the call had ended, but instead, he growled.
“You’re a disgrace.”
“If you’re calling me that, it tells me that I have made progress. So why don’t you fuck off?”
I ended the call and nearly threw my phone. Instead, I calmed down and let out a deep breath.
“Still want to head to Progress?” Andy, my driver asked.
“Yes. I could use a drink. And since you had to deal with that phone call, you could probably use the night off.”
“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll pick you up. Maybe I’ll go punch something at your gym while I wait.”
“That sounds like a plan. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
Andy pulled up to the three-story building in downtown Denver, and I smiled at the line already forming. “Dorian sure knows how to build an audience.”
“Yes, he does.”
“Have you been inside?”
“I don’t think it’s my kind of place.”
“You know it is, Andy. You like the finer things. And Dorian will let you in. He knows you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes. If you want to, bring a friend. Maybe that guy who I know you’ve been seeing for a while now.”
“I don’t know if that’s going to last,” Andy said before I could get out of the car.
“I’m sorry about that. He seemed nice from what you mentioned.”
Andy shrugged. “I don’t think he understands that I like being a driver, and sometimes bodyguard.”
“You protect my sister when you drive her around, that’s worth all types of salary. If your friend doesn’t understand that, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
“Thanks for that, Carson.”
“It’s just the truth.”
I nodded my goodbye and got out of the car.
I liked Andy and had known him for most of my life.
His father had been one of the staff at my house growing up, and Andy had been in and out, helping where he could.
When I had moved out, and moved on, I brought Andy with me.
I’d offered him any place that he wanted in my company, but he liked driving around, and being the bodyguard for, my sister and other team members who needed it.
It gave him time to read, and to catch up with different classes online.
He had gotten his bachelor’s degree, mostly because I had forced him into going to college.
The guy liked to learn and had wanted a degree but never thought he could afford it.
Now, he took other classes to learn history and arts.
Anything he could soak up. And in his current job, he was able to do that. It was a win-win for everybody.
I just hoped he found the person he wanted. Because some people deserved happiness.
Like my sister and her fiancée.
I nodded at the doorman, who let me in past the line, and didn’t bother to look over.
They knew me here, because I knew Dorian, and I didn’t need to lord it over those who waited to get in.
Dorian was particular who got into his clubs, but it wasn’t who knew who all the time.
It was about fire codes and making sure people were safe.
Another reason why I liked the Cages.
Dorian stood by the bar, his arm around a cute brunette, and I realized that he had his wife with him.
I liked Harper, though I didn’t know her well. They were newly married, much like many of the Cages, and seemed happy.
What must that feel like?
Dorian grinned at me as he caught my eye and murmured something to the person he was talking with before he came over.
“You showed.”
“I said I would.”
I looked around at the dark walls and gleaming wood fixtures, and nodded. “Nice.”
“I was going for comfortable elegance.”
“At least there aren’t any sparkled, gilded cages around.”
“You just don’t like the name of the other place,” he teased his wife.
Harper looked up at me and smiled wide.
“It’s good to see you, Carson.”
“Lovely to see you, Harper.” I leaned forward, took her hand, brushing my lips against her knuckles.
She laughed as Dorian scowled.
“Seriously?”
“Flirting with my friends’ wives is safe. Because you know I won’t do anything, and I don’t need to promise anything.”
“The typical bachelor line. I like it,” Harper said with a laugh.
“I’ll show you what you like,” Dorian snarled, then he whispered something that must have been salacious as Harper’s eyes widened, her cheeks pinkening.
“Should I ask?”
“No. Go dance, find a woman. And not mine.”
“Whatever you say,” I said with a soft laugh, before I said my goodbyes, and nodded at a few other people that I knew.
I got my bourbon and stood in the corner, watching as people milled about the seating areas, and then turned towards the dance floor.
Even in an elegant place like this, Dorian would want dancing. That was just how the man was, and it worked here.