Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
CAI
“Can I get you anything?” I ask my father, stalling as I wait for my brothers and Olivia.
“No, don’t fuss over me,” he says, shaking his head. My father sits tall and proud, despite his age, no sign of illness on his face. Out of all of his kids, Gareth is the only one who has any gray in his hair, and he’s adopted.
“Okay,” I murmur, sitting down and adjusting my pants so I can comfortably sit. I’m dressed the same way I would for work, because that’s the only way I can present myself to my father.
He’s wearing an expensive suit, and his steely gray eyes move over the living room.
“Tell me about the girl.”
Taking a breath, I focus on his words.
“She’s difficult,” I reply without hesitation. “I don’t know that she’ll make a good wife for us.”
I’m still trying to save the woman, despite the fact that she doesn’t seem to have any self preservation.
I was headed downstairs to keep my father company while a steady soundtrack of Gareth and Olivia fucking played around me.
I will be fucking my hand to the memory later, but it’ll be my dirty little secret.
“You’ll bring her to heel,” Dad says, shrugging. “If not, I’ll happily break her neck the way I did Gareth’s mother.”
I doubt you’d be able to hear a pin drop in the room after his confession. I always wondered, but he never said either way until now.
“I adopted Gareth after I killed her, and had the paperwork backdated,” he continues, shrugging. “It was disturbingly simple, honestly. Don’t tell Gareth, please. It’ll upset him.”
“Ah, yes, it definitely will,” I murmur, my heart pounding despite my passive features.
“Don’t kill the omega before you get a child from her, though,” Dad says, his words slow and steady. He’s always spoken like this, which means that only Maddox can speak to him on the phone without getting frustrated.
Unless he specifically needs to talk to anyone else, Maddox handles it. Is that fair? No. But, he’s the older brother and that’s what he does.
“If she’s on birth control, put this in her drinks to ensure that it flushes her system,” Dad adds, pulling two baggies full of some type of drugs from his suit pocket.
“What will it do to her?” I ask, refusing to take it. “A puking bride could put a crimp in things.”
My father’s frown turns into a grin as he nods, showing that he understands my concern.
“It’ll make her have to piss a lot,” he shrugs. “The drugs interrupt the birth control medication, much like antibiotics do.”
That doesn’t seem so bad, I muse. Taking the baggies, I hide them away.
“Crush two and put them into her drink. It’ll dissolve completely and is colorless, odorless, and doesn’t have any type of flavor,” Dad explains. “I need the baby to be yours, Aled’s, or Maddox’s, Cai. You know I love your brother as if he were my own.”
The unspoken words but he’s not feel as if he shouted it, and I nod to show that I understand.
“Dad,” Maddox says, followed by Aled. “Olivia will be joining us soon.”
“Is Gareth with her?” Dad asks, confused.
“She’s a runner,” Aled explains, shaking his head in disgust.
I know he’s not actually annoyed that Olivia would run far and fast if given the chance. No, he’s upset that Gareth is standing against him.
“Ah,” Dad murmurs, standing to hug both of them. “Up, son. This just means you get an extra hug.”
Chuckling under my breath, I relax slightly and stand to hug him. The blow to my rib takes me by surprise and I stiffen, as he covers it up with a boisterous slap on my back. Fuck, that sucked.
I guess this is his way of reminding me to keep my mouth shut. I hear him loud and clear. Coughing slightly, I back up and we all sit down. Aled gives me an odd glance as I shift in my seat to keep the pain minimal. I wish my father’s form of discipline was a surprise, but it’s not.
I simply allowed myself to be lulled into a false sense of security, which means I deserved the punch.
“I was telling your brother here that I expect a grandchild from the girl as soon as possible,” Dad says, his hand waving in my direction. “I know Maddox said that she’s older, but if she can have a heat, then she can get pregnant.”
Recalling the conversation Maddox had with Olivia, I realize that he’s right. Olivia is on blockers, which probably also includes heat blockers.
“I will want a paternity test when the baby is born,” Dad says seriously. “I need one of you to be the father, as my biological sons.”
“Of course,” Maddox says, his eyes narrowing as he processes that. We need to find a way to get Olivia to want to fuck us. Flushing out her birth control may help her work the rest of her blockers out of her blood stream so that we can trigger her heat.
I may not like what my father is mandating, but I will do it.
“Then it’s settled. A wedding in four days and a pregnancy,” Dad grunts. “I told Maddox that I don’t care if she’s drugged to get her to the altar. It’ll be too soon for her to be pregnant, so it won’t affect anything. I also want to sample your omega.”
Aled stiffens beside me and I make sure my father’s gaze remains on me as I pick up the jug of water the staff left out on the table. Pouring myself a glass, I glance at the doorway to see if there’s any distraction to help us from having to discuss this.
Taking a sip of the cool liquid, I make eye contact with Maddox, who shakes his head slightly.
“Tradition is important,” Maddox simply says instead and Dad smiles happily.
This is why he deals with him more than I do. I can be more reactive than Maddox is.
“Dad,” Gareth says, entering the room with his hand on Olivia’s lower back to propel her inside.
She’s wearing a black pencil skirt with a high slit, a long sleeved burnt orange sweater that’s off the shoulder and is sexy as fuck, along with high heels. Gareth obviously ordered all of it, and this doesn’t seem like Olivia’s usual fashion choices.
Damn. She looks good enough to eat.
Her hair is wet from the shower and pulled up into a braided bun, and she’s even wearing jewelry. Gareth is made of magic, I swear to god.
“She’s prettier than you told me she was,” Dad mutters to Maddox, standing.
What the fuck did he tell him? Olivia is a bombshell, just typically a very modestly dressed one. Maddox doesn’t show any signs of weakness, and I decide I’ll ask him later.
“This is Olivia Quinn, Dad,” Gareth introduces her. “I apologize for being late.”
“Not at all,” Dad murmurs, smiling at Olivia. It’s meant to be a distinguished look, but instead showcases how eager he is to get her alone. “I’m pleased that you’ll be joining our family this week as my sons’ bride.”
“Bride?” Olivia asks, her eyes narrowing as her hand fists her skirt. Gareth’s hand moves to squeeze hers, and I wonder if he gave her any weapons. That would be really bad. “I don’t think that’s going to happen, sir. I’m sorry to have to inform you that they rejected me.”
“You don’t need to have a bond to be properly married and fucked by them,” Dad chuckles. She was trying to appeal to his logical side, but my father doesn’t have one of those even on a good day. “Gareth, get the girl under control. Explain her place.”
“My place,” Olivia growls. It would be adorable if I didn’t know how close to death she is.
My brothers and I stiffen, watching as Gareth’s lips get close to Olivia’s ear as he lifts her as he walks to a corner of the room to talk. Her head is shaking while he continues to speak urgently to her.
Gareth used to work directly with Dad. He made sure the union received their money, helped to keep people in line, and killed when necessary.
He knows what Dad is capable of, but I think he’s hoping it won’t come to that.
He brought her into this situation, I hope he’ll be able to survive when she proves she can’t handle it and is killed.
Dad sits down again, his eyes darting to the water jug while Gareth and Olivia are distracted. Pulling out the bag, I use the back of an empty glass to crush them up quickly before dumping half into the jug. I don’t know how much is needed, but this is the best I can do.
Hopefully, there will be a reason to get Olivia to drink this. Picking up the jug, I swish the water and ice as quickly and quietly as possible before filling up all the glasses so that it’s less noticeable. I make sure the first glass I pour is at the only empty seat available.
Shaking my head at my brothers, I pocket away the drugs, ignoring their warning glares. I was told to do something, I can’t ignore the direct, wordless order from our father.
Gareth drags a breathless, tearstained omega back to the couch, forcing her to drink the glass of water on the table. He does it without knowing that it’s been doctored, and I make sure to look innocent and dispassionate as I gaze at them.
“I’m not marrying them,” Olivia says, pushing Gareth away once he practically drowns her with the water. “I would like to watch you force me down that aisle, Mr. Behan. It’s not fucking happening.”
Dad smirks, getting up slowly and snatching her hair to pull her onto her feet. Her heels wobble for a moment before she regains her footing, her gaze showing her hatred toward all of us. I don’t know that Gareth will be exempt either after this.
“Dad, that’s not necessary—” Gareth begins.
Our father pulls out a knife and effortlessly cuts open Olivia’s shirt and bra, sneering as he slaps one of her tits.
“You will learn to heel,” he snarls. “Maybe I should take you with me to teach you some manners. Cai, should I?”
I don’t know why I’m suddenly his child of choice, and I can feel Gareth’s hot, angry gaze on me as he squeezes Olivia’s hand, now standing and plastered against her body. She was reaching for something, and I once again worry about her life expectancy.
“Maybe you should explain what that would entail so she can get herself under control,” I reply to my father.