Chapter 23 #2
“Let’s not go down the list of what you’ve asked of me,” I snap.
“Have Devin marry him. You’ve always said he and I look alike.
If Dax wants me, maybe he’ll want Devin.
Maybe it’s time your son did something for the family for a change.
” I try to leave, but Dax stands behind me, blocking any escape.
I kick his shin with the heel of my boot.
“Cori, that’s absurd.” Dad dabs his forehead again.
“I’m not gay, sweetheart. You should know that.”
Too angry to feel embarrassed in front of my dad, all I can do is hiss, “Shut the hell up.” Dad snatches my hand, and I try to pull away, but he holds on. “How do you know he’s a good man? He’s trying to buy a wife. Are you okay with me being with him? I’m sure he’s abusive and—”
“Now, wait a damn minute. I would never abuse a woman, least of all my wife,” Dax says with a raised voice.
“I’ll never find out, thank goodness, because I have no intention of being your anything, least of all your wife.
The fucking audacity.” I snatch my hand from Dad and point at Dax’s face.
“You think you can come here and bully me into doing something I don’t want to do?
You have no fucking idea who you are messing with. ”
“Cori, watch your language.”
I take a deep breath and focus on my father. “You’re trying to make me a main character in some warped dystopian society, and you think my language is an issue. Dad, this is insane. This is not the eighteen hundreds, and you can’t force me to marry a man I didn’t choose.”
“Cori, this is the only way. This isn’t about you or me. This is for your mother,” Dad implores.
“You want me to marry this stranger, and you don’t think it’s about me?”
Dad clears his throat. “Now, I know he’s not a stranger to you.
He’s told me that you’ve spent time together.
” He raises both eyebrows before he whispers, “You’ve spent many nights together.
You’ve even met his mother, and that went well.
That doesn’t sound like a stranger to me.
” Dad wipes his forehead with the back of his hand while I glare at Dax, who stands there with a smug look on his face.
I stand so fast, my chair falls over. “You lied to my dad and told him we slept together?” I ask in disgust.
“Yes, except I didn’t lie. I want Lee to know that there’s a mutual attraction, and that we're compatible.”
“Do you think this is one of Selene’s historical romance books where I’ll be shamed into marrying you? You’re mad.” I gesture at him and clear my throat. “Not that I’d ever touch you with a ten-foot pole, but whoever I decide to sleep with is my choice. You’re not going to shame me for it.”
“You’ve touched me with your hands and mouth, Bella. Don’t play a fucking game you can’t win.” I gasp at his crass words, but I can’t think of a quick rebuttal.
“You damn liar.” Those are the only words I can form.
“Look, I’m a modern man,” my dad begins. “I’m not here to judge—”
“Dad, he’s lying,” I maintain. “Are you going to believe this psycho who is trying to buy a wife or the daughter you’ve raised?”
“Psycho?” Dax asks, clearly offended. “Who are you calling psycho?”
“You. Certified nutcase. Call the men in the white coats and put your ass in a padded cell because that’s where you belong. You don’t deserve to be out in society,” I toss out. “Clearly, women are not safe with you around.”
“You’re not qualified to make that kind of diagnosis,” Dax snaps. “And you were more than safe all the times you were with me. What about all the times you followed me? You weren’t afraid then, were you?”
“Did you hear that, Dad?” I point at Dax. “He just called me uneducated and ignorant. That’s verbal abuse. He’s already started trying to whittle down my self-esteem. That’s the gateway to all kinds of abuse, and I’m not about to do twenty to life for murder. I’m done here.”
“Cori, he didn’t say all that,” Dad sighs.
“That’s a stretch. But refresh my memory, are you a psychologist or psychiatrist?” Dax asks.
“No, but you need about a dozen of each to find out what the hell is wrong with you.”
“Like I said, I’m a modern man and—”
“Dad, the fact that you’re trying to convince me to marry a psycho proves you’re not a modern man,” I snap.
“And I understand chemistry. Your mother and I—”
“Please don’t make me vomit.”
“Listen, chemistry is—”
“Stop saying chemistry!” Dad’s eyes widen, and his head rolls back at my outburst.
“He’s too old for me.”
“I’m only thirty-six, and you know that. It didn’t matter all those times you made love to me.”
“I wouldn’t touch you if my life depended on it,” I lie. “You disgust me. No woman will have you. That’s why you’re trying to buy me.”
I know the last statement is a lie. I’ve been out in public with him, and almost every woman with a pulse smiles at him.
He looks at my mouth and licks his lips. He inches closer, as if he wants to kiss me, but I lean back.
If I were fast enough, I’d smack him clear across his smug face, but I know what would happen. He’d wrap his arm around my wrist and possibly pull me close.
“Cori, you’re twenty-eight years old. He’s not too old for you. I’m seven years older than your mother, and we’ve had a happy marriage.”
Having enough of this, i head toward the door. “Because Mom chose to marry you. And he is too old because I say he is. This is not the same. I’m done here. It’s not going to happen.”
I only take two steps before Dad’s next words stop me in my tracks. “If you walk out of here, you’re going to condemn your mother to that wheelchair forever, Corine. Are you prepared to do that?”