“If you were to join, I would consider giving you my blessing.” Brad stared at me for a long time until realization slowly washed over me. “I only want the very best for my little girl, and I already have several offers.” He added, shooting a glance in Richard’s direction. “After she completes her master’s degree, of course.”
“Offers?” I puzzled, desperately hoping he didn’t mean what I thought hedid.
“For her hand.”
I laughed humorlessly. “Brad, you can’t possibly be serious.” Another indifferent puff of his cigar. “You can’t force her into an arranged marriage—that’s—that’s absurd.” I honestly wasn’t entirely sure if Richard was offering himself or negotiating for someone else. Someone younger, hopefully. What was I even thinking?Fuck no, none of this was happening at all. Over my dead body.
“Like I said, it’s a longstanding tradition.” Brad murmured as I gaped at him. “I could be persuaded to shift my approval in another direction. If you were to concede, that is.”
“What the hell does Sara think of this?” I demanded.
“She’ll do as she’s told.”
“And what about Charlotte? What does she think?” Surely Sara’s mother was against this.
“How do you think Charlotte and I met?”
What?I shook my head in disbelief. This had to be some sort of strange fever dream. “She won’t do it.” I practically growled, knowing Sarafina was incredibly stubborn, not to mention she absolutely hated being told what to do.
Brad sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I know my daughter, and despite what you may think, I do know what’s important to her.”
“Oh, and what’s that?” I scoffed incredulously.
“Stability.” He murmured, and I hated knowing he was right, at least about that. “She’ll never have that with you. Not unless you return to Briar Rose and uphold the commitments you’ve so ignorantly left fraying.” He snapped, practically trembling with frustration.
Stunned would have been an understatement.
Just then, Sara’s mother came into the office, gaze sweeping over Richard and Samuel before she gave her husband a pointed look. “Come on, you three, this is a day for fun.” Charlotte looked at me warily. “Carter, can you help me with something in the kitchen?”
I was being rescued, thank God. “Of course.” I nodded to Brad, not bothering to acknowledge the other two. “Thanks for thechat.”
What the actual hell was I supposed to do with all this information? There was no way in hell I was going to stand by while Sara was bartered off like a mail-order bride.
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
“It looked like you needed saving.” Charlotte said, looping her arm through mine as we headed down the long corridor, our footsteps echoing as we headed away from Brad’s office towards the main living areas.
“It’s alright, I know he means well.” I assured her, even though I was quickly coming to the realization that wasn’t even remotely true.
Charlotte stopped and faced me, reaching up to cup my face while her voice lowered. “I know he likes to talk about all that Societynonsense with you, but I want you to know your parents would be proud of you, no matter what.” She smiled, emphasizing, “I’mproud of you, Carter.”
She patted my chest in a motherly way that made meachefor my own mother, even if I was a grown man who flew fucking fast planes and beat people to a bloody pulp, professionally—if they were lucky.“I admire you, actually, for knowing what you want, and being able to go after it. It’s an honorable quality.” She smiled while I blinked rapidly and cleared my throat, any response getting stuck there.
We continued down the corridor, her voice turning pragmatic. “As a reminder, Liam and Sara aren’t aware of The Society and I’d appreciate it if we could keep it that way.”
I hesitated. “Charlotte, what exactly do you know about the organization?”
She hummed, “You know, Carter, that is an excellent question, and I wish your father were around to tell you more, but if he were, you probably wouldn’t even be dealing with all this.” She was quiet for a moment. “If you really want to know, you oughtto respond to their requests to meet with you—it might be worth finally sorting all this out for yourself.”
“Areyouin The Society?” I quietly asked, knowing if there was anyone in Briar Rose I could trust. It was her.
She chuckled softly. “Membership is strictly confidential.”
“Oh.” Maybe she didn’t trustme.
“But no, Carter, from what I gather from Brad, they only extend invitations to the head of each household.”
“So the men.” I swallowed hard, unease washing over me as I strung everything together.
