“Philippe shot a rocket at me, and I lifted up a tank. I’m not going to sit idly while my cousin destroys everything he touches. I’m not going to hide behind a man and a marriage, either. I suppose you meant well, but Philippe would only destroy everyone I was connected with as soon as he had the chance. It is his nature to destroy, and it is my nature to protect. I will protect Haversham if you give me your support.”
He studied me with those hard eyes, but I didn’t flinch away from his calculation. “Your powers have manifested, and it was in protecting others?”
I shrugged and sipped my scotch. “And myself. I’m not going to allow Philippe to harm anyone else, like he killed Dirk’s sister.”
He raised a brow. “Did he? Do you have proof?”
“He told me so himself when he congratulated me on manifesting my abilities, told me that we were destined.” I curled my lip at the memory.
“He was ordered not to interfere.”
“Why would he obey your orders? How do you enforce them? What is his weakness?”
He sighed heavily and then winced and put a hand on his chest. “He wants power, and he wants you. He only loses control when it comes to you.”
“You can’t get me out of the way unless you kill me. He doesn’t fear anyone other than you, and you are growing weaker. How long have you been dying?” I felt a twinge in my chest as I said the words I hadn’t wanted to think, but he hadn’t taught me to ignore reality or the weaknesses of others.
“Why do you think I signed you over to Clint? His mother is a terrifying creature who could keep you safe, even if he himself is somewhat weak. Still, Prescott has allies that can?—”
“I will not be Mrs. Prescott for much longer. Philippe killed Dirk’s sister in the most horrifying manner possible. Our families are not on good terms and will not be on good terms until Philippe has paid for his crimes.”
“And you’re the law now?” His eyes twinkled with amusement that made me want to snarl.
I took an even breath and forced a slight smile. “Yes, at least as far as Haversham is concerned. My family will be respectable, not just feared. We will be a leader in more than power. I will see to it.”
“You do not understand the alliances that bind us.” He started coughing, and then red flecks spotted his white cuff.
“Alliances do not bind justice.” I stood up. “You will not last much longer, and you fear the darkness too much to stand against it.” Should I feel more regret at his nearing death? If only he hadn’t taught me so much fear.
“You do not fear enough!” he snarled, eyes bright, teeth bared.
“I have been afraid for far too long. What should I fear? Death? Pain?” I shook my head. “I fear being crushed by fear like you have been crushed.” I turned and walked away, aware of the few sharp eyes that followed me as I left the crumbling ruins of my grandfather’s legacy behind.
I walked instead of taking a cab. I needed to stretch my legs after being confined in my grandfather’s presence, with the fear he lived and breathed. He lived to be feared, as he feared. And Clint’s mother was the one who was supposed to protect me from Philippe? I’d thought she was too good to be true. At least Dirk’s mother was honest about her judgmental pettiness.
I was halfway to the restaurant where I’d made reservations for dinner, the same restaurant I’d had lunch at, when Philippe’s dark red Lamborghini pulled beside me. I kept walking for a few steps before I turned and waited until he got out. His eye was bruised, blood-shot. He’d recently been in a fight, but he was still a stunning specimen of psychoticness.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Why would you go speak to grandfather?” Ah, there was fear there too. So much fear. It was almost as if he didn’t want my grandfather to know that my powers had come out to play.
I took a deep breath. “I’m hungry. Have you had dinner?”
He blinked at me, unbalanced for a moment. “I have not. May I escort you to dinner?” Ah, such a gentleman when he wasn’t stabbing you in the back.
“I have reservations at Caverne’s Delight. Do you know the place?”
He came around and opened the passenger’s door for me. “Of course. Ma Cherie, we have not dined together for some time.”
I slipped into the car, sinking like quicksand into the deep leather seat as he firmly closed the door on me. It smelled like vanilla and leather with an undercurrent of something metallic. Blood probably.
He slid in and turned the engine with a silky purr. Music came on, Shostakovich with a rustling wind wrapped around it. I knew the tones of that cello. No one else sounded like Straw.
“You’re playing my first public concert.” I wanted to shiver, but I didn’t.
“Naturally. You saw grandfather, so you know that he’s fading away. I will care for you when he is gone as well as he cared for you while he was alive.”
“I don’t like the way he cared for me. I like playing the cello in public. I dislike being sold to men.”
He brushed the back of my hand with his thumb. Only for a moment, but it still sent a wave of chills through me. “I will give you whatever you want.”
