“Moving on. Lachlan, where are we on theCunningham Oil deal?” Cormac intervenes.
We talk business for another hour until I can hear the insistent cry of a baby and Cameron hastily exits the call. He’s taken to fatherhood better than I think even he expected to, and the way his face lights up when he talks about Beathan, his new son is a grand thing to see. It makes me think of bairns of my own.
Which makes me think of Isla, round with child.
Which instantly makes me hard.
I’m relieved when Cormac ends the call.
Chapter Seventeen
In which Dougal is as beautiful and infuriating as a Dark Lord from Hell, up for a visit on the topside.
Isla…
Dougal, the man who kidnapped me and forced me to marry him, was kind enough to deposit me into a chair out on the terrace with reading material, but all I can think of is how my father sounded.
Papa’s the smartest man I know, but burning down two MacTavish clubs? We’ve retaliated harshly against other organized crime outfits in the past, but only when the Blackwoods were well and truly crossed. This was extreme, especially because I was a captive here and they could have taken it out on me. Papa’s not himself, this is so out of character for him. Has losing the treasure - and his daughter - too much for him?
What if this is the blow that breaks him? He’s been on edge and agitated since he started talking about taking this treasured item from the MacTavish mansion.
When Dougal emerges from the study and strolls over to me, I struggle to sit up in this too-comfortable chair. He puts a couple of pillows behind me to help me balance.
“I need to see my father,” I burst out with no niceties.
He arches one elegant eyebrow, seating himself across from me. “That’s a hell of a favor to ask of a man who just watched two of his clubs burn to the ground.”
“Not surprising from a rival Chieftain whose daughter was kidnapped and forced to marry the son of his sworn enemy,” I point out, trying to control my temper. “A curt notification that his daughter is alive and oh, she’s married to a MacTavish isn’t going to put my father’s concerns to rest.”
Dougal sighs, rubbing his eyes. “Taking you out of here for a meeting is risky. There’s other factions that are too interested in our union. And I dinna trust your father to not try to snatch you up.”
“Do you want this war to escalate or stop?” I demand, “I may not want this marriage, but I do not want blood shed over it. I must talk to Papa and let him see I’m all right.”
For a moment, there was a flicker of hurt in his eyes when I talked about not wanting this marriage. That can’t be right. It’s not like he wanted it either.
“Why was it you?” I ask suddenly.
“What do you mean, lass?”
“Why were you the one to marry me? Did your father order you to?”
Dougal chuckles, sitting back and manspreading. “I volunteered.”
“Why?” I frown, “Because you were the one who caught me?”
“You became my responsibility the moment I stopped you,” he agrees, “but Da’ held a meeting after I brought you back to explain the seriousness of your actions. There were only two options regarding you.”
“What?” I ask a little hoarsely, already knowing the answer.
A cloud moves over the sun, casting him into shadow, his vivid blue eyes still glowing like he’s a Dark Lord of Hell, up for a visit on the topside.
“Keep you or kill you,” he says coldly. “I offered to marry you.”
I should be appreciative, I suppose, but I’m still too angry that he caught me so easily. A wind sweeps across the lawn and I shiver a little.
“Let’s get you inside,” he says, rising and lifting me into his arms.
I bring it back up at dinner, which is a meal Dougal insists we share every night, even if I attempt to avoid him during the day.
