“Absolutely not!” Kai shouts, his fists clenching.
“Both of you, stop this!” When they ignore me, I let out a shrill whistle and they step back, startled.“I appreciate your concern, but the choice is mine. I’ve had enough of other people deciding what to do with me.”
“Your place is here, little fox,” Kai says, and for a second, I want to throw away my hurt and distrust and step into his arms. It would be so easy.
“Luna, you have a family. One he didn’t tell you about, but I’m here. I want to know you better. I want to tell you what your mother was like growing up. And about your grandmother. You have cousins, aunts, and uncles. A place where you belong.” Collin cautiously puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m asking you to give us a chance, too. Not because you were forced into it.” He gives Kai an angry glance. “But because you choose to.”
My husband is autocratic, arrogant as hell, and demanding. He thinks he knows best, always. He took my phone!
He gave you a brand new one with all your contacts updated and a top-of-the-line camera for your pictures.
I don’t want to listen to my devil’s advocate right now.
He’s risked his life repeatedly to save yours.
He never told me that I had a family of my own.
The hopeful little door left open in my heart clicks shut.
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
Sloan and Catriona are sitting on my bed, pretending to help me pack. A cluster of MacTavishes showed up minutes after Kai did, every one of them with an opinion, none of them helpful.
No.I want to say,No, I do not want to leave. I’m scared that it’s possible I love Kai. I know I love this family. But this marriage had an expiration date even before he lied to me by omission. They both look so sad that I can’t say any of those things.
Better to leave now before it hurts so much that I’ll never recover.
“Yes,” I say. “I have to go.”
“You don’t!” Sloan says, eyes wide. “Look, I get it. Better than anyone-”
Catriona coughs in a genteel way. I’ve heard the stories about the uncles and aunties and how it all went down with the whole stolen bride thing.
“I get it better than anyone inthisgeneration,” Sloan corrects. “No matter how your marriage started, I’m telling you there’s no one more competent and skilled than these MacTavish men. They keep their promises. Please, stay here. You can still get to know your grandfather and the Harris family. ThereisZoom and Facetime. Email.”
“Carrier pigeon,” Catriona adds.
“But honestly,” Sloan continues, “do you really want to leave here without knowing anything about them?”
I clutch the sweater I’m holding. “Kai and your Uncle Cormac reached out first. Do you think they would have done that if the Harris Mafia would be a threat to me?”
“No,” Catriona says bluntly. “To be honest, this would be a good connection. The Harris Mafia is strong in the southern part of the States.”
Sometimes, I wish she wasn’t so honest. “Wow, an advantageous match. This is getting old-school mafia in a hurry.”
“I dinna mean it like that!” Catriona says, looking alarmed. “It’s just a helpful thing with the threat of the Aristocrats and their death juice.”
There’s a knock on the open door. I know it’s Kai before I hear his voice. This connection between us, the feeling of comfort from knowing he’s always in my orbit, is going to be so hard to sever.
“Can I speak to my wife? Alone?”
They’re out the door, the traitors, before he even finishes the sentence.
“Little fox.” He looks like he’s aged ten years on the way up the stairs. “Ya canna go with that man.”
“How are you going to stop me?” That sounds meaner than I’d planned.
“Ya want me to threaten ya?” Kai says, “Lock ya in our bedroom with bread and water until ya give in?”
