“Then why?” I am pressing for answers because I don’tlike the questions, and it’s obvious he is thinking along the same lines.
“Because it’s what we do.” He huffs, a pulse ticking in his jaw as he struggles to maintain his cool.
It’s only when he’s angry that I understand who he truly is. Julius isn’t a decent man on the outside, but he is hiding a good heart, which reassures me when he reveals his darker side.
“Because I am my father’s son, and he expects complicity.”
“Tell me about him.”
I’ve spoken about my family, but I know little of his.
“He’s a bastard.”
I raise my eyes as he sneers. “Our upbringing was brutal and a hard lesson. Because of him and his way of teaching us how to hold on to our dynasty. The only love and kindness came from our mom, and yet she was just as hard as he was when it came to the business. You see, Rose, like your father, mine was—is—never happy. He enjoys his wealth with one eye on the horizon for more. When he learned of your inheritance, he saw a way to secure it for our family. Not because we needed the money but because of the power it gives us.”
“Power, I don’t understand.”
“Power is the driving force for every decision we make, not money. That comes with it, and if we relinquish that power to one of our enemies, it places us in a vulnerable position. Business is brutal, and my father has studied it well, and so nobody would blame him for doing what he deems best for the family.”
“At the expense of his son’s happiness.”
I don’t say that to judge, merely to commiserate because now I understand.
“If you consider I’m not happy with how things have worked out, then I must do a better job of convincing you.”
His smile softens, and my heart flutters as it always does when he looks into my eyes with his smoldering gaze.
“I believe you, Julius.”
My smile is weak, but my heart is beating faster because of him and how alive he makes me feel.
“I’m still allowed to be worried about my sisters, though. What if?–”
He holds up his hand.
“There are no what-ifs when it comes to my family, Rose. If anything had gone wrong, I wouldn’t be sitting here now.”
“How can you be sure of that? You said yourself there has been no communication.”
“Exactly, which is why I know because I would have gotten the call to act for the good of the family.”
He squeezes my hand more, for reassurance than anything else. “Trust in the process, baby; it’s all we can do.”
He appears worried as his frown deepens and he adds, “However, there is something you can help us with.”
“Anything.”
I really mean that because he has worked so hard to keep me safe, and I want to do my bit, especially if it helps my sisters.
“It involves your stepmother.”
My pulse races, but my heart hardens.
“What about her?”
“She wants to meet you. She’s in Washington.”
I wasn’t expecting that and the blood must drain from my face because he says with concern, “You’re not going to faint are you because the only remedy I can think of is to throw a bucket of cold water over you and I would hate to ruin that pretty dress.”
