“It was the only way to gain control over their company.” It’s hard to hear her over the cheers, and I take a few steps back, leaning against the concrete wall.
“I know you want that company. I know you want to destroy Ben Wilde,” she says, “and I know that’s partially because of me and what happened. But you can’tmarrysomeone to do it. What the hell were you thinking?”
“Of course I can.”
“Marrying for revenge is extreme,” she says. “Aren’t there lines we don’t cross?”
“No,” I say honestly. Because there aren’t. Protecting my family is the only thing that matters. The only thing that’s ever mattered. I learned that the hard way, and we can’t go through that again.
I’ll make sure we never will.
“Rafe.” She sighs, and I can hear the disappointment in that sound. She switches over to French, the way we usually communicate. The benefit of an American mother and a Swiss father. “You didn’t tell me because you knew I’d try to talk you out of it.”
“That’s exactly why.”
“But you brought West to the courthouse last week instead. You know I’ve been giving him shit for that, right?”
“I figured. But I don’t feel bad for that, either.”
She laughs a little. It sounds tired. “No, you wouldn’t,” she says. “He’s annoyed, too, you know. You didn’t tell him until ten minutes before why you needed a witness.”
“He would’ve tried to talk me out of it, too,” I say. It’s weird that my best friend is dating my little sister. It was hard for me to accept at first, and even now that I have, it’s odd to wrap my head around. That these two parts of my life have combined in a way I never saw coming.
But my sister has gained a new protector, someone who will look after her as fiercely as I always have. And that will never be anything but good in my book.
He’s the only one in our group of four guy friends who knows about my marriage. I’m going to receive hell from the other two when they learn.
“I don’t have much time.” I wedge the phone between my ear and my shoulder and unsnap the vintage Artemis watch I wear most days.
“What’s she like?” Nora asks. “You have to tell mesomething. Why did she agree? When can I meet her? Did you sign a prenup?”
“Annoying. Because I own most of the shares of her company, and she wanted her uncle out, too. She agreed to get him out and get herself in. I don’t want you to meet her. Yes, of course we have a prenup. Our marriage contract has gone through dozens of lawyers.”
“But what is she like, truly? You can’t just say annoying.”
“She’s Ben Wilde’s niece.”
“I know her familial relationships,” Nora says, exasperation in her voice. “But what is shelike?”
“I barely know her. She’s proud,” I say. “No close family. And she sold out her own uncle, Nora. That should tell you everything you need to know.”
Nora sighs. “Yeah. But her uncleisBen Wilde, so…”
“He’s still her family. I don’t trust her.”
“Probably for the best,” my sister says. “I’d tell anyone else to stay alert, but I know you’re literally always alert. A bit too alert.”
“That’s right.”
“I can’t wait to meet her, you know,” Nora says. “I’m not going to let you tie yourself to someone just for revenge. Or if you are, I’m going to be there next to you when you do it.”
“Nora,” I protest.
“West and I are coming. Just you wait. You won’t be able to shut us out.”
I run a hand through my hair. I’m already sweaty, the heat in here intense. This many people are not meant to be crammed into one basement. Uproarious applause rings out. Another match has concluded, and it’s my turn.
“Where are you?” Nora asks. “Are you at a concert? It’s like two a.m. in Italy. I figured you’d be awake but working.”
