I lift a hand. “You don’t want to fuck with me. I haven’t even started to show you what I’m capable of.”
“Fine.” Her father straightens his jacket, swallowing hard. “If this is the only way—if this saves the company—”
Her mother jerks to him. “You can’t be serious? You can’t let her marryhim,” she bellows.
“It’s better than ruin,” he snaps, voice breaking. He turns back to me. “You have a deal.”
I nod slowly, savoring the moment he signs his soul away with words.
“Good, I’ll draw up the final paperwork. We’ll do it legally. Privately, though. No one can know. Do you understand?”
This part is imperative. If my uncle ever finds out what I’m doing, he’ll kill me.
Her mother’s eyes narrow.
“Don’t worry,” I coo. “I won’t hurt her.” Not that she cares. “Not physically.” I turn toward the door. “Tell your daughter,” I say softly, “the wedding will be soon.”
“She won’t agree.”
I pause, then glance back at the vile woman. “You’d be surprised what people agree to when they realize I’ve left them no other choice.”
With that done, I walk out of the office and down the hallway.
The last time I was here, I was a boy . . .
Now I’m not.
Now . . .
I’m their worst nightmare.
28
Victoria
The phone rings while I’m halfway through a sad excuse of a sandwich—gluten-free bread, wilted greens, and the most pathetic piece of turkey I’ve ever seen—when my mother’s name flashes across the screen.
Shit.
Why is she calling?
I freeze.
She never calls twice in two days. She barely calls twice in two months.
I can’t handle any more of this shit. For a moment, I consider not answering. With all the shit going on with my family, though, I don’t have the luxury of denial. I need to know what she wants.
I swipe to answer. “Hi, Mom?”
“Victoria, you need to come home. Now.”
Hello to you too.
Would it kill the woman to show a little emotion toward me?
“What happened? Did something else go wrong at the company?”
“Don’t ask questions. Just come home.”
