And yet Lassit didn’t seem quite as confident as he should have.
“Because your father wasn’t stupid enough to leave any evidence somewhere you could find it, before or after his death, and destroy it,” Jack said. “Copies of the contract are lodged with the Courts. The very Courts you are no doubt planning to petition. As for the originals, those are, of course, in my personal vault. The contract is ironclad, Lassit.”
Lassit’s large hands bunched into fists and he shifted his weight. “Forged,” he said roughly.
“It was witnessed three years ago by his lawyer, my lawyer, and an independent lawyer attached to the Council.”
“Arden said…” He thrust an agitated hand through the side of his hair. “You went behind my back three years ago?Jack.”
The man had the nerve to sound hurt, Beckett marvelled.
“I didn’t go behind your back. Your father was the one who contacted me to offer me Arden.”
“You only like alphas. Everyone knows it. You made very sure of that when we were younger.” Lassit scowled. “Why would he?—”
Jack raised a single brow, and Lassit’s face at that! It hardened like a stone.
“Your father was devastated when Arden was born an omega, Lassit. You know he was.”
Beckett felt that blow in his gut. He hoped, suddenly and fiercely, that even if Lassit knew, Arden didn’t.
“HelovedArden,” Lassit said.
“Enough to secure his future by asking me to marry him, at least.”
“Whyyou, for fuck’s sake! Arden didn’t need to marry anyone, least of allyou! I’d have taken care of him. Don’t look at me like that. I would.”
“You wouldn’t know how. Arden is a gentle man. You’re not even a good man.”
“Oh, and you are?”
“Not particularly, no. Which is what I told your father, when he offered Arden to me.”
“I’ll take him off your hands,” Lassit said instantly.
“And when I said that,” Jack continued, “your father stopped offering. He got on his knees. He begged me to take Arden.”
It wasn’t any easier hearing that the second time.
“Fuck’s sake.” Lassit threw his arms out. “This melodrama is unnecessary!”
“This melodrama? Lassit, you were auctioning him to the highest bidder.”
Lassit’s jaw clenched. “I was giving people the opportunity to court him.”
“With their dicks?” Beckett said.
Jack huffed a surprised laugh. Lassit didn’t even acknowledge him.
“You’d have given Arden away,” Jack said.
“Temporarily. Because I must. That was it. He’d have come home and never been bothered again. Not once. Be realistic, Jack. You must know what a state Papa left Dalbryn’s financesin. Arden would have fixed all that with one short affair, and then I’d have fixed it for him.”
“I’ll bet,” Beckett said. Jack didn’t laugh this time. He shot Beckett a warning glance, which Beckett wasn’t going to pay any attention to, thanks. Still nothing from Lassit.
Jack went on, “He’s your family, Lassit. Not a family asset. There’s a difference.”
“If I’d explained to Arden what the family needed, he’d have agreed to do it. So what difference does it make? I was saving him unnecessary anxiety over something there was no avoiding.”
