I wanted to be pissed at his words, wanted to say fuck it and grab my gun again to put an end to this bullshit, but I didn’t because he was right. If he wanted my sister, I wanted him to come to me like a man and say that shit with his chest. I should’ve done the same for him because like I said, we had gotten to know each other well and I did respect him. I could fall back on the stance that what Dakota and I do is our business, which was definitely true. But there were rules, expectations and protocols between men like us. Men who walked in a world where disrespect could get you killed.
So, I nodded. “My bad for that.”
Another stare down began and ended moments later with his slight nod. “My father’s gonna want your head on a platter. I won’t stop that from happening if it comes down to it.”
I shrugged. “Wouldn’t expect you to. And I’ll cross that bridge on Sunday when we plan to tell your family.”
His eyes widened again. “Y’all really out here playin’ with fire.”
The corner of my mouth lifted. “Been doing that for forty-four years, no need to stop now.”
“Yeah, you’re saying that today while you’re sitting in this office but wait until Sunday when he’s right across from you at the dinner table.”
I wasn’t afraid of any man and Cade knew that. Did I want his father to bless my marriage to Dakota? Yes, for Dakota’s sake. I stopped asking for approval a long time ago and wasn’t about to start again now.
Ignoring that remark, I continued, “The pictures will be down by noon, and I’ll take care of the photographer. Outside of that, I’ll see you on Sunday.”
Cade stood, and I did the same. Walking around the desk, I extended my hand to him. “Handle that shit and make sure itdoesn’t happen again. I’ll go to war about her,” he said seriously and clapped his hand into mine.
“As will I,” I said.
PART TWO
THE CONSEQUENCES
CHAPTER 14
DAKOTA
“Excuse me?” Brenda Baynor-Donovan set her fork on her plate with a clank and raised one perfectly arched brow.
Charles Donovan sat at the head of the table, his handsome face immediately twisting into a scowl.
Shawna Donovan choked on the wine she’d just swallowed and Cade, shooting a frown my way, gently patted his wife’s back.
“We’re married, Mrs. Donovan,” Fabian said and lifted my hand which he’d been holding under the table, high so everyone could see my ring.
Earlier today had been the first time I’d slipped it on after getting dressed, instead of making sure it was inside its pouch in whichever purse I was carrying for the day. As I stood in his—it would eventually be ours, so I’d better get used to referring to it that way. As I stood inourbedroom staring at my hand, Fabian stopped dressing to come over and stand in front of me. He’d taken my hand and brought it up to his lips to kiss the ring, then my fingers, then my palm. Eventually, his lips found their way tomine and the anxiety that had been stalking me since I opened my eyes this morning had dissipated.
Now that shit was back with a vengeance.
Even with him sitting right beside me, with his hand gripping mine, the weight in the center of my chest threatened to crush me.
“Since when?” Mama kept her gaze on me.
I couldn’t look away and wouldn’t lie while her eyes implored me to tell the truth. “Fifteen months ago.” The words came out faster and stronger than I thought they would. “There was a conference in Vegas. Fabian came with me.”
“My proposal surprised her,” he said lowering my hand.
“Not enough for her to turn you down,” Mama snapped. She was still staring at me, and I felt like I had been stripped of everything that made me hers.
There was no familiarity in her gaze, no warmth, just pain.
“It was my idea to get married before we left Vegas.” This wasn’t going to get any easier, may as well just put it all out there. And while I knew that Fabian planned to sit here and take the brunt of this secret on his shoulders, I wasn’t going to let him. I loved him dearly for being ready to take the hit for me, but I created this mess, so I would be the one to sort through it. “It was also my idea to keep it a secret when we came home.”
“A secret marriage. Is that how we raised you? To make life-changing decisions then run around behind our backs trying to keep us from finding out.” Mama dropped her hands to her lap and sighed.
“Your ring is beautiful,” Shawna said after another sip of wine that thankfully went down smoothly. “Congratulations to you both.” Her smile was genuine as she looked from me to Fury.
