Page 27 of Protective Phlox

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you holding this dinner? We never have meals together unless we are entertaining influential guests. You killed that family tradition years ago. You obviously disapprove of who I chose to marry, so what is your reasoning?”

“You misunderstand who is still in charge of this family.” My teeth ground together. I needed no reminding. “I do not need a reason, and I can hold whatever meals I want or do not want to have. That is my right as head of the family,” he said and took a sip of his drink.

“So, this dinner is an order,” I asked, leaning back in my seat.

“It is. I want to get to know my grandson.”

I snorted before I could hold it back, and he glared at me. “You may meet him, but that’s all you’ll get.”

His eyes narrowed. “Is that so?”

“I don’t care what seat you hold in this family. You’ll never treat my son the way you treated me. It’s a line I suggest you do not cross.” My threat was in the words unspoken. With my hands on the edge of the desk, my thumb ran over the butt of the gun strapped underneath.

“Are you threatening me, Nathaniel?” My father gulped down the rest of his drink and slammed the glass down with a bang.

“Take it however you like, but I will protect what is mine from anyone. That includes you.”

He stood and buttoned up his blazer. “I merely came in here to offer an olive branch, and I’m met with insubordination and hostility. How are we supposed to get past this animosity between us when you don’t even try?”

“That is not the reason you came in here. You’re saying that to try and manipulate me into believing you and falling in line like I once would.” I stood up so he wasn’t towering over me, forcing him to stare me in the eyes. “And it is too late to heal the wounds between us even if it was the real reason. As I said, I will let you meet Cutter, but do not try to undermine me, or I will move my family out of this house and away from you. Keep pushing me after that, and we will learn where the soldiers’ loyalty lies. That is a promise.” His jaw twitched. Ten, even five years ago, he would’ve taken a swing at me for speaking to him like this, but he knew better now. The dog he abused was now big enough to bite back.

“Dinner is tonight at six o’clock,” he said.

“Do you plan on having your latest whore with you?”

His face flamed red, his anger filling the room as quickly as a dam breaking open. My father was a serial cheater, but he’d never brought one home. They were all given fancy places to stay, sometimes two or three of them living together as he lavished them with money that should’ve been invested into the family. I kept tabs on it all, right down to the Louis Vuitton purses, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Versace clothes that he dressed them in. It was all a show. He loved to frequent the clubs and restaurants with the young women draped on his arm like an accessory to flaunt for all the other men there. Another show of power, and for what?

“I would never do that to your mother,” he said, and for once in his life, he looked genuine, but I still found it hard to believe.

“Why not? You chose to rip her soul out. Why does where you do it matter?”

“I refuse to argue with you again about this, Nathaniel. My personal life is my own.”

I smirked. “Lessons from a father to a son can be learned both ways. You stay out of mine, and we won’t have a problem. See how easy that is?”

He shook his head at me and opened his mouth like he was going to say something more, but instead turned and marched out. I was no saint and never pretended to be, but I would never become him. I’d eat a bullet before I ever did.

Chapter

Twelve

NATHANIEL

My ass had no sooner hit the leather seat when Savannah marched into my office. Unlike my father, who I wanted to shoot, her furious expression only made me want to bend her over my desk.

She stopped just behind my guest chairs, cocked a hip, and crossed her arms. Her eyes were sparkling with anger, and I had no idea what I’d done to incur her wrath, but I liked it. She looked at the water glass on my desk with a red lipstick stain, and I immediately saw what was behind the anger. Little sparks of jealousy were dancing in her icy blue depths. I liked this.

“Are you going to say something or just stand there silently fuming at me,” I asked and leaned back.

Savannah gripped the backs of the two chairs, her fingers digging into the leather, and fuck me, it was hot. She leaned forward just enough that her long hair fell over her shoulders, framing her face, and all I could picture was wrapping it in my hand.

“So, let me get this straight. You don’t have time to talk to me about anything important, like your son, but you manage to make time for some other woman? You dragged me away from my life for what? So that you could flex your power over me? Prove that you hold all the cards. And for what? We haven’t even chosen a school for Cutter to go to, and yet you seem to have time for everyone else.”

I cocked my eyebrow at her, but she only narrowed her eyes into a steely glare. “Savannah, you aren’t jealous, are you?”