Page 137 of Vow to Claim You

“I see him.”

“Should I⁠—”

“No.” I straighten my cuffs and adjust my collar. “Let him in. Show him to the main hall.”

A moment later, I walk to the main hall. Leandro is already standing in the center with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Leandro.” I stop a few steps before him and don’t offer my hand. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Clearly.” His voice is smooth, but there’s an edge beneath it. “I had to hear from my daughter that you’re harboring my other daughter in your home.”

“Harboring.” A dry, humorless laugh escapes me. “Interesting word choice. I would have said protecting.”

“Protecting her from what, exactly?”

“From you.”

Leandro’s composure flickers—just enough for me to see the fury beneath—before he locks it down again. Impressive control. Almost as good as mine.

Almost.

“Naomi is my daughter,” he says evenly. “She belongs with her family.”

“She’s an adult. She belongs wherever she chooses to be.”

“She’s eighteen years old. She doesn’t know what she wants.”

“She knew enough to run.”

Another flicker. Darker this time. I can almost see the calculation. He came here expecting to intimidate me, to throw his weight around, to lean on whatever authority he thinks he has. Now he understands that won’t work, so he’s changing tactics.

“I understand there was a… misunderstanding,” Leandro says, his voice softening. Conciliatory now. Playing the concerned father. “The arrangement I made for Naomi was perhaps presented poorly. She misinterpreted my intentions.”

“Did she?”

“I only want what’s best for her. Surely, you can understand that. You’re a family man yourself now.” He gestures vaguely. “Married to my eldest daughter. We’re practically family, you and I.”

The word family in his mouth sounds both like a threat and a poison.

“Family,” I repeat. “Is that what we are?”

“Of course. Which is why I’m sure we can resolve this… situation… amicably.” He takes a step forward. “Just let me speak to Naomi. Father to daughter. I’m certain I can make her see reason.”

“No.”

Leandro stops mid-step, and his brows twitch. “Excuse me?”

“I said no.” My head angles a fraction. “You’re not speaking to her. You’re not taking her. She remains here, under my protection, for as long as she chooses to stay.”

Leandro’s teeth clench, his eyes filling with rising fury he tries to contain.

“You forget yourself,” he hisses. “I am her father. I have rights⁠—”

“You have nothing.”

I take a step toward him. Enough to close some of the distance. Enough to remind him that he’s in my house, surrounded by my men, and a very long way from Monsera and anyone who might answer to him.

“When Ayanna agreed to marry me, you made promises. About Naomi. About her freedom. About what would happen to her if Ayanna fulfilled her end of the arrangement.” I watch him a fraction. My voice drops. Colder now. “You broke those promises.”