Page 42 of In the Dark

His eyes held no emotion. He gave me that dead stare like he didn’t give a shit one way or the other. “I don’t care what your aunt and cousins think, Jas. If you’re that concerned, make it a good one.”

“I don’t have the means to do that,” I blurted out and then snapped my mouth shut. It was the truth, of course, and that’s what he needed to understand, but our family didn’t like to appear broke.

“My money is your money now when it comes to our wedding.” Callahan’s eyes burned holes into mine as if he wanted to assess whether I was putting on a show. “Your businesses need to know where your allegiance lies sooner rather than later. I don’t need them getting other ideas. You know the Irish are circling too. Invites need to go out tomorrow.”

“I don’t think—”

“Good. Because I didn’t ask for any of your thoughts on this. It’s the deal your family agreed to. It was your signature on the contract, was it not?”

“So, what? I just don’t get a say through this whole marriage?”

“I’m letting you plan the wedding.”

“In two weeks!”

“This isn’t the one of your dreams, Viper. It’s just a performance so that we can get it done.” He gestured around his estate. “Make yourself at home, keep the cat locked up, and utilize Paradise Grove for any planning help you may need. And my future sister-in-law, Mia, is sure to come by. She’ll help. Just get it done.” He looked at his watch.

“Have somewhere to be?”

“Yeah. Anywhere but here. I have work … a life. Or maybe I have plans of getting my dick wet. So, we done?”

“What a great husband you’ll be.”

“Better than an Irishman.”

“I would have never let that happen.”

“They would have forced you into it.”

His words hit closer to home than I wanted them to. I blinked twice and tried not to rub a hand over the wounds on my stomach. “I won’t let anyone do that to my family.”

“You’re only one person, Viper. You can’t protect your whole family from them.” His tone was soft.

“Isn’t that exactly what I’m doing by marrying you?”

“I guess. But in exchange, you’ve sacrificed yourself, have you not?”

“I’ll live.”

He chuckled, but it sounded almost menacing as he responded, “Confident, Viper. With an attitude like that, we’ll see.”

I sighed and looked toward the ceiling. “How can you possibly want this for two whole years?”

“I want what I’m owed, and since you don’t have it, I’ll collect your hand in marriage instead.”

“All for the family, then?” I hated that I basically lived by that motto.

“Why not?”

“You want an actual baby out of this?”

“I’m not getting any younger, and quite frankly, having a kid without a woman like the one my brother attached himself to at first is probably best.”

“Without … You think I’d leave the child with you?” I was shocked.

“You can stay here to raise the kid, or you can leave, but my kid will be here, Jasmina. Make no mistake. You signed on the dotted line for that.”

“I won’t leave them with you,” I whispered, suddenly sick to my stomach just thinking about it.