Chapter 55

ZEKE

“Naturally, there are certain questions I don’t want to ask directly in front of Mia.” The boss lets out a booming laugh as we enter his office. I want more than anything to be with her, not with him, but that’s how things have to be. For both our sakes, but mostly for hers. Amazing how my whole mindset has shifted. It used to be my neck I was looking out for.

“Of course. But not to worry. Everything’s been smooth sailing.” I hope lightning doesn’t strike me dead on the spot. Grandma always used to warn me about that if I lied too much.

“I knew I could count on you. You know, in a lot of ways, you’re like a son to me.” He walks over to the bar set up across from his desk, an antique cart trimmed in brass. A lift of his eyebrows in my direction is a silent question. An offering.

“No, thank you. I’m on duty.” I stand with my hands clasped behind my back, as usual.

He laughs again, waving a hand. “We don’t need to go through all that right now. You’ve been on duty nonstop for the past four months. You can relax a little.”

“Thank you, sir.” I accept his offer of bourbon, and a minute later, he hands me a glass, then touches his own to it. He’s in a very festive mood today. Then again, with all the decorations all over the house, I guess he can’t help it. I’ve never seen it decked out like this before, with a tree in every room we passed.

“To successful partnerships.” He drains half the glass, smacking his lips with a satisfied smile. “I haven’t felt this hopeful in a long time, Zeke.”

Obviously, I’m starting to wonder how many drinks he’s already had today. He’s practically floating, bouncing on the balls of his feet. It’s enough to make me suspicious. This is not a man who goes around feeling joyful and positive. It’s enough to make me wonder what’s changed since we left.

“I’m glad to hear that, sir.” He goes to his desk, and I follow him. After gesturing for me to take a seat, he sits in his leather chair and leans back with a sigh. I settle into my chair, though I’m not quite as ready to get comfortable as he is.

Something’s off. I didn’t get to be as good as I am at my job without honing my senses and trusting my instincts. That, plus the many years I’ve known him, tells me he’s about to drop a big piece of news.

And he doesn’t disappoint. “This party tonight. I’ll need you to be there, guarding Mia.”

I eye him up over the rim of my glass. “You think there’ll be trouble?” I ask before taking a sip of the smooth liquor. It burns a familiar, welcome trail down my throat, warmth spreading in my chest.

“Nothing like that,” he assures me. “You’ll be more of a silent message. A reminder.”

“Hands off?” I suggest with a wry smirk.

“Always,” he agrees, chuckling. “But also a reminder of the excellent care that was taken with her all semester. Anybody takes a look at you, and they’ll know for sure no swinging dick got anywhere near my girl.”

None except mine. That’s not even the worst part of what he’s saying. Is this how all fathers treat their daughters? It can’t be. From day one, he’s been obsessed with keeping her a virgin. Do people truly care about that so much? It’s bizarre and way over the line between healthy and twisted.

Why would anybody at this party care—

Oh, no. Why didn’t I see it? It was right there in front of me. Thanksgiving. Business arrangements, travel. And a dinner party tonight, coincidentally the day Mia returned from school.

A jangling noise reaches my ears, and I realize it’s the ice in my glass. I will myself to be still, to stop shaking. “You know I’m always here to handle whatever you need.”

“Lucky for you, you won’t have to worry about it much longer.” His smile is indulgent and maybe the happiest I’ve ever seen from him. “You’ve done excellent work, guarding my most cherished possession. By summer, she won’t be your problem anymore.”

“Do you plan on kicking her out?”

He bursts out laughing. “No—well, not quite kicking her out. The wedding is in June.”

I know what he’s saying, but still, there’s a part of my brain that won’t accept it. “Whose wedding?”

His head snaps back with a look of disbelief on his face. “Mia’s, of course! I told you that was always the endgame. Now, everything’s settled. The contract’s been signed, and everything is in place.”

Focus. Calm. How the hell did I manage half the jobs I’ve pulled off in the past ten years if I can’t handle this? Even my father wondered how I could be so icy and detached while planning to stalk and murder the boss’s enemies. He didn’t have to worry about it long since somebody took him out when I was eighteen. And in the seven years since, I’ve only got harder.

Now? The idea of a wedding has me fighting to keep a straight face. He’s actually doing it. I can’t believe he’s doing it this soon.

“I don’t have to ask whether she knows,” I murmur, gripping the glass for all it’s worth. It’s all that’s holding me together, the feel of it in my hand. The ice’s cold flowing into my palm and my fingers. I focus on it, struggling to contain my reaction.

“I planned to tell her before the party. She’ll meet her husband tonight, along with the rest of his family.”

“With all due respect, it might be easier on her if she finds out well in advance of the party.”

He arches an eyebrow, his smile sliding away. “Explain.” I’ve heard that sound in his voice before, and it doesn’t bode well. But fuck, I have to do something. I have to keep her in mind, even if he won’t.

“You know how emotional she gets,” I explain, rolling my eyes. I hardly know what I’m saying. It’s like another part of my brain kicked into gear to protect me from stepping over the line and ending up with a bullet in my brain. “You don’t want her throwing a fit in front of your guests. Not a great first impression.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “See? This is why I rely on you. You’re right. I don’t want her causing some big, emotional scene. She’ll probably have a lot of questions and maybe some worries.”

You fucking think so? Genius. “I’d be glad to go up to her room and let her know you want to see her.” I’m practically out of the chair already, my body straining to break free, wanting to burst out of this room and run up the stairs. To throw open her door, pick her up, and make a run for it.

“Not yet.” He checks his watch. “Give her a little time to settle in first. I’ll need you to stick around close to her room in case she gets any ideas about throwing a fit up there. I need her on her best behavior for this.”

“Naturally.” I’m like a robot, churning out what I know he wants to hear. My mind is miles away, conflict raging like a storm in my skull. What do I do? I didn’t know it would be this soon. I thought we had time. “What does this do to her plans for next semester? She’s already registered for classes and all that.”

“If it’s that important to her, she can finish out the year.” What a fucking prince. “So long as she promises to behave herself and to keep herself in good shape for the wedding. She’ll have wedding planning stuff to handle along with her schoolwork, of course.” He shrugs like it’s all too far beyond him to give it much thought.

Suddenly, he hits me with a hard stare. “I trust she’s returning to me in the same condition in which she left?”

No need for an explanation there. I nod before taking another swig of bourbon. I hardly taste it now.

“That’s good. I wouldn’t want to renege on one of the conditions of the contract.”

Good thing I’ve already swallowed, or I’d end up spitting expensive bourbon on an even more expensive desk. “That was one of the conditions? That she be… you know…”

“Untouched. Pure.” These people are fucking sick. He makes it sound totally normal to be this obsessed with his daughter’s virginity. “Her future husband wants to be sure she’s saved herself for him, and only him.”

“Would it be out of line to ask who she’s been… promised to?” I came dangerously close to using the word sold. If I’m not careful, I won’t live long enough to warn her about what’s coming.

“Philip Rinaldi’s son, Eric. He’s been to the house before.”

Yes, and I remember exactly who he is—and the sour taste he left in my mouth. Nothing I can put my finger on. I just got a bad feeling about the guy. He’s around my age, maybe a couple of years older, and unlike Mia, he’s been raised in this world.

And evidently, he has certain expectations that I’m sure were drilled into his head by his father and the other men around him.

Eric Rinaldi. It will be him sharing her bed. His children she carries. His name she’ll have to moan night after night even if her heart’s not in it. When I imagine her under that greasy sonofabitch, my teeth grind together hard enough that I’m afraid the boss will hear.

I can’t let that happen. There’s got to be a way out for her.

But not if I want to stay alive.

“I know what’s bothering you.”

My head snaps up. I hadn’t realized I zoned out. “Pardon?”

“You look troubled. I know why.” He sits up straight, pulling the chair closer to the desk. Folding his hands on top, he looks me straight in the eye. “You’re wondering what this means for you. Of course, the Rinaldis will want to furnish Mia with a security detail. They offered the option of taking you on as part of their crew, but I knew you wouldn’t want that.” That last line falls heavy, full of meaning. Even if I wanted to go, he wouldn’t let me. It would be a betrayal, even though the families would now be joined if only on paper.

He takes my silence as agreement. “I want you to know you have nothing to worry about. You’ll always have a place here, in the family. Having you return to your old job duties would be kind of a demotion now, wouldn’t it? That’s why I want you as head of my security detail.”

“Head of security?”

“As of right this minute, yes.” His smile reminds me so much of Mia’s that it’s uncanny. “And with that comes a raise. You deserve it. You’ve done well. I’ll want you at school with her in the spring, but I’ll keep you abreast of matters as they come up around here, so you’ll be up to speed by the time the semester is over, and you transition back to your role with me.”

I know he wants me to thank him, and ordinarily, I would do so without thinking. This is a big promotion, something I thought I wanted before everything I wanted flipped on its head. I can’t even enjoy it. I don’t know if I’ll be able to enjoy anything again. Not with the fact of another man taking what’s mine hanging over my head all the time.

She’s not yours. She never was. And I was nothing but a fool to think she would be.

I hear her running down the hall before I see her. How I know it’s her, I can’t say. I only know it doesn’t come as a surprise when she runs into the room.

Her tears, however, do surprise me. I stand, as does her father.

She glares at him, shaking. “How could you? How could you lie to me? What have you done?”