Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
“Not too long ago, I gave Jonah my blessing to work with authorities to put Thaddeus away for a while. To give us all a break. But since the headache of my second-born went away permanently instead and has since made all our lives much better I now realize that regardless of familial ties, the family garden needs to be kept free of weeds. Weeds strangle the health of the rest of the garden. I will no longer hesitate to weed the Steele garden, my sons. You all know your role in this family. You all know the rules. Now you all also know that my tolerance for bullshit from my children is nil. And I’m not talking about making sure people are tried for the crimes they’ve committed.”
My father then squeezed my shoulder poignantly before letting go, stepping back, and walking back to his house.
The looks on Asher’s, Jonah’s, and Elijah’s faces showed emotion at the display of conditional love from the man who made us.
It didn’t faze me. Not a bit. Ever since I was a child and knew he wasn’t going to pay my kidnapper the ransom he could easily afford, I’ve always known I’m expendable to my father.
The hotel I chose is a five-minute drive from the courthouse and another short drive in the morning to the airport. Lunch hour traffic is still a little heavy but it’s not long until we’re here.
I scoop her up into my arms to carry her over the threshold of our hotel suite, startling her.
Once we’re on the other side of the door, I put the do-not-disturb sign on the knob, close, and lock it.
There’s champagne chilling in a bucket beside a dish of strawberries and the bed is turned down.
I look at my bride, who is staring at the bed.
“Well...” I start and her eyes dart to me, “Dinner is being delivered at seven so, we’ve got a little under six hours to consummate our marriage.”
“Are they safe?” she asks quietly, hands shaking.
I sit, keeping her on my lap and grab both hands, pressing my lips to the top of one, then the other. “They’re fine.”
“I… I need to talk to them.”
“You can speak with Alannah. I’ve already told you, Hallman no longer exists for you.” I reach into the inside pocket of my tuxedo and pass Chloe her phone. “Make it fast, baby. I’m very ready to consummate our marriage.” I kiss her on the jaw. She rises from my lap and goes to the window, giving me her back.
I reach for the champagne bucket as she shakily touches her screen before putting her phone to her ear.
“Lan?” she whispers and then starts to weep, entire body shuddering out relief. “You’re okay? Yeah? I’m so, so sorry.”
She holds the phone, her shoulders shaking with her silent crying for a moment before she continues to speak. “I can’t help it. I feel responsible. You’re sure you’re okay? For sure? Yep. Yeah, it’s done. Le Meridien, but don’t do anything. Don’t! Okay… He said Saturday. Yeah. No, no prenup… Are you still there? No, he doesn’t believe in divorce. Okay, yeah. Okay. Love you. I will.” She holds the phone a minute. “I know. Bye.”
She ends the call and drops her arms before putting her forehead to the window.
“Chloe?” I call.
It takes a minute before she turns to me, looking resigned.
I pass her a glass of champagne. She takes it.
“A toast,” I say, holding my glass up. “To our future. To happily ever after for both of us.” I touch her glass with mine.
She drinks the entire thing back. As she puts her glass down, I wrap both arms around her and pull her tight to me.
“I’m gonna make you so fucking happy,” I vow.
She shakes her head, then pushes me with both hands against my chest, looking angry.
I release her.
“The ends will justify the means, baby.”
She backs away from me, shaking her head with anger emanating from her entire being.
“Go ahead and get ready for me. There’s bridal lingerie in there. I haven’t seen it yet. I had the staff set it in there for you when they brought our things here. Go, put it on for me.”
Her eyes narrow. Her little fists clench.
I let out a little chuckle and refill both glasses with champagne.
“While it’d be fun to entertain your temper and bring you to heel, not today. Today, I want to make love to you to consummate our marriage, so please go put on your lingerie and come back to me, Mrs. Steele.”
Her nostrils flare and she unclenches and re-clenches her fists.
“Now, baby. Don’t disappoint me.” I flash her a smile.
She stomps to the bathroom and slams the door as hard as she can. I laugh.
I step out of the fancy bathroom into the lavish honeymoon suite wearing a white lace number that’s the epitome of bridal lingerie while also being overtly sexual. The white lace nightie falls to my ankles with a deep slit up the front of one leg as well as a plunging neckline and delicate, scalloped straps criss-crossing over my breasts and down my back.