Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“Say hello to your fiancé, Fiora,” my father says with zero emotion. “The Frosts have graciously offered to join our family in union.”
I knew this was coming, but the knot in my stomach drops anyway now that it’s been spoken. Fiancé. Married to the enemy. Handed over like livestock. What about Marco? I spent years trying to get my father to accept him, and after a few hot tips led to the discovery of spies within our business empire, he was beginning to trust the cop.
All it took was one second for everything to get turned upside down.
“Do you think this is a good idea, Papa?” I offer. He told me to be quiet, but I won’t sit here and accept this without a fight. “It’s so soon after Mason left us. Shouldn’t we be looking for who did it?”
His eyes burn with a fire hotter than Mason’s car bomb. “That is none of your business.”
It’s a firm warning to shut up and look pretty. I don’t bother answering him. Instead, I reach for my wine glass and take a large gulp.
“The only business you need to concern yourself with is having sons.”
My father claps his hands together twice, and the door slides open. Alonso enters, bows nearly ninety degrees, and fishes a manila envelope from his inner coat pocket. My father gestures toward Braken, and Alonso hand-delivers whatever is inside to him.
“These are from two weeks ago. She’s in perfect health. Clean. Ready to bear children as soon as you’re married.”
I stare at the envelope in horror. My private medical records. My cheeks burn in anger and shame at the audacity.
“How did you get that?” I question a little harder than I intend.
“That doctor works for me.” My father claps his hands together. “I always keep a close eye on my investments. It’s high time you pay me back for years of your allowance. Go ahead and check for yourself, Braken.”
Braken pushes the envelope to his left and doesn’t pick it up. His jaw is tight, and his eyes seem to darken as he sits there. He’s clearly angry, but I’m not sure why. Is he as upset about this arrangement as I am?
Why doesn’t he refuse? He’s a grown man? He’s successful in his own right. Why would he do this?
Why would I do this?
I don’t have to… and yet… why do I feel I do?
“That won’t be necessary,” he says, his eyes locking with mine. “I know what I’m getting myself into.”
My father and Silvano laugh at Braken’s words, which only further flames my face. Asshole. The worst part of all this is he does know everything about my medical history and that I’m on birth control. It was a requirement of participating in The Hunt. He already had access to everything, and his little secret—our secret—burns me alive. I don’t like that he has that power over me. One slip of the tongue, and he can reveal where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing to my father.
I’m so embarrassed. I can’t believe I’ve already slept with this man. Multiple times. And in the most primal, filthy ways. If my father found out, he’d die of a stroke right here at this table.
I narrow my eyes at him, but Braken Frost is completely unfazed. He reaches into the pocket of his designer coat to fish out a small black box, setting it on the table next to his wine glass. All I can do is exhale through my nose. Everyone already knew about this but me. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.
A large diamond sits between smaller diamonds arranged to look like leaves, all of them glinting as Braken pushes it my way. It’s a test. He won’t slide it on my finger himself because it’s meant to be my answer. As if I have a choice in the matter. My job as first-born daughter is clear: marry to strengthen the family and be grateful for it.
I take the ring from the box and slip it on my finger without saying a word.
“I must say, this arrangement benefits me more.” My father laughs as he lifts his wine glass in a toast. “As soon as you’re married, her $10,000-a-month allowance is your problem.”
“That’s a lot of shopping trips.” Silvano laughs and takes a sip of his wine. “What would our women do without our funding?”
“Be stuck walking the streets, I’m sure. Youth today always have to rely on our handouts,” my father adds, not congratulating or even acknowledging that his daughter just had a huge life moment becoming engaged.
A knock on the door heralds a waiter who enters carrying a tray of appetizers. It’s the perfect excuse to escape the room before I explode. I excuse myself to “freshen my makeup,” clinging to my clutch as I rush to the bathroom. As soon as I’m locked in one of the stalls, I throw myself onto the lid and begin the breathing technique I learned a while back. Inhale one, two, three. Hold one, two, three. Exhale one, two, three.