He dropped the file on my desk and withdrew a page. “You’ve been gone three months, and I felt your absence.” His voicesoftened suddenly. “I’m glad you’re back to work so we can get this righ—”
“How did Xavier find me and Alex? At that motel?” My voice shook, but I forced myself to speak.
It was my first day back at work and the very first day without a bodyguard, and I had no intention of catching up on anything. My life was splintered, and while I lived in prison, I lost all obligations.
“As I said,” my father continued, ignoring my question. “You’re going to take the lead on this, and there’s a lot to go ov—”
“You already won, just answer my question! How did he find us? Were you following us?”
My father stared at me; his eyes filled with disapproval. His eyes were green just like mine, and I hated that. I hated everything about me that came from him—the color of my eyes, my last name, my stubbornness, my anger.
My whole entire bloodline.
“Why are you doing this to me?” I pleaded for an answer. “Do you hate me? Did I hurt you somehow? Do you like to see me suffer?”
His eyebrows jumped up, and he took a step toward my empty desk, slowly sinking into a chair.
“No, Jady,” he implored, offended I’d ask that. “I love you. I want to see you happy. See you smile and enjoy your life. Marriage…” he trailed off, oblivious to my racing heartbeat. “Marriage is one of the most, if notthemost important things in life.”
I tried to catch my breath, unnerved by how composed he was.
“And arranging that for you was my first priority. I understand it might take time for you two to work it out, but Xavier is the life partner you want beside you. He’s smart, rich, and he loves you very mu—”
“Arrange? What does that mean? What did you arrange?” I interrupted, stuck on one specific word. Cold sweat beaded on my palms as I watched my father stand and close my office door, promptly turning back to me.
“Nothing,” he shook his head. “It doesn’tmeananything. Xavier came to me for a blessing, and I gave it to him.”
I gulped, holding back the bitter tears, having no clue what to say, what to think, or how to continue this charade.
“Under one condition,” he suddenly added, his gaze eating me alive.
I understood then.
In the stifling stillness of my office, we looked at each other, both of the same blood and flesh, but the true definition of enemies.
“You promised me to Xavier.” Xavier’s words rushed back to me.I’m entitled to what was promised to me.“You promised that he could have me…if he killed Alex,” I summarized quietly, the last of my heart grinding into dust.
Sebastian Moretti—U.S. Attorney, murderer, the worst father in the world—strolled toward the window behind me.
“You knew,” I murmured. “You knew Alex was with me. And instead of talking to me…you planned it all behind my back.”
“You think you’re so smart, Jade, but you’re just a stupid little girl. I knew who took you right after you came back. Slater told us.”
I twisted my head to my father, not expecting this news.
“Well, he didn’t say it outright, but…he told us they were getting desperate. Looking for ways to dampen the pressure we were putting on them, and you know what?” He turned to me, his hands behind his back, and all of him so relaxed and casual. “It almost worked. I was very worried about you. If they demanded to shut it all down in exchange for you…I would’ve agreed.”
I sat glued to my chair, stunned by my father’s sincerity. Heknew.And he pretended so well.
“When their office burned down, I had very strong suspicions you told them we were coming. And then Xavier confirmed it all for me. And I had to act. You chose him over me—I get that.” He nodded, looking away again. “But you can’t stand up to me, Jade, I’m sorry. I’m always one step ahead.”
I sniffled loudly, the image of dying Alex ever present in my eyes.
“Wh-why didn’t you just t-talk to me?” I whispered. “Why didn’t you s-say something?”
“Talk to you? You would have let him go? No.” He clicked his tongue and chuckled bitterly. “No, it all worked out perfectly. Alex is dead, Pavlov will rot away in prison. I have enough dirt on him to keep him there until his time comes. I’ll pull all the strings to break him down.”
My father turned back to me, the spark in his eyes making me cry harder. The bitterness on my tongue, the fluttering of my battered heart, the pain inside me…it was allhis.He stood there and watched the way he squished me into nothing.