Page 106 of Three Stepbrothers Save Christmas

Looking at Travis, I remember the way he held me together when I thought I would never feel whole again.

“I think we all need to calm down and remember why we are here,” Mr Nicholson says, placing a hand on my back and guiding me further into the room.

“Verity, I know you are aware of a little agreement that’s been made about you marrying my son. Your father believes it would be a good match. However, Travis thinks you disagree. What do you think about it all?” he asks. I know by his tone that he’s being condescending, and I hate it.

“I don’t want to marry your son. I want to leave here with Travis and never see anyone else again,” I admit, looking up at him through my eyelashes. I told myself I was going to be strong, forceful and confident. But now I’m here, and I can see Travis being pinned to the floor; all strength has evaporated.

“She doesn’t know what she’s saying. It’s him, he’s got to her,” My father yells before yelping in pain. I turn just in time to see someone give him a backhand across the face.

“Shut up,” the guy warns him before looking back to his boss.

“Do you know why your father agreed for you to marry my son?” Nicholason asks. I nod, still not quite believing the whole thing.

“He owes you money,” I answer. Hating that my father would choose to give me up over any amount owed.

“He does, which is where we come to a standstill because if you don’t marry my son and let me access your inheritance, then I will be out of pocket by a lot. And if there is anything I hate more in the world other than liars, it’s losing money.” Mr Nicholson moves to be next to me and places an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. Travis instantly starts fighting again, but I shake my head at him, and he stops.

“What inheritance?” I ask, frowning. “I don’t have any inheritance to give you.”

Mr Nicholson looks from me to my father and laughs.

“You weren’t lying; she really doesn’t have a clue.” He looks back at me and smiles. “Your mother left you a hefty sum of money, Verity. When you marry, it will become available to you, and your father has promised it all to me.”

I look at my father and see from his face that Mr Nicholson isn’t lying. How much am I meant to get?

“Can’t I just promise it to you, and we leave it at that?” I ask, hopeful he will accept the offer. But when he shakes his head, my heart sinks further.

“How can I trust you to do that when your father has done everything he can to get out of paying me what is owed? You must understand why I can’t just let Mr Donavon here take you so you can have your happily ever after. I need you to marry my son and let me turn your inheritance into more than it is already worth.” He nods to one of the guys who is holding Travis down. He moves so quickly it takes a second to register what’s happening.

One second, Travis is pinned to the ground, staring at me; the next, he has a gun to his head, and his whole body freezes.

“No, please!” I beg as I start to panic. “Please don’t hurt him!” I try to get to Travis as my heart races, but Mr Nicholson keeps hold of my shoulders, pinning me in place.

“I don’t want to hurt him, Verity. I just can’t have you leaving here with him and me losing out on all that money. It wouldn’t be good business.”

“Please,” I cry as I stare at my Daddy lying there with the barrel of a gun at his head.

“It’s okay, Sweetheart. Whatever happens, it’s okay,” Travis whispers calmly.

“It’s not okay; I want you; I love you!” I scream, shrugging off Mr Nicholson’s arm and rushing to Travis. I wrap my arms around his head to try and protect him.

Crying, I look up at Mr Nicholson and then at my father.

“Please, don’t make me do this?” I beg him. “If you love me at all, you will stop this,” I beg. Praying that he will show me some sign that he is still there, that he’s still my dad.

“Now stop it. You are throwing a tantrum, and I won’t have. This is not the girl I raised. You are acting like a spoilt child.” I stare at him as I feel Travis stiffen in my arms. “You will do as you are told and act like you have been brought up to behave. Get up from that floor, and enough with this nonsense.”

I stay there staring at the man I have spent my whole life looking up to. I have changed who I am to suit him, yet I beg him to save me from a forced marriage, to save the love of my life from being shot in the head, and he has the nerve to tell me I’m throwing a tantrum.

Before I can reply, I feel someone grab my arms and pull me to my feet away from Travis. I start screaming and fighting to get back to him, but all I can hear is my father screaming at me to behave and remember myself.

“Sweetheart, stop.”

His voice gets through to me when nothing else does.

“Look at me, no one else, just me.”

I turn my head to look at Travis lying on the floor, the gun back pointing to his head.

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