Page 99 of Heirs of Havoc

Dad’s office is as dark as he is, a black marble conference table sitting in the middle. Brown leather office chairs surround it, my dad’s the biggest at the end. The one window at the far end of the room gives a sliver of light, but the black blinds are always closed, like they are now. Small gold lamps sit at every chair. Sixteen chairs. Sixteen lamps. The room is empty, except for the hunted bear in the corner.

“Mia.” William’s voice comes from behind me, my sneakers swivelling to it. The oak doors close behind him, telling me this room isn’t ending up as empty as I’d hoped.

My head whips to my father. “I thought you said we’d be alone.”

“You requested that, and this is the best I can do.” He sits at the head of the table before I move towards him. “Anything that concerns us should concern your future husband, don’t you think?”

“My future husband? Dad—”

“Don’t you understand what’s best for you, Mia?” William’s words cut me off, his suit as black as my dad’s and those blues look icier than ever. “I’m where you belong. This is where you belong. With your family. Not those excuses for heirs.”

“That’s all you care about, isn’t it?” I ask. “All you care about is becoming an heir. Well guess what, William, you’re not that. Only if I say so.”

“Well, only if I say so,” Dad chuckles. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulls out a pack of spearmint gum. “Mia, we’ve been through this. I thought you were here not to be difficult.”

“I’m here to talk.”

“Not to get your boyfriend out of trouble?” Dad leans back in his seat, his fingers clasped.

My brows knit. Does he know? “No, I—”

“He’s gone, Mia.” William approaches me. “The minute you stepped in here, we released Federov to his men.”

When my head whips to my dad, he smiles. Wide. “Oh, you didn’t know?”

The plan we had rips through my head as sweat pools under my pits. It’s cold, but my body is hot fucking lava. Moving towards the window overlooking the large square driveway, I search for a sign. And I get it. Vlad and Lev’s motorcycles leaving the property are the last things I see.

They left me?

“They didn’t tell you this was a trade-off?” Dad swivels in his chair like he's having fun with this. “You, for Dominik Federov. And now that I have what I want, I couldn't care less about them as long as they stay away from you. That’s what we agreed on.”

I can’t speak. I can’t fucking move. Just when I thought my father was the ultimate chess player, Dom proves me wrong. And here I am. A pawn. Again. My hands turn to fists as I look between the two men keeping me hostage. A hostage is all I’ve ever been.

“Oh cheer up, Mia.” Dad spits out his gum, reaching for a cigar. He could never control his vice. “Now that you’re here, we can get the ceremony underway and position you where you need to be for good. With us. With the Merlos and the Romanos, the way I intended when you were a little girl. So, be a good girl for Daddy.” He makes a gesture before William moves. He grabs a garment bag hanging off a hanger on the door of the office bathroom. White lace peeks out from underneath.

“I told you, I’m not marrying him.” I’m through playing anyone else’s game. This time, I’m playing mine. “No fucking way.”

Dad sighs. “You don’t have a choice, Mia. Now, for once, do as you're told.”

William approaches me, wrapping me in his arm. My feet lift off the ground. I thrash, but it’s no use. He pulls the dress over me and I’m not even sure why we need it at this point. I’m not getting the fairytale wedding my mom told me about as a kid. My father's plan is to auction me off in my own home.

“Finally, Mia.” William eyes me in the dress, his eyes glimmering. “Finally, you’re mine.”

CRASH!

The window behind my dad smashes, shards of glass falling to the ground. A brick thuds onto the floor before his voice fills the room, “Well, that’s a fucking a lie.”

Dominik’s long leg climbs through, cased in dark denim. He looks as banged up as he did in that photo, if not worse. Blood decorates his white v-neck, but he still somehow keeps his black blazer. I don’t know how he made it to the rail, high above the ground. But when he goes for my father, I don’t stop him.

He didn’t leave me after all.

“Martin!” William calls for my dad as Dominik’s arms wrap around my father’s neck. His chair tilts back as Dom’s laughter ripples through the room. “Martin!”

William lunges their way, but I stop him in his path, standing in front of him.

“Stay out of this, Romano.” My sprawled hands land on his chest, but he’s bigger than me. So I need to think fast. My eyes move to the garment bag by his head.

Don’t be a wuss.

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