Page 106 of The Merciless King

Why isn’t he even trying? It’s like there’s a thought trying to knock on the door inside my mind. I’m missing something.

Why hasn’t he asked?

Why hasn’t he fought for me?

That wasn’t a declaration of love, it was a tortured ending to a romance which barely got started.

Did Braxton ask my father if he could be with me?

Is that what happened?

Papa would say no, obviously.

I stare at the ceiling, angrily wiping away a tear.

Would I go? If the opportunity arose, would I really leave my family? My life. Everything I’ve ever known?

I don’t know.

Perhaps I might if I knew the man I was leaving with truly loved me. This wouldn’t just be a marriage or life commitment for me. This would be life or death. My father wouldn’t just let me be kidnapped. Or let me run away.

I am a pawn to be traded to the Baldoni’s.

The reality is, there aren’t that many Connor Barrett’s in the world. Mia’s fairytale is not the norm.

I kind of hate her for it.

Except, I like her.

I touch my lips, feeling Braxton’s last kiss and wonder if he will return tonight. Or is this what he does? Roams the world, breaking hearts in his wake, making empty promises.

He’s thirty-one and doesn’t have any roots. That I know of.

God, maybe he has a wife in Spain or Monte Carlo.

Or both!

I don’t know.

I roll onto my side and stuff the pillow under my face, letting more stupid tears fall. This wasn’t how it was meant to go. Braxton was a sexy distraction, someone I wanted to stay in the United States to have fun.

To enjoy mutual pleasure.

A man who desired me—me!—not the power of my father and family business.

Did I just hand it all to him?

Oh...

Woah...wait a minute.

I sit up, drawing in a breath and wiping my eyes.

Did Braxton Rossi play me?

Did he play me right from the damn beginning? Did he know what he was doing?

Have I been completely manipulated?

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