Page 56 of Brutal Savage

“You’re always so pleasant.” He chuckles. “I’m just here to say hello. Have a minute?”

I inhale sharply, knowing to expect the worst. “Let’s go into my office.”

“Alright.” We pass Brody on the way, sitting beside the dog, and this is the first time my father has met her. “Hey!” He walks toward Bubbles, kneeling to pet her. “I’ve heard a lot about you. She’s so cute,” he tells Brody, who nods, refusing to smile.

Hopefully, once Elara is here, she can get this kid to smile for everyone.

The moment she comes to my mind, my cock twitches, still wanting inside her.

Scrubbing my face with a rough palm, I chase the scent of her away, needing to stop this madness.

“I’ll see you in a bit, buddy,” Dad tells Brody before we’re marching down the hall and entering my office.

I shut the door while he settles on the sofa.

“So, I needed to talk to you about a possible marriage arrangement.”

“Are you fucking kidding?” I run an irritated hand down my hair. “I told you last time I would never agree to that.”

“Yes, but you should take a look at her. She’s the daughter of one of our associates. Beautiful. Smart. Docile. Just the way you like them.”

“You don’t know what I like.”

Docile is the last thing I want. I want her tempered and fierce. I want to see the flames in her eyes.

It’s then I see Elara. And I hate it.

I can’t marry her. That would never work. I crave her too much. Would be impossible to keep our marriage as merely a business arrangement. I need to marry someone I feel nothing for.

This thing with her and me is just attraction. Heavy, burdening attraction that weighs on my chest until I can’t breathe. It’s why she can’t be the one I marry.

Yet who else is there?

My father ignores me and removes his phone, pressing a few buttons before he’s shoving it into my hand.

I stare at a brunette with brown eyes. She’s pretty. But she does nothing for me.

I hand him the cell back. “I don’t want her.”

He groans. “Look, son, you’re making this more difficult than it needs to be. Find a wife, make sure she’s what you want on paper, and get her pregnant. That’s all.”

“That’s all?” I chuckle, then my face turns hard. “You’re making me do something I never wanted to do.”

“But you want to take over for me. Unless you want me to pass my seat to Iseult. Though do you really want your lineage to die with you? Don’t you want children to pass along your wealth and your name to?”

“Maybe.”

That thought isn’t as bad as the thought of marriage, but I have Brody. However, for my father, that’s not enough. He wants lots of grandkids.

“That seat is mine.” I glare, and his mouth jerks.

“That’s my boy. Now, if you don’t agree to a wife on your own, you will marry Cassidy.” He lifts his phone in the air.

Fuck that.

“Do you have anyone else in mind at all? Or are you buying time, thinking I’ll bloody forget?”

“Maybe…”

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