Page 187 of Delilah In Discretion

I flinched as we heard another voice.

“Hey... that was a low blow, and you know it,” Uncle Eugene said, coming onto the patio.

Archer shrugged as he looked back over to my father. “Are we done?” he questioned him as my father lowered the shotgun.

“For now, it appears we are,” Dad replied, and my mother grabbed his arm forcefully as she dragged him inside, scolding him on the way.

Uncle Eugene gave us a small wave before walking inside, and I scoffed at Archer.

“Are you trying to get killed?” I asked him sincerely.

He bit his lip as he pulled me down to his lap playfully and placed a kiss on my neck. “To be quite honest, Princess... I was shitting bricks the entire time. The second your uncle came up, I almost gave out. I’m not scared of your father, believe me. But your father with a shotgun and your murderous uncle by his side… that, I am not a fan of,” he said truthfully.

I shook my head. “Don’t be so rude,” I muttered playfully, and he chuckled before placing a kiss on my head.

We were stopped once again by the sound of the door opening, and I looked over to see my mother with a large smile plastered on her face and my father with a face that held the opposite emotion.

Smiling from ear to ear, my mother spoke happily. “Now that we’re a family again… who wants to go on a family trip!”

Chapter sixty-five

Omniscient

“When Brielle mentioned a family trip... this is not what I had in mind,” Killian muttered as he sat across from Calvin, who was head-deep in their game of chess.

Calvin paid him no mind as he moved his pawn. “Your move.”

Killian glared at the man as Brielle walked over from the beach house and onto the sand with a tray and a few glasses of lemonade.

“Here you are, gentlemen. I see we’re still playing nice.” She beamed, ignoring her husband’s glare directed at her as Calvin smiled genuinely.

“Yes, Brielle… Thank you for the extended invitation to this wonderful vacation. I am most definitely enjoying my stay. It’s surprising to see that Killian is even being courteous,” Calvin replied with a smile, and Killian took in a deep breath before looking away and gazing at the beach where he saw his children playing… along with Blaine. They were enjoying a game of volleyball, and it was good to see even the younger ones joining in.

He was brought out of his thoughts as Brielle placed a hand under his chin as she turned his head to face Calvin.

“Well, it’s good that you both are finally getting along. I’m going to find the twins.” She smiled, placing a kiss on Killian’s cheek as she walked off.

Resisting the urge to turn his head to watch her hips sway as she walked away, he moved his bishop on the board.

“Seems like you’re about to snap,” Calvin muttered, and Killian sighed.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I snapped the moment we got off the plane, but I’ve been keeping my temper under control for the sake of Delilah and Brielle’s stress with the baby.”

“Are you sure you haven’t kept it under control for me as well? It’s best we start letting bygones be bygones. We’re practically family at this point,” Calvin remarked, smiling.

Killian shook his head. “We’re not. And the only reason you want to be family is so our businesses will merge, which isn’t happening, might I remind you.”

“Oh, really? Hmm,” Calvin responded as he moved his knight on the board.

Killian tilted his head. He knew to never expect anything sensible from the man who’s been pining after his business for the last two decades, but Calvin seemed… unfazed by his words at the moment.

“That’s it? That’s your response? Fifteen years of planning, and your only response is, ‘Oh, really?’ You couldn’t have honestly thought that I wouldn’t put an end to whatever plan you had, did you?”

“I mean… I accounted for it, so in a sense, I did slightly suspect it to happen, but just because one method may not work doesn’t mean I won’t be able to find a loophole or crack.” Calvin shrugged as Killian moved his rook.

“Doesn’t it get tiring? The game or the chase? Having to constantly find a way to outdo me or figure out a way to maneuver yourself into my multibillion-dollar company?”

“Not at all. Same reason why you get a thrill every time you secure an account that could’ve been for me, or you succeed in whatever you want me to fail in. You need me, Killian, and in a sense, I need you.”

---