Page 14 of The Devil's Pawn

“What’s this deal, then?”

I rake both hands through my hair. “There isn’t a deal. I made it up on the fly when Dad dropped this bloody honeymoon on me.”

Nicholas chuckles, his eyes dancing. “That worked.”

My nostrils flare as I push out a huff. Nicholas flops onto the couch, his legs splayed.

“Time to put up or fuck up, brother. What’s the real problem? You get to go to Scotland, which you love, with a gorgeous redhead, who has curves for days. Will fucking her be that much of a chore?”

“I don’t intend to fuck her.”

He steeples his hands and taps his fingertips together. “How are you going to manage that?”

“By not fucking her. It isn’t a challenge not to stick my dick in someone.” I stuff my hands into my trouser pockets and pace.

“Except you want to stick your dick into her.”

“No, I don’t.”

Nicholas gestures dismissively. “Whatever.”

“Don’t be obtuse. You know why I don’t want kids. The idea of them being abducted, like Annabel and I were…” I flinch. My thoughts have turned to my sister and my mother far more than usual today, and each time, they’re a knife through my heart. “I can’t risk screwing her. Not until I’ve had her see my doctor. And I haven’t yet decided if that’s the choice I’ll make.”

“Yeah, I know why you don’t want kids, and for the record, once again, I think you’re wrong. You cannot continue to let what happened to the two of you drive your decisions. It was a long time ago.”

“You’re happy to bring kids into the world,our world, and risk what happened to our sister happening to one of your own children?”

His face twists. “It won’t.”

“How do you know it won’t?” When he remains silent, I add, “See?”

“Xan.” He rises to his feet and clasps my upper arms. “You have to stop punishing yourself. You get your revenge every single time a call comes through. You’re doing good in the world. You deserve to be fucking happy.”

“I deserve nothing.”

He sighs, exasperated with me. Shaking his head, he motions to the door. “I guess we’d better get back. You have a wife to ‘not fuck’.” He air quotes. “And a honeymoon to ‘not enjoy’.”

Chapter Six

IMOGEN

After Alexander’s bold statement regarding our non-honeymoon, I admit it’d stung. Sure, our union is an arrangement, and yeah, he’s made it pretty clear he doesn’t want this any more than I do, but the way he blurted out to his uncle and aunt that he had no intention of taking me on a honeymoon made me feel like a piece of dirt.

I didn’t like that feeling one bit. And now, since Daddy De Vil butted in and told him we’re going to Scotland, Alexander’s mood will be even blacker.

Visiting Scotland should excite me. I’ve always wanted to go there, and I still do.

Just not with him.

Unfortunately, it appears my first visit to a dream location will be in the company of the moodiest man I’ve ever met.

Standing here in this room filled with strangers, and with my parents nowhere to be seen, I’m at my lowest ebb. Depression wraps around me like a suffocating blanket, and tears I’mdoing my best to hold on to burn the backs of my eyes. I don’t even dare blink in case they fall and ruin my makeup. I don’t care about the makeup really, but I do care about showing weakness. If I’m to survive this marriage until I force Alexander into giving me a divorce, I’ll have to pull on strength I’m not sure I have.

There must be a well of courage buried within me that will help me get through the upcoming days, weeks, and months.

I only hope it isn’t a year or more. It’ll be too late to escape by then. I’ll already have lost myself.

“Imogen, my darling daughter-in-law.” Charles holds out his hands to me, waiting until I place mine inside his. “Would you do me the honor of a dance while your husband is scraping work off his plate and onto Nicholas’s?” His eyes twinkle, and he winks at me.

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