Page 132 of The Rogue and His Flower

I clench my fists, rage like nothing else I’ve experienced before boiling my blood. “Daisy belongs by my side. So like it or fucking not,that’sthe way it’s going to stay,” I shout, pushing upright, my chair toppling over from the force of my anger.

He looks up at me, eyes narrowing. “Please don’t tell me you’ve gone soft and fallen for her? She is not your future. We both know she doesn’t belong in our world.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Sheismy future, and when we bring a child into this world, we’ll be doing it together as a married fucking couple. There’ll be no divorce, not in a year’s time. Not ever.”

He snorts, leaning back in his chair, regarding me with a mixture of disdain and contempt. “You really think you’re capable of being with one woman for the rest of your life? Don’t be so fucking foolish. You’re my son, after all. The Gunn men aren't built for marriage, let alone spending our days with one person. You’ll realise this soon enough.

“I may be your son, but I amnotlike you,” I grind out, striding towards the door.

“You keep telling yourself that, but you forget I know you. You’ll tire of her eventually,” he throws back, and I don’t need to see his face to know he’s smirking. “Now, I’ll be out for the rest of the evening. Make sure you get this done.”

Reaching for the handle, I yank open the door before throwing a look over my shoulder. “You don’t know me at all. You never bothered to take the time too, so do not sit there and think that you do, because,father, I will show you exactly the man I am if pushed too far. Enjoy your fucking evening.”

With that I step out into the hallway, slamming the door behind me.

I cautiouslypush open Daisy's bedroom door, but hesitate in the doorway. Daisy is sound asleep, her face nestled in her hand and her legs curled up against her body. I long to join her in bed, to hold her close and wrap my arms around her, but I’m still fuming with anger from my heated argument with my father, and I don't think I have the energy to contain all of my emotions if I wake her up. She doesn’t need to know about the argument. So, reluctantly, I gently shut the door and head to my bedroom at the far end of the hallway.

Right now I could really do with a friend, and making a decision, I pick up my phone and dial Drix’s number. After a few rings he answers.

“Dalton?” he questions.

“We’re home. I thought you should know.”

“Where’s Daisy? I’ve called but she hasn’t answered.”

“Asleep. She’s tired after the long journey.”

“Can you ask her to call me when she wakes up?” he says, and by the tone of his voice, I know he’s about to put the phone down on me.

“Listen, Drix. Can we talk, clear the air?” I ask, heaving out a sigh as I pinch the bridge of my nose.

The line goes quiet, and I hear his muffled words as he says something to Lia, no doubt. “You’ve got five minutes. Make it good,” he says.

“I–”

“What Dalton?”

My throat squeezes and I fucking drop my head, struggling to find the damn words. The fight with my father has affected me more than I thought it would. It’s not like I haven’t argued withhim before, but this is different. The shit he said about Daisy… I’m ready to commit murder, and I just need to talk it out. Except I can’t tell Drix what the bastard said because he’ll come here and do the job before I can, and I need to be smart about how I deal with that fucking arsehole. I need to bide my time, play him at his own game, and when the time comes I will ruin his fucking life, just likes he’s trying to ruin mine and Daisy’s relationship.

“I miss you, man,” I say instead, throwing it out there. It’s the truth at least. He sighs, and I rise to my feet, pacing. “I know you still fucking hate me–”

“I don’t hate you,” he concedes. “But I do love my sister, very fucking much, and I’m worried for her, okay? I know you.”

“Fuck, not you too,” I say, gritting my teeth. “I’m not… I won’t… I fucking…”

“Dalton, you have to look at this from my point of view. All the women you’ve been with, who you’ve fucked around over the years. I’ve seen it all,” he reminds me.

“This isn’t the same.”

“What, because you’re married now?”

“Yes. She’s my wife, Drix. I won’t do that to her,” I say vehemently.

“I want to believe you, Dalton, but–”

“I love her,” I blurt out, the words tripping off my tongue before I can stop them. Bending over, I drag in a deep lungful of air, winded by the confession. If it surprises me, then it sure as fuck surprises Drix given the long pause at the end of the line.

“Say that again,” he eventually says.

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