Page 91 of The Wrong Fiancée

Titah,I had learned, was Hawaiian slang for a badass woman.

She slipped on a pair of denim shorts and her flip-flops, before heading inside.

Damian looked at me, and I nodded, tacitly asking him to follow. I had a suspicion I knew why Sam was here—he was probably on the same mission his daughter had been on when she insisted we meet.

By the time I reached the lounge, Elika and Sam were seated on comfortable sofas across from one another.

"I wanted to tell you how sorry I was for what happened," he said.

"It didn'thappen, Uncle Sam, Felicity, and Ginny orchestrated it. They hired someone to frame me. I know you made the police drop charges against them, and I didn't pursue legal action against them, but it doesn't change the facts."

A few months ago, Elika would have accepted his apology, smiled, and sucked it up. Now, she wasn't ready to roll over. I was thrilled to see that.

I leaned against the doorway, my arms crossed. Sam nodded at me. I didn't bother to respond.

Sam was weak. I preferred a bad man over a weak one because at least with a bad man, you knew where he stood. Sam, on the other hand, would shift his allegiances and tactics based on whatever was easiest. He didn’t have the courage of his convictions—or many convictions to begin with.

"I know, Elika. I know what they did was wrong."

"It's just taken you five weeks to come and say that to me?" Elika's tone was hard.

Sam looked surprised. I imagined he'd gotten so used to Elika's grace and kindness that he didn't know she had an iron will.

"I am sorry, Elika. I really am. For everything."

"Is that it?" she asked in a take-no-prisoners tone. Fuck, but she was making me hard with how much of atitahshewas being.

Sam swallowed. "Look, I know you're angry and?—"

"I'm way past that, Uncle Sam. I'm past sad that you abandoned your family—that would be Noe and me. I'm past that you allowed your wife and daughter to treat me like dirt. I'm past you never defending me. I'm past caring that you're here."

You could knock Sam down with a feather. He hadn't expected this.

"I understand." He looked uncomfortable as hell. "I wouldn't be here except…I mean, I would be here to see you and…well, apologize, but…," he paused and then cleared his throat, "I need you to help me with Damian. He's pulling out of deals with us and making others do it as well. It's going to destroy us, Elika."

Elika frowned. "Dean's brother? I don't know him. I just met him for the first time yesterday evening when he got here."

Sam looked desperate. "I know he's doing this because of what went down with the accusations…of you stealing jewelry?—"

"False, made-up accusations, you mean?"

She wasn't going to give an inch, I thought, enjoying myself.

"Look, Elika, for the sake of family. Please, you have to talk to the Archers and make Damian stop this vendetta against us. I've made mistakes, but I can't lose everything over a misunderstanding.Please."

I clenched my jaw, my hands tightening into fists at my sides. Emotional blackmail. That's what this was. He wasn't here to make amends; he was here to use her. To manipulate her, use her kindness. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I could see Elika's shoulders stiffen. She was quiet for a moment, and I knew she was weighing everything, trying to findsome way to make peace. She always did. But there was no peace to be made here. Not really.

"You calling what your wife and daughter did a misunderstanding is insulting," Elika informed Sam. "But I will talk to Damian."

"Like hell, she will," I heard Damian's low growl from behind me. "Your woman is too nice."

Tell me about it!

Sam's sigh of relief made my blood boil. "Thank you, Elika. Please know that I feel really bad about everything."

She sighed, shaking her head. "You came here to get me to fix whatever is going on between you and the Archers. You wouldn't be here if that wasn't the case, would you?"

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