Page 50 of With This Ring

After that first dinner we had at Dominic’s place, Carter told me he stayed behind to tell his father he was bi. He said Dominic just shrugged and said that’s okay and that he loved him no matter what. What I would have given for that to be Pop’s response when I told him I was gay.

I raise my hand for Pop to stop whatever retort he’s ready to throw at Dominic. “That’s enough. Pop, you’re the one that fucking agreed to this marriage. Don’t give us shit because we’re trying to get along, so we won’t be fucking miserable.”

He curls his lip but doesn’t say anything.

It dawns on me then that that’s exactly what he was banking on. He thought if I was to marry a man, it should be one that I fucking loathed, so I wouldn’t know happiness. If there’s one thing Pop hates, it’s for me to show any happiness or joy about anything. Any time I’ve had a hobby or expressed interest in anything, no matter how small, he’d talk down about it until I didn’t show interest anymore. Pop thought being with Carter would guarantee me a lifetime of misery. I inwardly gloat that his plan went awry.

A few beats of silence pass before Dominic starts talking again. “Charlie and I have been talking.” He sounds like he wanted to do anything but talk to Pop. “You’ve been married a few months and shit is quiet. But it ain’t gonna stay that way for long. Now is the time for us to step aside and let you two step into our roles. This war that’s going to go down—and trust me, itwill go down—it’s for the young. For those that have fresh minds that can outthink the opposition.”

Pop picks up the thread of conversation. “Back in our day, none of this sneaky shit happened. If you wanted war, you shot first and made your demands later. Whoever is behind this is playing a different game than what we’re used to.”

Carter leans forward, his face expressing shock, much like how I feel. “You both are done?” He snaps his fingers. “Just like that?”

Shaking his head, Dominic looks at his son, suddenly looking older and more exhausted than I’ve ever seen him. “It’s time, son. I was around your age when I took over for your grandpa. It’s time to hand the reins over to you and Kaison. This war will have many casualties. It’s best if the old guys don’t get in the way and become collateral damage.”

If anyone else had proposed leaving as head of their families in the middle of a war, I’d think they were afraid of dying or of being killed because of it. But I can see the indecision in Dominic’s eyes, even though he says it’s what he wants.

Pop looks positively livid about it, so they must have had this conversation for months before they agreed. It’s apparent he wanted to continue running this family for as long as he had breath in his lungs. But it wouldn’t make sense if Carter was heading the Whitlock family and someone that’s not his husband was in charge of the St. Clair family. It would make both families look weak. Pop must have come to that conclusion too, which is why he’s not too happy.

Carter and I exchange looks. I’ve been ready to step into Pop’s shoes since I was eighteen. That’s one thing he excelled at when I was a child—grooming me to take over the family business and continue the St. Clair legacy. I’ve been learning on my own since I came of age. I’m more than ready to keep the St. Clair family going.

“You’ll make your first appearance as a couple and the heirs of the Whitlock and St. Clair families at the annual Salsey Charity Ball Charlie and I usually go to,” Dominic says.

“We’ll allow you two to make your own connections and donate in our names. In thefamilynames,” Pop amends.

Blowing out a pent-up breath, I look at Pop and say, “I won’t disappoint you.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it, Kaison.” His voice lacks conviction. I try not to let it sting, but it’s hard not to. Carter’s face takes on a dark quality as he stares Pop down, but I place my hand on his thigh and squeeze, silently telling him to leave it alone.

He glances at me and that stormy expression leaves his face as he smiles at me. Slowly, I return it, delighting in how he completely ignores Pop’s string of curses from his expression. “You ready for this, baby?” he asks, voice pitched low.

“With you, yeah.” And to further prove to myself that I don’t give a shit what Pop thinks of me and my sexuality, I lean over and plant a quick kiss on Carter’s lips. Surprise flicks across his face, but he covers it quickly with a soft grin.

Dominic chortles, slapping Pop on the back obnoxiously. “Guess you were right about this working out, huh, St. Clair?” I know that shit burns Pop up, but what can he do? We’re already married, and our families will prosper because of it. Just like he wanted.

We keep up appearances, eating and chatting about nothing. Between the three of us, conversation is easy. Pop tries to keep up, but his smiles are forced, and his laughs are too loud to be real. No one who knows him would buy that shit. I know I don’t.

As soon as he can, he says he has a meeting and stands up to leave. He shakes our hands and exits as quickly as possible. Several men get up and leave after him.

Since I know we’re still covered by Whitlock men and the few St. Clair guys I have with me all the time, Nico included, I stand and follow Pop out. I feel rather than see Nico following behind me. I can register his presence anywhere.

“Pop. Hold up,” I shout, jogging to catch him before he slides in the back seat of his car. The men that are with him spread out around the car, facing the street and alleyways so they can keep an eye out for danger.

He stops with one foot in the car, looking at me impatiently. “What?”

I stop in front of him and stuff my shaky hands in my pocket. I’m not sure what will come of this conversation or if he’ll even answer my questions, but I have to try.

“Why did you put Indigo Arc in my name?”

I’m rewarded with Charlie’s flash of surprise before he wipes his face of any expression. “How the fuck did you find that out?”

“Doesn’t matter how. Tell me. Why did you do it?”

“That’s none of your fucking business,” he seethes.

I step closer to him, pulling my hands from my pockets and fisting them at my sides. “It is my fucking business since you put it in my name without my fucking knowledge. Why?”

“None of your concern.” He tries to get in the car, but I stop him with a hand on his shoulder. “What now?”

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