Page 73 of Subbing For Santa

“Care to elaborate?”

He chuckles, linking his hands together in his lap. “Well, Miss Fiera, going to the authorities about any of our family secrets is a sure way to find yourself six feet under.” His jaw ticks then, and my need to flee is almost overwhelming. “So will fraternizing with our enemies, killing one of us, or being unfaithful to Griffin.”

I let his words sink in. I let the scenarios swirl through my mind as my heart rate soars with the fear coursing through my veins.

“Am I still classed as a traitor if I kill one of you in self-defence?”

His brows lift at my question before a frown tugs them back down. “That depends on why you need to defend yourself. If it’s because you’ve been a traitor, then yes.”

I nod, my eyes falling from his piercing glare to my feet as I try to get a handle on my emotions.

“Miss Fiera, if you’re asking what would happen if things simply don’t work out between you and Griffin, or if you realise at some point that you can’t handle the life, or you don’t love each other or fall out of love and end up hating each other, or perhapshecheats onyou, then you should know you are free to go as long as our business remains secret.”

I don’t know why he couldn’t have just said that in the first place, but of course, he was making sure I understood that my death isn’t off the table. If I want to avoid it, I need to leave now, or make sure I comply.

The thought of not getting to see Griffin again, getting to feel his touch, or taste his lips, or hear his gravelly voice that deepens with lust when he talks quietly in my ear, sends an unbelievable ache straight to my heart. Is he worth this risk? Is he worth potentially putting my life in danger?

I’m not one hundred percent convinced, but I know I need to at least try.

“I’m not ready to walk away from your son, Ewan. I need to see where it leads us. So I will take your warning seriously, but I’m not walking away. You should get used to seeing my face.”

I give Griffin’s dad my back as I leave the room without another word. When I step out into the passage, my eyes instantly fall on Griffin, who is leaning against the wall next to the door.

“Did you hear that?” I whisper, working like crazy to keep my emotions in check.

He pushes off the wall, his warm hand reaching up to cup my cheek. “Yes.” He whispers back. “I’m so sorry he did that. Said those things. I will talk to him.”

I shake my head. “No. It’s between him and me.”

Griffin frowns, his other hand coming up to cup my other cheek.

“No, little elf. He fucking tried to bribe you to leave me. It makes me wonder how many times he’s done something like this to my siblings. Maybe it’s why they never bring anyone home.”

“Please don’t say anything.” I shake my head as much as I can while held between his hands. “I need to prove my strength to him so he will accept me. I can’t do that if you fight my battles for me.”

“You shouldn’t have to, though.” He presses his forehead to mine, and the lump in my throat returns, and with it, a flood of emotions.

“It is what it is, Griff.” I take a step back from him, watching his face contort in hurt confusion. “I need a minute.”

I spin on my heel, following the passage back to the bedroom we were in before as hot tears stream from my eyes. Clenching my jaw tight, my teeth feel like they may shatter as I bolt through the bedroom and lock myself in the bathroom.

Grabbing a towel, I shove it against my face and scream into it over and over, the muffled sound bouncing off the walls in the small space as I sink to the floor and cry.

I tried to hold strong when I was in the room with Mr Marx, but I’m not that strong. I can’t just go and join Griffin’s family up on deck and pretend that I didn’t just learn a very raw truth about entering this family.

I don’t like Ewan Marx. Not only is he a scary motherfucker, but his eyes are like dark pools of death. I’m fairly certain he is the spawn of the devil himself.

“Aggie.” Griffin’s quiet voice comes through the closed bathroom door right before he taps on it. “Open the door, little elf. Let me in.”

His voice. The care it holds breaks me, and more tears burst free as I beg myself to pull my shit together. It doesn’t work.

“I-I just ne-need a minute.” I blubber quietly.

Everything we shared over the last ten days comes crashing in. It’s been a whirlwind. One minute I was living my boring life, and the next, Griffin Marx barged his way in, posing as fucking Santa. He’s tricked me, kept me in the dark, thrilled me, consumed me, sent me to highs I’ve never reached before, pissed me off, and made me fall for him in the process.

“Aggie, baby. Open the door, please. Let me in. I’m not going anywhere, so you can either cry alone in there or open this door and let me hold you. You don’t need to be alone anymore.”

I consider his words. I hate being alone. I’ve done it for so long because I had to, but do I really have to keep living that way?

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