Page 79 of Atlas Uncharted

“You don’t respect her because she’s Black, and because she doesn’t fit your country-club socialite bullshit.”

Her lips pursed. “You’re putting words in my mouth.”

“No,” I said flatly. “I’m saying the words you don’t have the guts to say out loud. The things you’ve been saying ‘nicely’ instead of outright for years.”

She inhaled deeply, centering herself. She did that when she was losing.

“Atlas, you know I don’t—”

“You don’t what?” I cut in. “See color? Love everyone equally? Want the best for me?” I scoffed. “You tolerated Ashlen becauseshe was the right kind of woman. She was a red head, she seemed delicate, she was a fucking debutante.” I narrowed my eyes. “And she was someone you could control.”

Her posture straightened, her shoulders pulling back. She was gearing up for a defense, but I wasn’t finished.

She exhaled through her nose. “Atlas, do you even hear yourself? You’re throwing around ridiculous accusations because you’re angry. You’re looking for someone to blame for your own mistakes.”

I studied her for a moment, then smiled. “No, Ma. The only mistake I made was letting you have a say in my life for as long as I did. I’ve been so unhappy for so long, and I said nothing. I did what you and Father wanted.”

I stood, adjusting my watch. “Call Ashlen. Tell her to clean up this mess. And if you don’t make this right, you can find out what it feels like to fund your own fucking life.”

Her eyes flashed, her poise wavering for the first time. “You wouldn’t—”

“I would,” I said, already walking toward the door. “And I will. And don’t call me talking about your grandson this or that because you’re lonely. He won’t be associated with you. I don’t want him growing up thinking anything is wrong with him because his grandmother is a fucking relic.”

I didn’t wait for her to argue.

I walked out, letting the sound of the door slamming behind me say the rest.

I drove back to where I left Kairi.

I had been letting her walk all over me too because of past mistakes. We were moving past that.

When I got back to Kairi’s dad’s house, she was pacing the floor, clearly pissed as hell.

The second she saw me, she started. “Where the fuck did you—”

I grabbed her waist and kissed her mid-sentence, cutting her off completely. Her fists balled against my chest, but she melted into it almost immediately.

When I pulled back, the way her pupils were blown wide let me know she was aroused—and probably confused as hell.

“That’s it,” I said.

She blinked. “That’s what?”

“This conversation. This bullshit. You not listening to me, me not listening to you. That’s it. No more.”

Her lips parted, but I didn’t let her talk.

“You’re in this with me, Kairi. You don’t get to run when shit gets hard. You don’t get to shut me out. You don’t get to decide that your way is the only way. That’s not how this will work anymore.”

I grabbed her chin, tilting her face up.

“If you want me to listen to you, then you have to listen to me. You’re going to be my wife. We will find middle ground.”

She stared at me, her chest rising and falling fast, her fingers digging into my arms. “Atlas—”

“I’m going to wake up next to you every morning. Fall asleep with you every night. I’m going to raise our son with you. I’mgoing to spend every single fucking day proving to you that I should have chosen you first.”

Her eyes shined, her breath uneven. I could feel her resolve crumbling.

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