Page 7 of Cruel Vows

Aiden’s shoulders grow stiff. “No.”

Dad shakes his head, his frown morphing into a cruel smile. “If you want this to work between our families, then one of your sisters is going to marry Sean. It will join our families together permanently.”

I step between the two of them. “If I’m the one who has to get married, I would think I get a say in this mess.”

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Dad steps closer to Aiden. “Marriage is the only way. I won’t see my precious daughter married to you or your brother.”

Aiden scowls. “And you want one of my sisters stuck with the man who murdered my father?”

“I’m not marrying anyone.”

Dad whirls around, drawing his gun and aiming it at my foot. “One more fucking word, Sean, and you’re going to be walking with a limp. These negotiations are between me and Aiden.”

Aiden glances at me, his upper lip curling before he nods. “Fine. One of my sisters will marry Sean. Our families will then be allies against the Rinaldos.”

“I’m glad you see things my way.” Dad smirks, the gun still trained on me. “Sean, congratulations. You’re engaged.”

Nails dig into the palm of my hands. “Anyone but Ellie.”

Once the words are out of my mouth, I realize my mistake.

Nobody would ever accuse my father of being a kind and loving man who takes his children into consideration. Me and my sister have only ever been heirs to his empire and pawns in his game.

Showing him my hand by insisting I marry one of Aiden’s other sisters is the worst thing I’ve done today.

Dad lowers the gun and slides it into his shoulder holster before pulling the sports coat back into place. “Sean will marry Ellie.”

Aiden’s jaw clenches, a muscle twitching before he nods. “I’ll tell her in the morning when she gets home from the overnight shift she’s working tonight.”

“See that you do.” Dad chuckles as he jerks his chin in the direction of the pallets. “Shouldn’t you be checking the shipment?”

I press my lips together, holding back the words on the tip of my tongue. Arguing with Dad is only going to get me beat once he’s done negotiating.

Even though I’m a grown man, he won’t hesitate to give me a black eye for disobeying him.

I can’t wait until the day I’m out from under his fucking thumb.

With clipboard in hand, I open the doors to the warehouse as pallet jacks drive in, dropping the next round of pallets beside the first one. I count them as they come in the door while Dad and Aiden retreat to his office.

I grip the clipboard so hard I’m sure it’s going to break.

Instead of marching into the office and demanding they change their minds, I head out into the cool night, needing a breather.

As I lean against the wall, I continue to count the pallets still moving inside, keeping track of them on the clipboard.

Footsteps echo against the polished concrete floor inside as the last of the pallet jacks leaves and heads to the final shipping container.

Aiden stands at Dad’s shoulder as they join me outside. The cold look in his eyes tells me that business is settled, regardless of my opinion on the matter.

Dad glanced inside at the pallets before looking at me. “Still two missing?”

“Yes. There’s one more container to unload. The boys are doing it now.”

He nodded. “Good. Now, on to the matter of marriage. Aiden and I have come to an agreement. You’ll marry Ellie. In return, we will fight with them against the Rinaldos and in time we may see if there are places where our businesses can intersect.”

I glance between the pair. “And neither of you thought I should be involved in that conversation since I’m the one who has to get married?”

“Your opinion was taken into consideration.” Dad chuckles, pulling a cigar from his pocket and lighting it. “You will do whatever it takes to protect your family. This is what it takes.”

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