Page 16 of Enslaved

“If you truly care about him, you won’t make me go that far. You either accept a check now or get nothing because I will disown him before I allow him to blow this family’s fortune on a gold-digging whore.”

Something inside Heath snapped. His feet carried him back into the room. He slammed the empty bottle back on the table with enough force, he was surprised it didn’t crack. “I know I didn’t hear what I think I just heard.” Heath stared at his dad with murder in his eyes and heart.

“I’m sorry, Heath, but this is too much. Your grandfather would—”

Heath sliced his hand through the air, cutting him off. “There’s absolutely nothing you can say to me right now. For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely happy. You trying to ruin that tells me everything I need to know. We are done.”

Heath grabbed Court’s hand and headed for the door.

His dad was hot on his heels. “Don’t do anything stupid. I was only looking out for my father’s legacy.”

Heath didn’t slow.

Court didn’t make a sound until they were in the car. “I don’t want this.”

Heath’s head snapped around. He would not let Court blow up what they had built over his shitty family. “Don’t you start. I would rather have you than all the fake-ass family in the world. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I have never been this happy. You can’t take that from me because of them.” Heath took a breath. He realized shouting made him sound like a controlling asshole. Truthfully, he was terrified. He tried again. Calmer this time. “Seriously. Please don’t do this.”

Court looked on the verge of tears. “How long will it take before you resent me after your parents cut you off? When you’re out here working a job because of me, you’ll hate me.”

Despite everything, a smile exploded across Heath’s face. “Baby, everything you witnessed tonight is theater. My parents never wanted kids. They only had me to please my grandfather.Thankfully, I was a boy to carry on the family name so they could stop with me. But if it was up to them, they would’ve walked away from me the day I turned eighteen with their obligation complete.” Heath kissed Court’s nose before he continued. He couldn’t stop himself. His heart needed comforting. “There’s a reason we lived in this house with my grandfather until he died. My grandfather’s house. My dad is a black hole when it comes to money and my grandfather couldn’t trust him. He refused to support him unless we stayed under his roof where he could keep an eye on every cent. Everything is mine. My grandfather left it all to me. Without me, they’ll be in the streets. I control every dime. My grandfather trusted me to keep my dad from running everything into the ground. My dad can’t do shit to me.”

Court looked stunned.

Heath kept his finances private because that was what old money did. But no one would be cutting him off and Court didn’t have a damn thing to worry about.

“Are we good? Because really. You’re the only real thing in my life. I’m so fucking in love with you that I’m pretty sure I’ll just wither away and die if you walk away.”

Court’s features softened. “You love me?”

Heath shrugged. “I thought it was obvious, but maybe not since you just planned to dump me.”

Court leaned across the console and brushed a light kiss across Heath’s lips. “I love you too. If you honestly think you won’t regret me over tonight, then I’m not going anywhere.”

A smile had stretched Heath’s lips at Court saying he loved him and only got bigger by the second. “I swear. You mean everything to me.”

Court buckled his seatbelt. “Then we might want to go home. Your mom is headed this way.”

Heath threw the car in reverse without another thought. He hadn’t been joking. Heath was done with his parents. He would keep up their household, because that was what his grandfather would have wanted. Otherwise, they had burned this bridge. Heath chose love.

Chapter Eight

Court’s stomach was inknots. The attack from Heath’s father had come so swiftly, catching him completely off guard. The night had taken so many twists and turns. Court might have felt totally off balance if it wasn’t for that goddamn I love you. The intensity that bled from Heath as he had made that confession still warmed Court’s skin. Until he heard the words and said them back, Court hadn’t realized how true they were. The peace and happiness Heath had brought into his life had a name. They would be okay.

As Heath’s gorgeous house came into view, Court immediately felt like coming home. He was deep. This was real. He had never stood a chance of things being any other way. Heath did something he never did as he turned into the driveway. He hit the button to close the metal gate at the end of the driveway. It was obvious he expected his parents would follow.

He flashed Court an apologetic smile. “I’ll need to find the other remote so you can freely come and go, but for tonight…”

Court brought Heath’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I know. It’s fine.”

After pulling into the garage, Heath dug out his phone and started blocking numbers. He didn’t even wait until they were inside. Court hated that things had come to this. It was one hundred percent his fault. Heath’s parents weren’t wrong. Court was an embarrassment. He had tried warning Heath he would be. It didn’t matter Court had never had sex for money. His business was perceived that way. He honestly didn’t want this for Heath, but he wouldn’t be the one who ended things. Court was selfish. He wanted Heath too badly and he would never hurt him like that.

With his blocking spree out of the way, they headed inside, hand in hand. They had left the kitchen light on. The place smelled like apple pie. He didn’t know why. Court assumed it was something the cleaning crew did, but it smelled like home. He didn’t know what was going on with him, but he felt too much tonight. Something about them felt unsettled. He kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Apparently, being overly sentimental was how he coped. He couldn’t stop staring at Heath with all the love in his heart.

Heath dug through a drawer in the kitchen.

Court watched, hating the silence. Everything inside the kitchen was blue. A gorgeous, perfect for him blue. This was his home.His chest hurt. That other place with his name on the deed was like a distant memory. Tom weaved through his legs before moving to scratch at Heath’s jeans. Absently, Heath picked him up, kissed his head, and then set him on the counter.

Court smiled. This was a family. The first real one he’d had in a long time. “Cats shouldn’t be on the counter.”

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