Page 41 of Bitter Arrangement

I was wondering the same thing. I glance back into the closet and try to imagine all those objects under Alexan’s roof, but it feels wrong.

Those aremine, but that place is partially his.

I don’t want to share my treasures with anyone, not even my husband.

“I’ll do it eventually,” I say vaguely as I put the loose board back into place. “When I’m ready, I guess.”

“Think you ever will be?” Brenden’s voice is serious as he studies me. “Seriously, Riles, you good?”

“Depends on how you definegood, but yeah, I’m okay.”

“He’s treating you well?”

I’m about to answer when the door pushes open. My father’s standing there in the hallway, frowning in at us like we’re sitting here planning a coup.

“Riley’s marriage isn’t your concern,” Dad says to Brenden. “You should stay out of it.”

Brenden glares at our father. “I’m just making sure he’s treating her well. You really don’t care if you sold her off to some asshole?”

“Alexan Sarkissian will respect the agreement we put in place.” Dad doesn’t seem fazed by Brenden’s anger. He never does. My brother could scream in our father’s face, and our old man would only stare death in return. “Beyond that, you don’t need to worry.”

“That’s typical.” Brenden gets to his feet with a slight grimace. “Don’t worry, we’ll shoulder the burden.”

“That’s enough.”

“No, it’s fine. You go on and sell your daughter?—”

“I said, that’s enough.”

Brenden looks disgusted as he hobbles past me. He pauses and puts a hand on my shoulder, and I want to say something. I want to thank him for standing up to our father, tell him that I’m okay, that Alexan’s actually not bad at all, that if anything goes wrong, it’s all my fault, only I can’t make myself talk.

Not with our father standing there and watching.

Brenden walks off. If he’s surprised that I keep my mouth shut, he doesn’t show it.

He’s used to my cowardice by now.

“Careful how you talk, Riley,” Dad says, glaring in at me. “You know how important your alliance is to the family.”

Fuck you, judgmental asshole. I’m doing the best I can.

“Yes, Dad. I know.”

“I hope you’re not doing anything to endanger the peace.”

I drag in a breath through my nose to stay calm. My shoulders slump with the effort. “I know my role.”

“Good.” Dad turns away. “Make sure you don’t forget it. And stop coming over here. Your place is back home.”

Which sure as hell isn’t here anymore.

Once he’s gone, I collapse onto the bed. My heart’s racing, and sweat breaks out on my skin. There’s not a single person in the world that can make me feel so small and weak like my father can.

All he has to do is give me that disappointed look, and suddenly I’m a little girl again, desperate to please her daddy but unable to ever do it.

Absolutely pathetic.

I get out of there not long after. I head out front, thinking I’ll order an Uber back to Alexan’s, but there’s a black BMW already waiting.

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