Page 73 of Harmony

“Oh, don’t worry Hailee. He’s not going to feel much pain. Did you want to join him?” The man Nate called Mitchell says.

Jared’s hand on my back tenses.

“Father, she’s only surprised by the blood. Isn’t that right, baby doll? She doesn’t actually care for the buffoon.”

His father? Fuck.

I clear my throat, turning to Jared’s father. “I apologize. It’s not every day that I see so much blood.”

He assesses me for a moment. I make sure to keep a blank stare on my face. I don’t want to give him any reason to kill either of us.

“Very well. Son, are you claiming her as your own?”

“Yes, Father.”

I flinch as Jared leans in, kissing my cheek.

“You know she fucked him, right? You saw the tapes.”

My stomach turns at the insinuation. I knew they were listening to us, but I didn’t know how far it went. Fuck, this sucks.

I look up at Jared. His eyes are hard. When his flick down to me, they soften a little before glancing back to his father.

“She didn’t know she was mine then. It was my mistake. She was instructed to get close to him at any cost. She only used what she thought would get results. I’m not angry with her. I’m impressed with her. However, it will be made clear that her body is for my eyes only.”

“Very well. Keep the girl if you wish. She’s your responsibility now.”

He nods, tucking me into his side. I wrap an arm around his back to calm my shaking hands.

When I feel his gun, I freeze, glancing up at him.

“It’s okay. It’s for our protection,” he whispers.

I nod, moving my arm until it’s wrapped around him. Then I meet Nate’s eye again. He looks strong. Confident. Even surrounded by his enemies, he looks regal.

I want to run to him. To apologize. To tell him I love him, but I can’t.

I’ve played this game with him for months now. Making him believe my hatred for him matched his own. Even if I ran to him now, he wouldn’t trust me. He wouldn’t believe me. That’s if I even made it to him. It’s obvious that these men are here for one thing tonight.

Death.

“Well, why don’t we get this show on the road.” He claps his hands before nodding to a man on his right.

The man walks to a door, knocking on it twice.

First, a female walks into the room. My eyes widen as I recognize her.

“Did I do good, Daddy?” She walks up to Jared’s father, wrapping herself around him.

He smiles down at her, pressing a kiss to her lips. “Yes, Kitten. You did perfect.”

Then she looks at me.

“Katie?” I ask, surprise in my voice.

She smiles at me. “Don’t worry. Daddy promised we could still be friends. Especially since Jared’s claimed you. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be your mother-in-law.”

She beams up at the man she is currently caressing.

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