Page 7 of Kneeling for Daddy
I grumble through it, tossing sarcasm like loose change. Enzo tries to play peacemaker while Cillian keeps pressing for details. Ani sits across from me, occasionally throwing in a sassy comment that makes me bite back a grin. Alek sells the arrangement as mutually beneficial. Stability for us both. Pretty words to make his blackmail sound polite. “Along with my word,” Alek shares as he finishes, “I have no intention of leaving my sister married to a man rotting behind bars.”
“Hmmm… I had no intention of being behind barsormarried,” I gruff. But in the end, it doesn’t matter. Alek has us by the fucking balls, and if I want to protect my family, I have no choice but to go through with this. By the time our coffees are growing empty or cold, we land on terms we can all live with. Barely.
“All right,” Alek chirps, pushing back from the table. “Let’s get these two married.”
I choke on my final sip of coffee. “Wait. You mean, rightnow?”
He lets out a low chuckle, helping Ani slide out from her seat. “I don’t see any point in putting it off any longer. If I remember correctly, the three of you have a judge in your back pocket. Give him a call, let him know we’ll be there within the hour.”
“The hour!” I exclaim, staring back at him blankly, the reality of my new life hitting harder than the caffeine.
Two days ago, I was a bachelor.
Yesterday, I was engaged—apparently.
And now?
Now I’m getting married within the fucking hour. I glance across the table at Ani. She’s watching me, chin tilted just slightly, daring me to protest.
God help me, this is going to be a fucking disaster.
“You’re serious,” I exclaim slowly, like maybe if I protest at half-speed, he’ll realize how fucking ridiculous he sounds.
“Deadly,” Alek says, tossing back the last of his coffee like we’ve just settled on dinner plans instead of a legally binding life sentence.
“I’m not—” I start, but Cillian’s already pulling his phone out.
“Nope.” I vehemently shake my head, pointing at him. “Don’t you dare enable this madness.”
Cillian shrugs. “You’re the one who agreed to the terms, Nik. You didn’t say anything aboutwhen.”
So much for brotherly loyalty…
“I assumed there’d be… I don’t know. Time. A week. A month. At least enough time to buy a suit that doesn’t make me look like I’ve been dragged to the altar at gunpoint.”
Enzo smirks over the rim of his coffee cup. “Wouldn’t that be an accurate visual, though?”
I glare at him, my jaw clenching tightly. “I will leaveyouat the bottom of the Hudson.”
Ani, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet for the last few minutes, crosses her arms over her chest. With her eyes fixed on me, she sasses, “If it makes you feel any better, I’m equally thrilled about this.”
“Oh, I can tell,” I deadpan. “You’re glowing with joy.”
Glowing with joy.
Apparently, he’s as funny as he is good-looking.
Nikolai’s expression doesn’t flicker, but the sarcasm in his voice is like a blade sliding against glass. At least we have something in common… We are both completely against my brother’s ludicrous idea and being forced to comply, anyway.
Alek stands, and I follow, ignoring the flicker of triumph in his eyes. My brother is in his element—every move deliberate and every word part of a bigger chess match the rest of us aren’t aware we’re playing.
Outside, the August sunlight is nearly blinding, heat rising off the pavement in shimmering waves. The King brothers head toward a black Range Rover parked down the street, sliding into it in silence as if they’ve walked from meetings like this a thousand times. Alek’s blacked-out SUV waits behind it, and I’m shepherded toward the back seat by the same man who met me off the plane.
As soon as the door closes, I turn to Alek. “You’re going to owe me one for this.”
His mouth curves, that infuriating not-smile he uses when he’s half proud, half annoyed, spreading across his face. “For what?”
“Are you serious?” I stare at him in disbelief. “For marrying me off like I’m some bargaining chip. Someday, I will come for repayment.”
