Page 78 of Possessive Royal (Duke of Tudor 2)

As I leap into his arms and kiss him, my father’s voice startles me.

“Luxury Whitson, is that how you act? Parading around—”

“Hello, Dad,” I cut him off while removing my thighs from Victor’s waist. I give my man thelook.

The you’re-in-so-much-trouble look.

Funny thing about Victor Tudor, though, he doesn’t respond well to threats, verbalized or otherwise. After readjusting my skirt, I address my father. “Please come inside, so we can sit down and talk.”

“No, no talks, Luxury,” Jonah retorts. I turn around, and he isn’t even following me. “It's time for us to go home,” Dad orders. “You'vevacationedlong enough.”

A few baffled blinks later, I retort, “Excuse me. I’m here atyourrequest. Keep in mind that I am not a child. If I didn't really want to be here, I wouldnotbe. You can't tell me how to live my life. Oh, but I forgot you said to disappear for safety reasons. Did youdealwith Charles?”

“Luxury! I don't like your tone.”

“Did you try to murder Uncle Redagain?” I toss over my shoulder as I step into the house.

Dammit!I finished the diary with Alba at the pub, got drunk, and drowned my tears in vodka as she rubbed my back.

I get home, andthisis Victor’s version of a surprise.

No rest for the friggen weary.

Dad hobbles after me. “Murder him? Have you lost your mind? Upon arrival, Tudor disrespects me and now my own child. What has gotten into you?”

I pause just inside the sitting room and reconsider favoring the chair I sat in while reading much of Momma’s journal.

I nod my head to the designer couches. “Please sit. I’ll be sure to tell youexactlywhat has gotten into me.”Jonah.

“No. I will not sit.” The man I once knew asDadscoffs.

“Okay, just a second, please.” I step out of the room. As I suspected, Victor is standing in the hallway as if prepared for any sudden movement.

“Hey, I’m good, baby,” I tell him and start up the stairs. When I come back down with my mother’s diary, Victor is still standing next to the chaise lounge right outside the sitting room. What war is he preparing for?

Inside, Dad has finally settled down. I place Gina’s journal on the marble slab coffee table and slide it over to Jonah with my index finger. Wild, bewildered eyes latch onto mine. An unsteady hand claims the journal.

“Wha-what is this?” His eyes roam left to right as he turns the pages. “What is this?”

“Gina’s writing. Your wife's journal. She fell in love with Charles. But honestly, I’m going out on the limb to say, Momma always forgave you for all the cheating, but it took her a while tocatch up.She was raped one night when I was a little girl. Where the fuck were you, huh?”

“I . . .” Guilt clings to Jonah’s squared shoulders.

“Oh, go ahead, Dad. You’re quite innocent these days. Working and watching wholesome, old TV shows that don’t have onefuckingcuss word. You are perfect, now, huh?” I nod. “But you were out sleeping with one of your bitches while I was sick as a dog. Momma left me with Grammy to get medicine. Someone molested your wife. You aren’t a fucking protector. You aren’t a husband.”

“Luxury!” Jonah’s shout reverberates from the walls, but it doesn’t move me. “Those are lies.”

“For a year, Momma couldn't even think straight. I remember it. I was seven—right after she was sexually accosted—had to be. She always kept me by her side. I couldn’t go down the street anymore. God forbid I wanted to spend the night at my two friends’ apartment across the way—the only friends that didn’t make me feel ugly.”

He groans.

“I internalized her demeanor. Drew into myself. Became shyer while your wife jumped at the sight of any man walking by. You still couldn't stay monogamous after that. What kinda moral support did you provide? Where were the vows you made to your wife beforeGod? She never found out, never found out who did it.” My voice shatters.

Appearing finished with our discussion, Dad takes in the pristine room, avoiding my face.

“Finally, Gina realized who really loved her. Who called when she was dealing with the traumatic triggers,” I snap, “the thoughts that fuck up a person’s mind after being raped? Charles reminded her of her worth as he always had. For years, he was that constant in her life. Uncle Red loved her. Mom loved him.”

“That's a lie!”

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