Page 50 of Reluctant Heir

My palms are sweaty, and I wipe them on my pants, but it doesn’t help. My heart is about to beat out of my chest, and I feel light-headed.

We wind around the grounds, coming to a stop in front of the house, and Geo opens my door. As I step out, my heels feel unsteady, but that’s nothing new. I pray I won’t fall on my face—that seems like it’d be a bad omen. Not that I want to marry Connor, but I do want to ally myself with him. I think he’s my best bet on finding Ruby, especially with our shared interest.

Forgive me, Rubes,I think as I take Connor’s offered elbow and follow him to the door.

I feel like the worst sort of friend and sister, taking someone’s man.

You aren’t taking anything,I remind myself.

You’re only doing what is necessary.

Once you find Ruby and Connor gets what he needs, you’ll go your separate ways.

But I also don’t want Ruby involved in this life once she’s found. And I’m not sure how I’m going to get us both out, unscathed. There’s no hope for that with Ruby. I know that whatever has happened to her will mess her up. It has to.

The door opens before we even knock. Geo precedes us inside, and a man I recognize as Antonio steps forward, taking his hand briefly.

“Son,” is all he says in acknowledgment.

I raise one eyebrow. How have I not put it together that he’s Antonio’s son? I have researched the families, and I didn’t see a Geo in the children’s names. But truth be told, I don’t really know anything about Geo beyond he doesn’t smile much and he definitely doesn’t like shopping sprees.

Antonio turns to us. “Connor. And this must be Miss Wryn,” the man says, smiling, but I don’t like it. He looks like an animal hunting his prey.

“Antonio,” Connor says curtly, shaking his hand.

Then, Antonio is grasping mine, and his smooth palm is cool and clammy, but I itch to pull my hand back. He pulls my fingers up lightly, and his lips connect to the back of my hand. I stare at him. I’ve never had my hand kissed before, and I don’t think I ever want it kissed again.

“You are a vision,” Antonio says, glancing up and down at me, and Connor clears his throat. I watch the man step back slightly and then motion behind himself. “We will conduct the panel in the boardroom.”

“You have a boardroom in your house?” I ask, the words falling out, unbidden.

He smiles condescendingly at me. I really don’t fucking like this man. He looks like Bertrand did when he called me theweaker sex.

“Yes, my dear, I do.” He steps toward me, his hand landing on my lower back as he presses me forward.

I look desperately at Connor.

“I can walk with her,” Connor says, cutting in, but Antonio only smirks at him.

“You won’t be joining us,” Antonio says. “You can wait outside, and we will let you know the results afterward.”

“No,” Connor says, gritting his teeth.

I watch his jawline flex and the subtle shift of his arm as he makes a fist with one hand.

“Yes,” Antonio says, the false niceness gone.

Only a hard shell of a man remains, standing beside me, hand rigid on my back, fingers curled into my flesh as he pushes me forward. I regret wearing this silk shirt; it lets me feel too much when I’m touched. I need a strong layer of cotton or polyester between me and the hands of rich, dangerous men.

I stumble as he does it again, and Connor steps away, a dark cloud over his face as he watches us. I look at him until I’m shown through a doorway into a dark room, lit only by a few lamps, and then Antonio pulls out a chair on one side of the table for me. I’m separated from the other side, where I count four chairs, presumably for the four men who will be questioning me.

Fuck you, Connor,I think, my anger misplaced, as I don’t really know where in the hell to put it.

Nerves assault me all over again, my pits sweating, and I glance up at Antonio, whose hand lingers across my shoulder as he moves behind me. Maybe by accident, maybe not.

“Can I have some water?” I ask, and he snaps his fingers.

A girl darts from the corner of the room, startling me. I didn’t see her standing there, but she hurries to a table along the far wall, pours a tall glass of water, and then sets it in front of me.

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