Page 88 of The Darkest King

So relieved. My father has the power to force me home if he really wants. Connor thinks he can stop him, but I’m not convinced he can.

“Okay,” I reply, pulling my lip gloss out of my purse and sliding it over my lips. “Can you tell him to back off before someone gets hurt? That was not cool.”

“No one is getting hurt,” Connor growls, laying a protective hand on my thigh.

Possessively.

“Your brother won’t harm you.” My father watches every move Connor makes. “I will speak to him.”

It is just as I thought.

Cade won’t harm a hair on my body. He’d be punished if he did. My father might want to curtail my life and freedom, but he would never let anyone harm me.

Including my brother.

I glance around at the empty room. I was expecting the entire family to be here, interrogating us.

“The others will join us shortly,” Papa says, reading my mind. “For now, I want to get to know the man who thinks he is marrying you.”

I roll my eyes, but Connor ignores the jab and says, “Whatever you want to know, just ask.”

Papa lifts his glass to his lips. “Good. Tell me about yourself, then, Mr. Barrett. Things I cannot find on the internet.”

And so, it begins.

CONNOR

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IRELAX ON the cushionsof the sofa, stretch out a leg, and wrap an arm around Mia. Joe doesn’t like it.

Tough shit.

“There’s not a lot about my life that’s not on paper already,” I reply.There’s nothing I’m going to tell you.“My life is mostly work and very little play. Recently, I met your beautiful daughter, and I fell for those stunning eyes.”

Mia glances up at me, and I smile. Then I fucking hate myself when I see those blue globes sparkle. She deserves to be genuinely loved by someone, not being used for the cold revenge I’m after.

Yet here we are, and I’m not walking away.

I’m also not leaving her unprotected, now I’m sure I know what Cade is up to. It’s clear Joe Mancini loves his daughter, but if the right partnership opportunity arises, he would marry her off.

It’s sick to think Cade would even consider handing Mia over to Vitale.He’s brutal.Nathan’s description of Vitale a constant reminder. Has her brother given a single fucking thought to her safety or happiness?

Fury runs through my veins.

I press her closer against me, and I see the question in her eyes, but I can’t give her any answers. I never will be able to. Which sends my thoughts in a spiral. Right now, Mia is in my arms, but until I know she’s safe, I’m not walking away from her.

Which may impact my plans, and that’s a fucking issue I’ll deal with tomorrow.

Right now, Joe Mancini is sitting in front of me, and I need to make him think I love his daughter.

“And what do you have in common?” he asks, glancing between us both. “Marriage is about partnership, loyalty, family. How do you see this working?”

Jesus. I was expecting him to threaten my life, not marriage council us.

“One day at a time,” I reply. “Together. Dealing with life’s challenges.”

Mia leans into me, grinning, Goddamn her. So far, she’s been an excellent little actress, but the attraction between us is real.

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