Page 5 of Bittersweet Revenge

“LOOK AT ME WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU, ESMERALDA!” His voice lashed like a whip.

I looked up, not needing to fake the fear I was feeling. This man had never been shy with his chastisements and I could feel one coming my way. I also knew that Archie couldn’t stop it. He couldn't blow his cover. I’d never allow it.

“Did you think, even for a minute, that you would get out unscathed?”

Ah, there it was. I recognized it well, the sadistic glimmer in his eyes preceding every time he hurt anyone.

He raised his hand and I closed my eyes, tensing, bracing for impact.

Nothing happened. I opened an eye and was surprised to see Caleb’s hand circling my father’s wrist, preventing his slap.

I think my incredulity and surprise were matched on my father’s face. I was certain nobody had ever challenged him in this way before.

“How–” my father started as I took a step back out of reach. He threw daggers at Caleb with his eyes. “How dare you?” He finally uttered, the shock in his voice still overshadowing the anger at Caleb’s disrespect.

Caleb’s nostrils flared, his back ramrod. “I don't mean to disrespect you, but I think you wouldn’t appreciate anybody damaging what’s yours andas I have claimed her, her punishment is mine to give.”

My father turned to me, his eyes narrowing in anger as he briskly removed his wrist from Caleb’s hold. “I won’t accept this type of behavior again from her, Caleb,” he told him while keeping his eyes on me.

I was not even worthy of his words now? If he thought he had offended me, he had another thing coming.

My father resumed his lecture. “As long as she lives under my roof, she will–”

“She is coming with me,” Caleb announced.

I gasped, turning toward him. That was not something I wanted. At least while I was here I had Archie and Sophia to protect me from moody-psycho Dad. But sharing a living space with this version of Caleb? I shuddered at the idea.

“The fu–” Archie stopped, clearing his throat. “Father, surely you can’t agree to this!” He scoffed. “This is preposterous! We barely managed to avoid the scandal she caused when she ran by inventing a social trip to Paris!”

Thanks, Archie, I thought. He was sharing information the only way he could.

“How are we going to justify the wayward daughter moving in with her fiancé prenuptial? What about her virtue?” He grimaced. “Even the powerful William Forbes won’t be able to avoid the scandal.”

My father turned to Archie, his face thoughtful. Archie shrugged like it didn’t matter to him, but my heart swelled with love at my brother’s attempt to keep me close. So much had changed between him and me in so little time.

“I officially claimed her, Archibald,” Caleb seethed before turning toward my father. "The world has known since the announcement that your innocent little girl is not so innocent anymore. We’re basically married as far as our peers are concerned – as for the rest of the world, why should we even care?”

My father hesitated; it was clearly not because of my wellbeing so I didn’t really understand. “She’s wild, untrained and clearly not receptive to training,” he said.

“Are you talking about me or a poodle?” I let slip and Archie rolled his eyes at me with frustration.

My father’s nostrils flared in anger as Caleb’s hold on my bicep tightened painfully.

“See!” My father gestured to me. “She is too unruly. I don’t believe a boy can–”

“Are you calling me a boy?” Caleb cut in, raising an eyebrow. Well in my father’s eyes that was clearly the case.“Are you doubting my ability to keep my future wife in line?”

“That is not the point,” my father shot back.

“Actually, sir, it is. Let me prove you wrong. Let me show you I’m capable of the responsibilities to be incumbent upon me after the wedding.”

What responsibilities?I thought, but I’d have to wait and ask Archie because I was positive that neither my father nor Caleb would be forthcoming.

My father sighed, throwing his hands up in surrender. “You want the hellion? Take her, but don't forget that her behavior will still reflect on me, at leastuntil you are legally married. Should this get out of control, should she step out of line… I’ll get her back here. Are we clear?”

“Crystal, sir.”

I didn’t need to be a Caleb expert to see it had cost him to grovel like that. Good!Now you know how it feels, King Caleb, to be at someone else’s mercy.

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