Page 33 of Midnight Salvation

Blackwood Manor had never been a happy place. There were no memories that I cherished and nothing here I would miss if it burnt to the ground in a mysterious fire.

Dad sat on his special chair in the living room that reminded me of a grotesque throne. Dylan and Nicole sat on a sofa beside the mantlepiece and Mum and I sat on a sofa opposite them. Dad seemed to be hosting proceedings from his vantage point.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am that our two families will be united,” Dad gushed, his smile feral. “My oldest son and your daughter, Dylan.”

The other man didn’t seem to give a shit that he was selling off his daughter as he slowly raised a glass toward Dad. “We always said that we would go into business together.”

Mum tensed beside me. She had begged me not to do this, citing her own broken dreams and horrendous marriage, but I could never tell her about Lucrezia and the fact that I had married for love.

“Ash owns a jewellery making business,” Dad continued. “He can get his staff to make the engagement ring.”

I lifted the glass and held it to the light to examine the contents. “Lucrezia is my business partner, not staff,” I pointed out. “I’m sure she would be delighted to design a ring. I believe with all the orders she has to fulfil there is a gap in her schedule in around eight months’ time.”

Dad scowled, his forehead creasing. “That is unacceptable,” he barked out.

I shrugged. “Then I guess we’re taking a trip to London.”

Nicole stared at me for several seconds as if she was trying to see inside my head. “Your business partner is very beautiful.”

“Lucy is one of the little sisters I never had since Mum and Dad only had boys. I’ve known her and her two sisters since they were kids.” I deliberately avoided her question so that no one would suspect my feelings. Lucrezia wasn’t beautiful, she was exquisite.

Dylan gave a hollow laugh. “Maybe it is a blessing you don’t have a daughter to worry about, Matteus. Nicole can be a little insecure,” Dylan said and patted her on the knee. “She just needs a little reassurance of your affection for her.”

My right eyebrow arched. “You do realise this is the first time we’ve actually met?”

Dylan shot Dad a look that said to get me under control. “This is the way of our world. Alliances are made to strengthen empires, and in the dark, it doesn’t matter who it is under you in your marriage bed.”

“I happen to take any vows I make very seriously, Dylan.” Considering I’d already said them, I was speaking from experience. “If you’re looking for a playboy husband, then you picked the wrong Blackwood.”

Nicole sank back in her chair and looked relieved by my words. Anger throbbed deep in my chest at the way our fathers thought they could treat us. It hadn’t occurred to me how Nicole would be affected by all this until now. She was the opposite of Lucrezia in every way with blonde hair and blue eyes. Nicole was a few inches taller than my wife and beautiful in a cold and untouchable, emotionally dead way. I doubted she wore comedy Disney panties and I had no intention of ever finding out.

“Ash has always been the best of my boys,” Mum said in a low tone. “He will make your daughter very happy.”

Dylan waved off her comment as if her happiness was of no concern to him. His wife was rarely ever seen nowadays, and had reportedly had a breakdown a few years ago. The same would have happened to Mum only I stepped in and got her a home away from Dad’s brutish behaviour.

“Matteus,” Dylan continued his previous conversation as if none of us had spoken. “Check your diary and we will select appropriate dates for the wedding. I would prefer it sooner rather than later so that we can sort other business out.”

I set my glass down and sat up straighter. “I think the decision of a date sits with Nicole and I,” I declared. “When we select a ring, then we will announce the date of our engagement party. From there, Nicole can sort out where she wants the wedding and then a date will be chosen.”

Dylan glared at me in disgust.

I gave him my best shit-eating grin. “If you want me to marry your daughter, then it’s done by my rules. This is my life, if you don’t like it, then find someone else.”

I knew Dad would make my life miserable about this, but I refused to give in to these bullies. Agenda or not, I still had my self-respect.

Dad gave me his death glare and turned to face Dylan with a smile. “Let the lovebirds organise their wedding and we’ll progress with our other business.”

Lovebirds.

We were more like a demented parrot trying to juggle balls in the air, and a stunned owl who watched everyone with huge eyes.

“Mum, could you organise an appointment with your personal shopper to buy a ring? You can let Nicole and I know a date and time.”

Mum nodded at me, her fingers grasping my wrist to squeeze me in reassurance. “I’ll speak to Maeve tomorrow and tell her I need a discreet appointment.”

“Thanks, Mum.” I moved my attention to Nicole. “Perhaps we should have lunch tomorrow and sort out the details? Give me your number and I’ll text you the details.”

She nodded. No woman wanted to organise her wedding like this, and I felt a twinge of pity for the woman being manipulated the same as me in this situation.

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