Page 63 of Point of No Return

He drags a hand through his hair, his voice low. “Fuck.”

“What is going on?”

He motions me forward, his hand guiding me as we walk back down the hall. “You should go home with Crew.”

“Like hell I am,” I tell him as the bar comes into view. “My father is here too. I’m not going anywhere.”

Irritation flashes across his face as he glances down at me, but he shakes it off. “We don’t have time for this. You say nothing. You don’t ask questions. You are silent- no matter what he says to you. Do you understand?” he says just as we cross the hall toward the bar.

Normally, I’d argue or put up a fight, but something about the situation has me pressing my lips firmly closed. As soon as Tyson hears us coming, his face turns vicious. He laughs when his eyes land on me, and I’m quick to notice that Crew returns to his previous position in front of me.

“Come on, Skar. Cowering behind your wife? That’s below you.”

“Why are you here, Tyson?”

Tyson’s chest rises and falls quickly, and he’s shaking, hands gripping the arms of his wheelchair. “The girl leaves. Now.”

Skar’s voice is like darkness personified. “She. Stays.”

My father is practically pleading with me to do as I’m told. But whatever brought them here is not something I can just ignore. I look away from him, my eyes dancing between Skar and his father.

“Do you really think you can destroy everything I’ve worked for, boy?”

“I assume there’s a reason you’re here,” my husband drawls, almost bored as he walks forward, standing in front of Crew. He tucks one hand in his pant pockets, and the movement is somehow a thousand times more menacing than anything else he could’ve done.

“My shares- in my own company- have been diluted to next to nothing.”

“I told you what would happen. You made the mistake of not believing me.”

“I built this empire with my bare hands. From nothing. And you’ve managed to ruin it in less than a few months. My company, my name-”

“Ourname,” Skar corrects. “Not yours. I have done nothing but dig us out of the grave you dug.”

“Is that what you’re calling it? Buying your father-in-law out of the family company? Buying your father out of his own home? What do you call that?” Tyson seethes, his breath like fire sawing out of his lungs.

But the information alone is enough to make me look at Skar.

What the hell is going on?

“What would Lorelai say? Huh?”

Skar’s jaw clenches, and his hands become fists at his side as anger seems to take hold of him. “You should leave before I have you escorted out. Charles, we can discuss alternative solutions if you’d like to meet later.”

Tyson’s lips curl into a snarl. “You are every bit the coward your mother raised you to be.”

I can tell the words have struck a chord even before Skar jerks forward. I move in front of him, my hands pushing on his chest to keep him from doing something he’ll regret.

“Skar,” I snap, trying to push him back, but he isn’t looking at me. “Stop.” My hands move up his chest to his neck. His skin is hot beneath my touch, but I keep my hands firm. “It isn’t worth it,” I whisper. My thumbs brush over his neck, urging him to look at me as his chest rises and falls heavily. He’s finally stopped pushing enough that I know he’s heard me. “It isn’t worth it.”

“She’s right, boy,” Tyson taunts, and I shake my head, lifting my hands to Skar’s face.

“Let’s go.” I look directly at him as I say it. “Aleks is waiting back at home. Let’s just go.” His eyes flick to mine, and whatever he sees there seems to ease the tension enough that he steps back, away from my touch.

“We will talk later,” Skar’s voice is gravelly, and he thrusts a finger in Tyson’s direction. “You have two minutes. I want you out.”

It’s my father who speaks next: “Skar-”

“Now.” His voice is a finality, and it has Crew finally stepping in between everyone, breaking up the tension.

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