Page 171 of The Sweetest Devotion

Flaring his nostrils, Keith kept his gaze forward. “Either get to the point, or we’re leaving,Cain.”

Cain almost smiled and my father clasped his hands together. He glanced at the Rolex on his wrist and got back to us. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Mind telling me what is going on?”

Cain took the lead, going and beginning this meeting he’d called. “As I said, Kennedy has been seeing another man.”

My father shrugged, showing he couldn’t care less. He wasn’t sympathetic or scornful. “Okay? She never wanted you, something weallknew. You just couldn’t take no for an answer and forced this whole charade. Next time dial that ego down, son, there are plenty of fish in the sea.”

“Be that as it may, as far as I’m concerned,Ikept my end of our bargain. I’ve been very forthcoming with my team and the Cartier brand. She was your end, and that meansyoufell through on the deal.”

My father breathed through his nose and I could see that angry scowl of his manifesting as his patience was being tested.

“Cain, if you try to fuck me with this deal?—”

“Nah, that’s not what this is about,” Cain said coolly as he sat back comfortably in his chair. “We both know thatInever cared for this partnership, but somewhere along the line, The Residence at Cartier became of interest to me. Kennedy was your bottom line, and I got cheated. So, consider this meeting a renegotiation of sorts.”

“Stop talking about her like she’s a piece of property and get to the fuckin’ point,” Keith snapped as he swung his gaze from Cain to my father.

My father eyed Keith, curious, but annoyed. “Son, if you want the right to speak in my business meetings, you at least owe me the respect of shaking my hand and introducing yourself.”

Keith shook his head. “I don’t respect men who treat their daughters like cattle.”

My mouth fell agape as one of my father’s brows rose. “I’m her father?—”

“Then act like it,” my mother’s stern voice broke in. We all turned to catch her standing there with her arms folded, anger teeming loudly from her body as she glared at my father. “Keith is right, she’s not a piece of property, she’s your daughter. Act like it.”

I’d never felt more vindicated than this moment.

Cain looked bored as he sat awaiting what would happen next.

My father peeled his gaze from my mother and focused back on Cain. “If you think you’re getting a dime more out of me afteryoudragged my daughter into this and paraded around with her, you’re mistaken.”

Cain wrinkled his nose. “I’m not a greedy man, Damon. I’ll take an even fifty/fifty split.”

My father closed his eyes, composing himself as best as he could. All this stress couldn’t be good for his heart. “Fine.”

A corner of Cain’s mouth curled up. “Pleasure doing business with you. I’ll have my people redraw up the contract and I’ll get with you and Phil on it, and then we can get back to work.”

Cain stood from the chair and shook hands with my father for a final time, cementing their agreement.

He was about to leave, and something knotted in my gut didn’t sit right with me.

“Cain? Wait.” I stood to follow him out of the room, but Keith’s hold kept me in place. I looked down at him, seeing unease in his eyes. “I’ll be okay.”

Cain held the door and I stepped out into the hall where he shut it behind us for privacy. His men took off down the hall, headed outside to wait.

One minute he was standing there in front of me, and the next, my hand was flying across his face.

For so long I’d wanted to smack the shit out of him and nothing felt better than accomplishing that goal.

Cain took my slap and remained standing, staring at me blankly.

“I won’t apologize for that, or for Keith,” I said as I squared my shoulders and stood my ground. “You…you have done a lot of horrible things in your life, I’m sure, but…I don’t think you’re a completely awful person.” I couldn’t. It wasn’t in me, not even after last night. There was just something about Cain that didn’t feel beyond redemption. I took his ring off my left hand and looked at it. “You may need a really good therapist, but you deserve to have someone love you for you, too.”

Cain thumbed at his jaw. “?’Fraid that’s not in the cards for me.”

“Everyone deserves love, Cain, even you,” I said as I took his hand and put his engagement ring in it.

“Touched, Wife.” He took a looming step closer, going and tugging on my cheek. “Don’t ever try to sacrifice yourself for a man again. If Keith ever hurts you, he’s a dead man. Understood?”

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