Page 236 of Redeemed

“I’m not marrying her.”

“You will,” Mark says lowly, “or you’ll lose your future position as leader of the Rooks.”

I go still. I was worried it would come to this. No, Iknewit would come to this. It’s why Charlotte and I came up with a backup plan. I was hoping it’dstaya backup plan, though.

A timeline forms in my mind as I stare at Mark, jaw tight. He thinks he has me cornered. Little does he know, it’s really the other way around. I didn’t spend the last year collecting evidence of his wrongdoings for nothing.

“Fine,” I say, forcing resignation into my tone. “May twentieth.”

“Good. You can contact Delilah for more details. Do it quickly, please. She’s been waiting to hear from you, and Bill is getting impatient.”

I nod. “Am I free to go?”

“As long as you keep me updated as you and Delilah iron out your plans.”

Standing, I adjust the rolled-up sleeves of my shirt. “Of course.”

His gaze burns the back of my neck as I move to the door. Just as I’m reaching for the handle, he stops me.

“Oh, and Colton?”

I stop, barely looking over my shoulder as I wait for him to go on.

“I advise you to remember what happened the last time you tried to gain the upper hand over me. Don’t try to sabotage this.”

“Trust me, I won’t. I know my place.”

I leave the room at a leisure pace and stride through the hallway with my head down. I can’t give Mark more fuel for his suspicions. If I look like I’m anything but resigned about this marriage, he’ll know something is up for sure.

Charlotte is still in the parking lot. She’s standing next to her black Bugatti in a tasteful cream dress. As I approach, she tilts her head to one side, watching me. She’s one of the few people I don’t bother hiding my emotions from, so she sees every ounce of the fury burning inside me.

Before I can get a single word out, Charlotte opens her arms and pulls me into a hug. My anger recedes just enough to make room for the ache that grows whenever I’m near her.

If Mom was still alive, everything would be different.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she says. “I know this isn’t how you wanted things to go.”

“He told you?”

She smiles sadly. “He tells me everything, dear.”

“He’ll forge the documents if I don’t marry her. I know he will.”

As her smile turns ironic, Charlotte looks me up and down. “Well, that’s why we’re doing it first, aren’t we?”

My gaze flicks down to the pavement. “Yeah.”

“Hey.” She tilts my chin up so I have to look at her. “It doesn’t make you like him. He’ll do it because he’s drunk on power and to feed his greed. You’re doing it because he’s leaving you with no other choice.”

“But what about Haven?”

“It saves her, too. You know that.”

My fists clench. “I don’t want to hurt her more, Char.”

“You won’t.” Charlotte pats my chest. “I already made the appointment with the judge. Now go, or you’ll be late.”

“I’m going to have to force her. What if she hates me for this?”

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