Page 28 of Owned

“Haven’t we had this discussion?”

“Talking about it is one thing. Actually experiencing it is quite another.”

“Ten—”

“You helped me cover up a murder, Atlas. Don’t tell me you can’t talk to me about why you’re in such a foul mood. This is not like you.”

His blue eyes were sharp and I should have known that dismissing all his questions was a dumb move. He was too smart for evasions. Though, he wasn’t right about it being murder. Taking out his old mentor for using threats against his daughter hadn’t been murder. It had been putting down a rabid dog.

Still, his point stood. My reluctance to tell him about the situation with Rowan made it seem like I was deliberately covering it up, which I wasn’t.

I raised a hand and shoved it through my sweat-damp hair. “Okay, fine. I haven’t been entirely honest with you and Cal about this whole wedding situation.”

He didn’t seem surprised, the prick. “You mean about the fact that you were once married to Caitlyn James and that Rowan was once your stepdaughter? I have to say, I was surprised. Charlotte always said that Juliana was her only daughter.”

I stared at him, my brain ticking over. “You had Rowan investigated?”

Ten gave me one of his patented stern glares. “Of course we had her investigated. Right after you told us her name. You think either Cal or I are happy with Charlotte using one of us to play at creating her own little dynasty?”

No, I hadn’t thought that. But I’d assumed that they’d left me to take care of it. “I didn’t need you both to do that,” I growled, my temper on the thinnest of leashes. “I’m a big boy. I can manage Charlotte fucking Hamilton without you, thanks.”

“And you’re managing so well so almost broke your racquet with that last serve,” Ten said impatiently. “Stop wasting energy being angry at Cal and I, just tell me what the problem is.”

He was right, the asshole.

With an effort, I forced myself to calm the fuck down. “Rowan’s a good kid,” I said even as the word ‘kid’ somehow soured in my mouth. “She’s been looking after Caitlyn, her mom, for years due to Cait’s issues, but money’s a problem for her. Which is why she signed up to Charlotte’s little plan.”

“I see.” Ten’s gaze narrowed. “You think she’s made a bad choice?”

“Yeah, a terrible one. She’s the one who’ll have to give the baby away and I don’t think she’s fully thought that through.”

“Says the man who hasn’t fully thought through the idea of fatherhood himself,” Ten noted dryly.

I scowled. “This isn’t about me, Ten. Charlotte’s a manipulative bitch and Rowan’s an innocent. I’m concerned she’s been caught up in this web Charlotte’s spinning with no idea what she’s getting herself into.”

“I presume you had a discussion with her then?”

“Of course I did. I offered to help her out with money if that was the issue, but she turned me down.”

“If she turned you down, then that’s her choice and presumably wants to do this,” Ten pointed out, being really fucking annoying.

“She only turned me down because she’s angry with me,” I said. “It’s got nothing to do with her actually wanting to go through with this farce.”

“So why is she angry with you?”

“Because she didn’t appreciate me walking out on her and her mother. Me and Cait were years ago. Cait needed someone to scare off her ex and I needed money for my business, so we came to an arrangement. We weren’t married long, but apparently it was long enough for Rowan to feel like I’d abandoned them when Cait and I decided to end it.”

“So, what? You talked to Rowan about all of this?”

“Yes. We met last week with Charlotte.”

Ten was silent a long moment, giving me a narrow blue stare. Then he said, “Why does this girl matter to you so much?”

Trust him to hone in on the most problematic part of this whole situation.

Abruptly, I turned and went over to the bench by the door where our towels were, and picked one up. Then I wiped my face, debating what to say. I didn’t want to go into how we’d met at Arcadia and what she’d seen me doing, which didn’t paint me in the best light, not to mention being embarrassing for her. Nor did I want to talk about what had happened in the bathroom of La Chouette or how I hadn’t been able to get her out of my head since.

“Why shouldn’t she matter?” I slung the towel around my neck and turned to face him. “Like I said, she’s a good kid. And she didn’t ask for a mom with significant issues, who exposed her to a lot of shitty male behavior, but that’s what she got, and she looked out for Cait all the same. She’s smart, unfailingly loyal, damn strong, and I don’t want to see her getting sucked into Charlotte’s bullshit.”

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