Page 54 of The Devil's Heir
His fork is halfway to his mouth when he stops in mid-motion and looks at me. "Go on. Who else were you running from?"
"Nobody—I didn't mean it that way."
"Then explainhowyou meant it because if there is someone else looking for you, it's my business to know this. You may be carrying my child as we speak, and I cannot have you in any kind of danger."
"No, I just meant…" I scramble to find something to say, but nothing comes to me.
Just when Jarek's about to say something, another voice rings out.
"Oh, how wonderful. We're going to have a nice family meal together." Carmen claps her hands and takes the chair across from me, on Jarek's right side.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Jarek asks his aunt and I can't help my surprise at the way he just talked to her.
"I'm about to have dinner with my nephew and his wh—friend," Carmen smirks after her little fake blunder.
"You weren't invited." Jarek clenches his jaw and grips his knife in his hand as he addresses her.
"Oh, nonsense! I live here. I don't need an invite to eat dinner at myowntable in myownhouse."
"You do if I'm here eating. I don't want to look at you; I'll lose my appetite."
"Jarek!" I gasp.
He turns my way. "That's the second time that you have forgotten your manners when addressing me, Liliana. I suggest you don't do it again."
Somehow, we start a staring match with each other, neither of us wanting to be the first to turn away. However, when Carmen snickers, Jarek snaps his attention back to her. It's almost as if he doesn't trust her. I wonder why he seems to hate his aunt so much.
"Either you leave, or I will have Jackson come and personally remove you. I have things to talk to Liliana about that are none of your fucking business."
As ifhe was standing just outside the door, which he probably was, Jackson appears in the doorway. Standing with his feet shoulder-width apart, his hand crosses over the other, and he waits.
Carmen narrows her eyes at Jarek. "You haven't fulfilled the terms as of yet, dear boy. You will do well to remember that. You are not in charge of everything until your little plaything over here gives you a brat."
I take offense at her nickname for me, but I remain silent. This is one conversation that I don't want to be involved in. Besides, I like standing on the sidelines and watching all the emotions that dance across Jarek's face. This woman genuinely bothers him, and I want to know why.
"Jackson, please see to it that my aunt gets comfortable in the sitting room, and I'll have the staff deliver her dinner." Jarek never looks away from his aunt as he instructs Jackson.
"Yes, Sir."
Jackson comes forward, and when he goes to take Carmen by her arm, she jerks away. "Don't fucking touch me! Never touch me again."
Carmen stands abruptly and walks out of the room. Jackson hurries to follow, ensuring that she doesn't bother us again. I'm unsure what to say, so I pick up my fork and eat. Thanks to Carmen's arrival, Jarek has forgotten all about our prior conversation, and he begins to eat, too.
I sit back in my chair when my stomach is full, hoping Jarek will excuse me. Unfortunately, he takes a few more bites himself, wipes his mouth with the white linen napkin, and leans back in his chair. He picks up his glass of untouched wine and swirls it around in the glass.
"I have something to give you, and I don't want any fuss over it." Jarek takes a sip of the red liquid and then sets it down.
"Okay, Sir."
I don't care if he wants to give me things. I won't fight him on it because it's no use. If he wants to spend his money on me, so be it.
"What, no questions?"
"Will it make a difference if I asked questions, Sir?"
The corner of his mouth tilts up, and a shadow of a smile appears. "No, it won't."
"Well then, I have no questions, Sir."
