Page 126 of Desperate Crimes

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He wants to drag my marriage into this.

My father shifts beside me but says nothing.He’s letting me handle it.

Good.

Because I’ve got this.

“You have a problem with the merger?”I ask.“The business one—or the one involving your daughter?”

Adrik’s jaw ticks.

“Let’s not confuse the two,” he says.

“Too late,” I answer.

Silence stretches.

“Just so you know, I didn’t marry her for this,” I grind out, holding his obsidian gaze for a beat before turning away.“Leanna isn’t a pawn.”

“Then what is she?Tell me, Fury?”Adrik challenges.

I snap my gaze back to him.

“She’s my fucking life.”

A beat.

Then my father speaks for the first time, his voice low and final.

“I believe that’s the end of that particular conversation.”

Adrik rises.

But the war is still in his eyes.

Then he laughs.Cold.Quiet.

“You want to marry your way into a merger with this family?Fine.But if you want my support?Then prove you can handle it.”

I go still.“Define it.”

“The Caas properties.The overseas transition.The infrastructure contracts.The workers, shipping, security—all of it.I want you to go.”

I blink.“To Vietnam?”

“And Singapore.The Philippines.Thailand.You’ll oversee every goddamn inch of the transition.If Viper Enterprises wants my backing, and if you want to prove you’re worthy of my daughter,” he practically growls the words, “Well, then, you’ll show me you have the discipline, endurance, and loyalty to handle it.”

“That kind of project could take months,” I say, cold seeping in.

“That’s right,” he says, his face blank and merciless.“So if you’re really serious about this merger—either of them—you’ll step up.”

My fists curl at my sides.

Because I see what this is.

He wants me gone.

Wants to peel me away from Leanna.

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