Page 112 of Slow Heat
“I’m going to end this today.” The car neared the Sabel mansion. The houses around them grew bigger and posher. “There’s no time left to indulge in longings that can never be fulfilled. I have to prepare for my heat.”
“You’d take another after having Jason?”
Vale clenched Yosef’s fingers hard and didn’t address the question. “We’re nearly there. I need your promise that when I dismiss you from the negotiations, you’ll leave.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to make sure that Jason never regrets this day. He’ll take a surrogate and be glad to see the last of me. I’ll say what I need to say—all true things, sadly—to make sure of it.”
Yosef studied him closely as the car slowed in front of the Sabel’s house. “All right. But I’m going to be honest with you, Vale. I think you’re wrong, and, for what it’s worth, my money’s on Jason surprising you.”
Vale sat atthe Sabel-Hoff dining room table with Yosef at his side. He’d been mildly surprised negotiations hadn’t been called off after the drama of the night before. But Yule and Miner were nothing if not dedicated to Jason and his future, so despite everything, both of them sat at the table, too. They looked like they’d been up all night grieving, yet they were dressed and ready for business.
All the better since it was time that Vale put an end to his and Jason’s dreams.
Their attorney, Bisme Freet, had been there when Yosef and Vale had first arrived, but he’d excused himself after opening the meeting. “Yule and Miner would like to talk with you alone,” was all he said. “I’ll return later, if it’s appropriate.”
That’d been curious enough, but it became even more so once it was clear that Jason wasn’t late. He simply wasn’t coming. At least, not yet.
“Jason will join us later,” Yule said, and his voice was a dead, raspy thing, containing none of the jovial warmth from the first time they’d met.
“He agreed to that?” Vale asked, surprised. When they’d parted ways the night before, Jason had barely been willing to go. Insisting that since they’d consummated the imprint, he might as well stay the night and they could go to the negotiations together.
Vale, desperate to be alone with this distress so he could grieve what was to come, had insisted that Jason’s parents would be furious if they did that, and so Jason had reluctantly gone on his way. Now he wondered what had happened once Jason was home and if he’d evenneedto reject the contract. Perhaps Yule had plans of his own.
“Jason? Agree to let us talk to you alone? I don’t think so.” Yule smiled, and for the first time that morning, Vale saw a flash of warmth in his eyes. “He’s set on you, and if he knew you were here, nothing would keep him away.”
Miner met Vale’s eyes with a cool appraisal. Clearly, he wasn’t happy with Vale, either. “He thinks negotiations start at noon. He’s been sent across town for refreshments, since we are quite suddenly out of anything decent to serve.”
“I see.”
“Miner isn’t happy that I’ve arranged this meeting without Jason, but given how many choices he’s made with regards to our son and our lives without consulting me lately, I think turnabout is fair play.”
Vale raised his brows, and next to him Yosef cleared his throat.
“You have every right to refuse my next request, and if you do, then I’ll disclose the same information as I would if you granted it, but I’d like you to send your counsel away for a little while. There are some things I’d like to talk over with you and you alone.”
Yosef put his hand on Vale’s arm and shook his head.
“Go on, Yosef,” Vale said quietly. His heart ached, but everything was going to plan—better, actually. “I’ll be fine here.”
“I can’t in good conscience approve of any of this, Vale.”
Vale smiled at him reassuringly and insisted. “Go.”
Yosef whispered in Vale’s ear, “They could blackmail you or try to frame you in some way—”
Vale cut him off. “That’s not what this is about. It’s fine. I know what I’m doing. Please wait in the hallway.”
Yosef packed up his stack of papers, muttering under his breath. “This is a fool’s move and so is everything else you have up your sleeve.”
Vale remained silent, blood cold and tongue ashen.
Yosef sighed. “I’ll be in the hallway if you need me.”
Vale waited until the door was entirely shut before he turned to Miner and Yule. “If this is about last night—”
“It is,” Yule cut him off. “I don’t know what Jason told you about why he left our house, but whatever he said, whatever you know, we’d like your assurance it will remain confidential, no matter how things turn out at the negotiation table today.”
