Page 47 of The Fighter who Needed Me
They walked up to the door and Brooks opened it for her.
There was a young man at a desk, and two doors that were shut on either side behind the desk, but as soon as the young man saw who walked into the office, he jumped up and knocked on both doors.
“Grant, Bran, the Duchess is here.”
The door on the left opened first and Grant stood in the doorway, in a black suit and knee-high boots that were polished until they were shining.
His dark hair was combed back, and he noticed them both standing in the doorway to the office.
“My lady,” He came over and kissed Penelope’s gloved hand, “To what do we owe the pleasure of this meeting?”
Bran’s door opened moments later, dressed in a similar fashion to Grant and he too greeted the Duchess.
Penelope let them fret for a moment, and then gestured to Brooks. “May we speak in private?”
Grant raised an eyebrow and nodded, “In my office.”
He walked to his office and everyone followed suit and Bran shut the door behind them.
Grant shook Brooks’ hand, and Bran did as well before Bran said, “The Angel’s King. You certainly have been giving the east end a show the last few weeks, haven’t you?”
Brooks raised his eyebrow, and Grant nodded, “Oh, yes. We have been in the crowd for the last few nights. We heard you came back to fight again, and we had to see it in person. We have seen you and Burk fight only once, but it was something that stuck with us.”
Bran nodded, “Seeing you now though? I have never seen a man fight like you. You don’t even get touched by your opponent.”
Brooks gave a slight bow, “I didn’t earn my reputation for no reason.”
Bran started laughing and helped the Duchess into a chair and then stood behind the desk, where Grant sat.
“Very true. You are certainly a spectacle to behold. Is there a reason you decided to start fighting again?”
Brooks looked down at Penelope and nodded. Bran gestured for him to take a seat and he did. Then proceeded to tell them about Persephone and how he fell in love with her, and everything that happened.
When he finished, Grant leaned forward, “May I ask if you consummated the marriage?”
Brooks let out a surprised cough and said. “Yes, we have.”
This made Grant look to Bran who shook his head, “I am afraid that there is no way for you to get an annulment. But do you know if Cabe sent in the records of your marriage?”
Brooks shrugged. “I never asked. But Cole and Eden’s marriage was. So, I assumed ours was as well. And as Cabe is gone, I cannot ask him.”
Grant rubbed his forehead, “That does make things difficult.”
“I didn’t intend for things to be difficult. All I want is for her to be happy and I know she cannot wed two men. So, I want to annul our marriage so she can live her life and I will be able to leave.”
Bran shook his head this time, “The biggest struggle we face is not just that you don’t have it recorded, but that you also consummated your marriage. I don’t believe there is anything that can be done.”
Brooks sat in the chair and processed it all. “What happens if she were to wed the other man then? Her parents were not aware of our marriage. I do not believe so anyway. Or they would have tried to force her to end it months ago. She is fragile in their eyes and unable to make decisions for herself. They have controlled and still control every single aspect of her life and they are horrible selfish people that treat her like she is a nuisance. Not only that, I found out that she is not their real daughter, that they are only her guardians. I worry what they will do to her and as she is somewhere I cannot find her, I don’t know what to do. I want nothing more than to have her by my side for the rest of my days.”
Bran looked at him, “Is that why you are doing this? Trying for an annulment? If she was mine, I wouldn’t have,”
Brooks cut him off before he could finish his sentence and stood from his chair slowly, a red haze coming over his eyes, “Do you think I want this? That I asked for this?”
Bran’s eyes widened and Brooks pushed on, “I have wanted nothing and asked for nothing in my entire life save for one thing and one thing only. And that is a woman to call my own. That I can love for the end of my days and have a family with. That is the only wish I have wanted. I have had nothing, came from nothing, been hungry, beaten, almost killed, seen things you could never even imagine, slept on the streets in the heat and the freezing cold. I have fought for everything I have in my life, both literally and figuratively. I have had so many women throw themselves at me it is laughable. And yet, I saw none of them. And touched none of them. Because they were not mine. They were not the woman I have waited for. I have earned a fortune, but care for none of it because it was not what I truly desire in life. I just wanted her. And only her.”
He looked over at them, “I found the one that was mine. We were happy and together for such a short amount of time. and then she was taken from me in the dead of night because she dared to live the life that she chose instead of the life that was chosen and forced on her. I would rather die than to see any harm come to her. As I know it would. I know about her ‘parents’. And the way they treat her. I know she would be used and abused by the man they have chosen for her. So, I did what I could for her. I married her. Because I loved her and because I wanted to protect her. And yet, I have not been able to protect her. Do you think that is easy for me? Knowing she is out there and in pain and being forced every single day to do something she does not want? That is harder than a man like you could ever know.”
Brooks turned away from them, “I am doing this because I love her. Because I want to protect her from this. And because she is the most important thing in my life. I would do anything for her. Give anything to be with her. If this is the price I have to pay to give her any sort of protection, then so be it. But do NOT ever question me again. Persephone is the only person who could ever get me to do anything and here I am, giving up the last beats of my heart for her. I need her more than my next breath and have had to love her from afar. Tell me if you have ever had to sacrifice something like this in your perfect life?”
