Page 70 of Destiny Reclaimed
“Okay, mama.”
The boy clunked back down to the opposite end of the hall.
He heard the door between the kitchen and outside shut. Where was she going? Probably to her parents’ house. He leaped from his chair to catch her. After the morning they’d had, the last thing he needed was her to go whining to her parents, or that imbecile brother of hers about their life. If she’d just stop provoking him, he wouldn’t have to discipline her. It was all her fault.Thisis how she repaid him after all he’d done to secure her as his wife, rather than his selfish, distant cousins.
The memory of his life, Gwendoline’s, too, before he’d successfully changed history resurfaced. She had appeared to be a loving spouse to Jack. Yet, when it came to him, she couldn’t act more the opposite, challenging him every step of the way. And the boy, he had that damn Cornelis on a pedestal, and when it came to him, the boy shut down and would hardly look at him. Maybe he shouldn’t have stolen so many pieces of his cousin’s life. Should have only stuck to the decorated military history and prominent social status. Those were the two things he was really after in the beginning. He loved the attention those statuses brought. Everyone knowing his name and treating him like a war hero.
He shook his head. He couldn’t worry about that at this moment. Right now, he needed to re-focus on training her to be the dutiful wife he wanted.
He ran down the hall and out the door right as she began to back out of the driveway. Slamming the palm of his hand on the trunk caused her to brake hard. The vehicle jerked. She snapped her head around and watched him as he walked to the driver’s side window.
“Get out of the car,” he demanded.
The defiant woman set her chin. “No.”
He reached through the open window, wrapped his hand around the back and side of her neck opposite him, and pulled her toward him.
Beyond his spouse, he noticed their son’s wide-eyed stare.
The boy’s lip started to quiver. “Mama?” he muttered before a full-blown wail started.
“It’s okay, honey. Everything is fine,” Gwendoline assured the boy without turning to look at him.
She couldn’t have if she wanted to because his grip held firm. He needed her to keep her focus on him so she’d understand what would happen to her if she blabbed about their life to anyone.
The defiance emitting from her gaze set him on edge. Her lack of tears and set jaw was new and a clear indicator her docility was about to change, and he couldn’t have that.
Still holding her firm, he edged sideways a bit to get a better look at the crying, weak, boy. The lad needed to toughen up.
“Blake, like your mama said. Everything is okay. Boys don’t cry. Do you understand me?”
The child nodded, sniffled, and wiped at the tears on his cheeks.
“What goes on in this house—our family—is nobody’s business. A special secret for just me, you, and your mama. Understand?”
The boy nodded again as he cowered, practically melted into the seat.
Arthur shifted his thumb to the front of his wife’s throat and squeezed a bit more. His hand didn’t quite stretch all the way around her neck but it was enough to get his point across.
“Remember, son, telling other people our family secrets are a cause for punishment. Got it?”
He felt Gwendoline’s hard swallow against the pad of his thumb. She got it.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Listen,” his spouse whispered. “I haven’t visited her in a week. If I don’t show up soon, she’ll think something is wrong. You don’t want her coming here, do you?”
A visit from her meddling mother was the last thing he needed. Arthur forced a smile and fixed his gaze on Blake. “Have a nice time at Grandma and Grandpa’s.”
He returned his focus to his spouse. “Don’tbe too long.”
He loosened his grip and straightened his spine as she backed out of the driveway. He’d deal with her again when she returned home.
––––––––
Ashort time later, his wife and son returned. Quiet as church mice.
When the door to his office creaked open, he’d expected to see his wife, instead, it was her twin. His brother-in-law’s facial features were tense. His stance was rigid.
