Page 27 of Proposition 2

“Dimitri has been your partner for years.”

My father scoffed, fixing me with another stare.

“So that means he wouldn’t exploit us while we were distracted? He’s been sniffing around a little too much lately.”

I knew he was right. All our allies would turn in a heartbeat if they thought they had a chance of getting rid of us for good. That’s the way it was in this business. We were lucky our men were so loyal because my father was fair to them.

“Keep your friends close, eh?”

I leaned back in the seat again as I huffed a laugh, but my comment brought a look to my father’s eye that made my gut clench before he even opened his mouth.

“We could use a fresh tie with Dimitri. He has that pretty daughter—”

“No!”

I jerked straight in the chair, brows pulled together as I glared at him. I knew what he was suggesting, and if I hadn’t met Cadence, I probably would have considered it. It wasn’t unusual to make strategic marriages to protect the family, but I’d already made my decision about who would be mine.

My father steepled his fingers in front of him, a slight lift in the corner of his lips letting me know I had his full attention now, and I wasn’t going to like it.

“Is there someone else?”

There was no lying to my father. He’d know in an instant, and then he’d punish me for it. I may be beyond getting grounded to my room, but I remembered him taking my toys and breaking them in front of me to teach me a lesson.

I didn’t want Cadence broken.

I let my spine relax as I cleared my throat. My thoughts were rushing to come up with what to say that would get him to back off.

“Yes,” I admitted.

I wasn’t going to give him more than he asked for, but my father was like a hound on the hunt who’d caught the scent of prey.

“Who is she? Someone I know? Part of the family?”

“Yes, you have met her, but no she’s not in the family. She doesn’t have any ties, and we’re keeping things quiet.”

He studied me for a moment in silence. Despite being a grown man, my father could still make me sweat, and it was hard to keep from fidgeting.

“You’ve never mentioned a girl before, it must be serious.”

He paused, waiting for a response I refused to give.

“You better be sure she doesn’t have any ties, and I expect to meet her. Officially. If the wedding’s not being planned by fall, then I’m talking to Dimitri.”

I was so stunned it took me a minute to pick my jaw up and try to rebut him, but I knew by the look on his face, he was serious. I had no problem making Cadence mine officially, but I knew she didn’t see things the same way.

“It’s too soon for that!”

My father shrugged.

“That’s why I gave you till fall. If you’re not sure about her by then, there’s no reason you can’t marry Dimitri’s daughter.”

My eyes narrowed.

“I’m not the one that needs convincing,” I mumbled.

My father must have heard me because his face split in the biggest grin I’d ever seen on him. He chuckled, putting his cigar back in his mouth as he leaned back in his seat.

“She must be a smart girl.”

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