Page 79 of Bed of Thorns

Now all eyes were firmly locked on mine, waiting.

Anticipating.

Hungering for the right reaction.

I was paralyzed, no longer certain I could keep up the charade. “That’s… I mean…” I laughed, forcing myself to move closer to Carl and holding out my hand.

“Now, my dear. We are much more like family.” Carl threw open his arms, requiring me to hug him.

I’d never felt more disgusted in my life.

Ugly visions suddenly swept into my mind.

Of that night.

That horrible night.

And the blood that had covered Edmond.

* * *

“You’re far too quiet, my beautiful woman,” Edmond said when Charles closed the door and slipped into the driver’s seat.

“I honestly don’t know what to say.” At least my words were the truth, which might be the last time I could say them. Another hour had passed of celebrations after Edmond was taken away for a few minutes after our special ‘gift’ had been provided. I wanted to scratch off portions of my skin, and my stomach was so in knots I wasn’t certain I could make it all the way home.

“I understand, baby. It’s overwhelming.”

“I’ll just raise the privacy glass, sir. I’m certain the two of you have a lot to celebrate,” Charles said. Instantly, the slight whirring sound as the glass was positioned forced a tic on the corner of my mouth.

I wanted so much to be happy for him, for us, but I couldn’t get over the horrible feeling the entire evening had been more about threatening us than celebrating.

As if we’d been placed on a short leash.

“How about some champagne?” Edmond asked, his tone now falling flat.

“Sure.”

“You’re not happy.”

“I just…” I turned toward him, praying I could find the right words. “Your fiancée?” I finally blurted out. “When were you going to tell me this? Was it some crazy condition of your promotion? You must have a wife, or you wouldn’t fit in?”

“Whoa. That has nothing to do with it, Mercedes. Jesus. Could you think any less of me?” He seemed genuinely shocked that I would think something so horrible about him.

“Then what was that about?” I was hot, furious with both of us.

He sighed, glancing out the window as Charles drove out of the parking lot. “I just mentioned that I wanted to be financially secure when I asked you to marry me. That’s it. Nothing nefarious.”

I chewed on my lip, my stomach aching. Maybe I had overreacted. “I’m sorry, Edmond. Everything that’s happened is a lot to deal with.”

“Baby. I know you’re concerned, and I can understand that, but you need to trust me. I’m no fool. I refuse to do anything that goes against my beliefs or yours. I will pay close attention to what I’m doing and if I feel I’d being asked to do anything illegal or otherwise against what we’re trying to build, I will leave the firm. I want to marry you one day. That’s very important to me, but it won’t happen until it’s the right time. Is that a deal?”

The right time.

He didn’t understand I couldn’t care less about having a ring on my finger. All I wanted for both of us was peace of mind.

His eyes were twinkling as they used to as he handed me the glass of bubbly. I could get lost in them for hours. “I do trust you with everything I have.”

“Then enjoy yourself. We’re moving to a house that’s ours. All ours. And no one can take it away from us.”

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