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"Come, let's sit. We can talk later. For now, food in the stomach as is our due." Amory says.
Alec rolls the wheelchair to the table and helps his father into his chair. My father comes down the hallway with Declan, murmuring to him words I cannot hear.
Everyone settles at the table, and soon, dinner is underway. Their chef, Asher, has outdone himself. Chicken so tender it practically melts off the tongue, steak seasoned with herbs and spices.
I eat hungrily, having been too nervous all day to eat much. And finally, a dessert of my favorite chocolate cake, so decadent I go in for a second and third round.
We finish the meal off with wine, a Penfolds Grange that is still my favorite. I send a look to Xander, wondering if wine is his one concession to me. But he doesn't look my way.
With the meal done and the table cleared, Amory clears his throat, and I know we've finally meandered our way to the reason we're here.
"There's no need to pretend we're here to eat alone. The families have decided to merge their businesses. The contract will be signed by morning in the presence of our lawyers, but I thought it best that we spend time this way, together, without the animosity that always has brimmed between us two."
He addresses the words at Father, who nods and shifts forward on his chair. He holds his hand out to Amory, and the two men shake on it. The marriage contract will be between Xander and me, but with their handshake, the marriage is basically sealed.
Father smiles at Amory, but it lacks humor. He's never gotten along with the man. And neither has Amory with him, and if it were not for the threats of the Russians, then they'd probably head to their graves fighting each other.
Xander places his hand on my thighs and squeezes. I look up at him, my heart in my throat. The imprint of his hand feels like a brand on my skin.
"You're as good as mine, Mel. Didn't think I'd ever see the day."
"I had no idea you were looking forward to this so very much. I'd have made some allowance for you." Much to my dismay, my thoughts wander off to just what sort of allowance he would've made. And just like that, it's warm in the room.
The rest of the table is watching us, and I wonder why he wants to start a fight here. With their eyes on us like a mother hen with its chicks when a hawk circles above.
Father bangs a hand on the table and glowers at the two of us. "Do not take the feud up between the two of you."
We jerk our gazes from each other, but there's a challenging glint in Xander's eyes that has my back up.
Amory breaks into the battle of wills. "Isn't this what you two have always wanted?" He turns to me first. "What do you think?"
I have no idea why he's asked my opinion. The Mafia have no use for their women. I know the marriage is a sham, and I am a figurehead.
I release a pent-up breath and shy away from an answer. "Xander is the head of the family. Perhaps he should do the speaking."
4
XANDER
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip and clench my fist beneath the table. I sure as hell didn't want to get hitched to Mel Sedric.
She knew it as certainly as I knew. The last thing she wanted to do was get married to me herself. And deflecting the question to me was just something she would do.
But calling me the head of the family was an admission, and I find myself hardening, my cock jerking in my pants. Whether the words are true or not, they stroke my ego. Being lord and king over a woman like Mel feels good.
But I pull up before I can fall too far into that misconception. When had Mel ever been subservient and meek? This Mel didn't sit well with the image of her I had carried around these last few years.
I snap my eyes to my father's and grit my teeth. This was none of their business. Their job here was done. "It's business father. Things have changed. Perhaps you two should not interfere any more than you both have already."
Father's eyes are like cold steel. "It is our business, Xander, we are trusting you with."
"And this is our lives. We'll take it from here. Once the contract is signed, it will be as good as mine. Do not interfere."
Mel's father breaks in before father can reply. "My business belongs to my daughter still until you both have been married five years. Do not think you will get away with treating her less than is due."
Anger washes over my skin, and I throw him a dark glare. "When have I ever treated your daughter less than she is due?"
Mel's voice breaks through the brick of anger in my chest and melts it like butter. "We do not need to fight right after our dinner."
