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“What are the rules, Cristina? Who inherits the foundation and everything that comes with it?”
I glance up to find my uncle watching me with that same look he sometimes had when I was little. I never could figure out what it meant, but I hated it. It made me feel cold and unwelcome and mostly just bad. It feels the same now, but I think I’m starting to understand its meaning.
I think it’s a sort of hate.
When I return my attention to Lucas, he’s watching me curiously. I school my features as best I can. This man is dangerous.
Both of them are.
Hell, all of them are.
“It’s just a charitable organization. There isn’t much for personal gain,” I say.
“It’s a front. I think you can stop lying to yourself about that part already. But I’m not interested in that right now. Tell me who inherits.”
“Firstborn.”
“Right. And when your older brother died, who was next in line?”
“Me.”
“And after you?”
“If I have kids, then my kids.”
“And if you don’t have kids?”
“Stop fucking around. Just tell her,” my uncle says as I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
“To whom does the foundation go if you were to meet an untimely end—or a timely one—and you did not have a successor?”
I look up to meet my uncle’s hard eyes. “My uncle’s line,” I tell Lucas. “Him, then Liam.”
“Unless you have an heir. Don’t you think Damian would make a good daddy? Although he does share some of what I wouldn’t consider Dad’s best qualities.”
My brain works hard to process, to make sense of what is senseless.
“No. You’re wrong,” I finally say, unable to come to terms with what I think he’s saying. I look up at my uncle. “He’s lying.”
My uncle mutters a curse and runs a hand through his hair. It’s Lucas who continues talking.
“Could be, I guess. Although my dear brother didn’t deny it.”
I shake my head and stand. “That’s not right. And even if that’s what he wanted I won’t get pregnant. I’m on the pill, and he knows it. He just refilled my prescription even. That’s not what he wants from me.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Please tell me you’re not that stupid.”
Fuck.
I hug my arms to myself, suddenly chilled.
“What does he want then, Cristina?” Lucas asks me.
I look away. I don’t know what Damian wants. All I know is that he promised to let me go when he has it. His exact words.
“I have a doctor friend. I’ve already spoken to her. She’ll give you a birth control shot that’ll be good for three months.”
“What?”
“Birth control shot. You’ve heard of those?”
“Of course. It’s not…” I push my hands into my hair, then close my eyes to think. “I don’t believe you. You’re lying.” I look up at him. “And I don’t trust you.”
“But you trust your uncle, right?”
I look at my uncle. “So that’s why he’s here? In order for you to have some backing? And you think because he’s here I’ll just take your word for it? News flash, Lucas. He betrayed me too, and he’s blood.”
Lucas sighs. “I’ll be honest with you since no one else is. Yes, you’re right. Your uncle is taking care of his interests—”
“She’s my brother’s daughter. I’m as invested in protecting her—”
“I don’t think you are, Uncle,” I cut him off.
He looks surprised to hear it. “I don’t want to see you hurt, Cristina. No matter what.”
“You don’t have to take my word for any of this,” Lucas says. “I did think having your uncle here would help make my case, but that was clearly a mistake. Although at least I know you’re not as naïve as I assumed.”
“You don’t know anything about me, Lucas.”
“Just think about it. Think about what makes sense.” He finishes his drink, sets the empty glass down, and stands. “So, Damian refilled your prescription? That was nice of him. Damian is such a nice guy. Always doing things for other people and never thinking of his own personal gain.”
Give me what I want, and I’ll let you go.
I stand. “I want to leave.”
“Suit yourself. Just remember what I said the next time my brother fucks you.”
I flinch like he slapped me.
“You’re lying.”
“What reason would I have to lie? What would I gain by lying about this?”
“What do you have to gain by telling me?”
“What have I got to lose?” Lucas says with a shrug of his shoulders. “Let’s go.”
Give me what I want, and I’ll let you go.
He never told me what he wants. I keep coming back to this.
“Wait,” my uncle says.
I turn to him.
“Cristina, let him take you to the doctor. At least we can delay what Damian wants until we can figure out how to get you away from him.”
“You didn’t try to stop him before. Why would you now?”
“Because he has me,” Lucas says. “Damian could have crushed him before. But with my backing and the backing of the others that my brother is stupid enough to challenge, your uncle is in a much better position than he was. And yes, he is doing this out of self-interest. But in this case, his self-interest lines up with your safety.”
