“Good for you, sis,” Nico speaks first.
My father barks out a laugh. “Just because I gave you a longer leash… You can’t do that. That’s preposterous.”
I sag in my chair. Not deflated, not disappointed. I decided a long time ago that I don’t need my father’s approval.
But until this moment, I was hoping for it. Hating the stupid hope, but unable to shake it.
Today, for the first time, I take pride in my achievement, and his reaction doesn’t taint it. Maybe it’s the quiet support Liam is giving me. Has been giving me.
“Better watch how you speak to my wife,” Liam growls, and I almost choke on my saliva.
My heartbeat takes a tumble. I’m used to standing up for myself. Someone else doing it should appal me. It doesn’t. It doesn’t feel like an intrusion. Like an attack on my autonomy.
It makes me grateful, and if I’m honest, a bitaroused. The growl and the sentiment behind it are a macho routine, but fuck if I don’t love it. Jesus.
“Watch your tone, boy,” my father snaps. “She’s not your wife yet.”
“I’m sitting right here.” I snatch my napkin from my lap and throw it onto the table.
“I thought the arrangement between the Stones and the Locks was important to you, Victor,” Liam says. Picking up my fork, he spears a roasted potato and pops it into his mouth. “Oh, and where are my manners? Happy Birthday, Victor.”
He pushes an envelope across the table. My father glares at it, but his curiosity wins, and he palms it.
Whatever he finds in there brings a smile to his lips. “Well, let us toast the happy news. Finally, we have a wedding to plan.”
Everyone raises their glasses in an awkward toast. Liam snatches mine before I take a sip and drains it.
“I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. We’ll see you soon. Oh, and perhaps as an engagement gift, you can let Tawny visit us for the weekend in New York next week.”
It’s not a request; it’s a statement. And something in that envelope must have pleased my father enough that he nods.
Okay, I might be upset about Liam’s meddlinghere, but he might have redeemed himself a bit with this thoughtful request.
And if I’m frank, the whole charade worked well because, at least for now, Tee is safe.
Liam stands and pulls back my chair. “Shall we?”
I really don’t know whether I’m mad or grateful. Or a mixture of both.
I give Tee a hug and follow Liam out of there.
“What the hell? That wasn’t an hour,” I argue as soon as the door closes behind us.
Okay, not the most pressing point. I should really be more upset about him doing all of this behind my back.
The result, however, works, so maybe I can accept his way of arriving at it. Argh. The man is infuriating.
“It felt much longer.” The worry in his eyes disarms me.
“So you thought you would barge in and blindside me with a marriage announcement? How dare you?”
“I was planning to give him the birthday gift only, but then the server was slipping out, and I overheard his plans for Tawny, and I thought more was needed.”
I glare at him. As much as I hate to admit that more was needed, and he offered just the right amount to get me some time to figure out how to get my sister out of my father’s hold.
“What did yougive him?” I ask.
“An invitation to join a prestigious business club.”
