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I’m not ready. I’m not ready…
I don’t want to be someone’s wife. Not yet. I want to live my life a little longer. I want to enjoy my freedom.
I swallow back my apprehension, my denial, and my dismay. I won’t let my father see any of my doubts. “Who?” I ask, surprised when my voice comes out level.
“Kane Fraser.”
That pounding in my chest stops dead.
Kane Fraser, the eldest son, is said to be a monster with so much darkness in him, Hell would spit him back out.
It’s the worst promise my father could have made.
“Are you crazy? The man is deranged!” I stand fast, toppling my chair. “I won’t do it! I won’t marry him!”
My father takes my outburst without emotion. “He’s also heir to the Fraser empire. Do you realise what this could do for the family?”
I do, but I also realise what it will do to me. I’m strong, but someone like Kane Fraser would chew me up and spit me out. I wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Sit back down,” my father orders. Like the dutiful daughter I am, I pick up the chair, right it, and reclaim my seat, flopping into it. I feel like he’s kicked me in the gut. “You don’t have to look so scared. You’ll be his wife, not his prey.”
The two go hand in hand. In our world, that is all women are.
Prey.
I’m sure Kane will break me one piece at a time. Men like him like supplicant, submissive women. I’m neither. I’m loud-mouthed, brash, and I don’t bow. He won’t find me meek and mild mannered. He won’t find me easy to control either. I wish I was more pliable, but I’ve never been that way.
“I’m not scared,” I lie.
I’m fucking terrified of what he’s suggesting.
My father leans forward over the desk, interlacing his fingers together. “There is a reason I want this wedding to go ahead other than the alliance it will cement between our two families. The Frasers are powerful, and they are gaining power with every passing day. I worry they may surpass us, become kings of London. This could be an opportunity to find out more about their inner workings; find weaknesses we can expose to bring down their organisation.”
My eyes flare wide.
It’s an insane plan, one that puts me directly in the firing line if I’m discovered snooping into their affairs. It’s not just dangerous, it’s suicidal. The Frasers would kill me in a heartbeat.
“Are you crazy? They will gut me if I’m found out.”
“So don’t get caught.” I glare at him. “Elena, you always said you wanted to be a part of my organisation. This is your chance to do something for your family. The information you could gather from within is… well, we’ll never have another opportunity like this.”
He isn’t wrong, but I wanted to oversee his businesses, maybe maim a few people here and there. I didn’t think I’d be going into the lion’s den to spy!
“The alliance a marriage would bring isn’t enough for you?”
He gives me a dark look at my sarcastic tone. “I need to protect our interests. I need to make sure they don’t trample us in the process. This is what you wanted. What you’ve begged me for all these years. This is a chance to be in my empire, darling. I offer it to you, and you decline. Maybe you don’t have the balls to do it.”
His words are kindling to a smouldering fire.
“I never said I wasn’t going to do it,” I mutter, because even despite my protests I know I will do it. I would do anything for my family. If the Frasers are becoming a risk and I can stop that, I will.
“When is the wedding?”
“Soon. They wanted it immediately, but I want a big affair for you. You deserve the dress and the cars and the big party. Only the best for my little girl.”
His words would be warming coming from anyone else, but to me it feels empty. He doesn’t love me like a father should. If he did, he wouldn’t be marrying me to this man. He wouldn’t have let Letta marry Michael either.
I swallow bile.
“I’ll be ready,” I tell him.
It couldn’t be further from the truth. How do you prepare to be tied to a monster until death do us part?
I steel my spine and raise my chin. I’m an Adams, and I will do what is needed to protect my family, even if it comes at the cost of myself.
