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“That’s where you are wrong,” Anthony intercedes. “He has a lot more power than you imagine. And the ability to make things very difficult for us. We need to countermand that with our own show of strength.”
Zeke turns to look at his father. “Do you really think fighting fire with fire is the best way to go?”
“I think the best way to go would have been not to kill such an influential fucking person.” Anthony shifts his shoulders, sarcasm buzzing through his body. “But here we are.”
“Aurelia is not a toy for you to put out on the floor whenever you need to capture someone’s attention. She deserves to have her life.”
This annoys Charlotte. “And what life is she not able to have? I offer her a marriage that will see her secure and safe for the future. All I have is her best interest in my mind.”
This makes Zeke snort. “You couldn’t give a fuck about her best interest. All you care about is furthering the Firm.”
“Of course I care about that. The strength of our organisation is what keeps us all breathing. Do you think we would still be sitting here pretty if your father and I did not show such a united front?”
“I think we are all sick of you pulling the strings. Enough is enough. You forced Luke and you forced Kane to marry. There is no reason for our sister to do the same. You have alliances. More than you could ever need. Our position is secure and stable. You want Aurelia to marry out of spite. As a way of showing us you still have control. No more. She will stay with me until I can get her settled somewhere more appropriate, and you are to stay away from her.”
Charlotte tilts her head, the first flash of anger crossing her face. I steel my spine, ready for anything. This bitch is unpredictable, so I must stay on my toes.
“She is my daughter. You will not keep her away from me.”
“She is your daughter when it suits you and your purpose. Do you really think she will be happy in that marriage you are trying to concoct?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t she be? Lord Huntsville is a very important man. All she has to do is give him a couple of children, be attentive, and she’ll never want for anything.”
Zeke laughs. I don’t know how he doesn’t put his fist through his mother’s fucking face. My hands clench into fists at my side. I desperately want to speak up for Aurelia, but I know I can’t. The best place for me to be positioned is as close to her as I can get.
“You really think it’s okay for some old man to fuck your daughter?”
“It is how things have been done in our world for longer than you’ve been alive.”
I grit my teeth. Traditions... Stupid shit made up by people who are long dead. I never understood the point of following them. Just because something has been done one way for a long time, it doesn’t make it right. Forced marriage will never be something I can get behind. Aurelia deserves to make her own decisions. She deserves to be in charge of her own destiny, whatever that might look like. I hate these people for stripping away her choices. For putting her in an impossible position.
“She’ll want the only thing she cannot get. Her choice.”
“You will bring your sister home by this evening or so help me.”
“The days of me doing what you demand, Charlotte, are long gone. Kane told you that you were not to force a marriage upon our sister. You did it anyway. So now, you will have to live with the consequences of your actions.”
Charlotte looks to Anthony. He heaves out a breath, as if building himself up for what he is about to do. “Bring her home.”
“No.”
Anthony rounds the desk, his cheeks blazing red. He looks ready to punch Zeke in the face. I step between them instantly, shoving him back with a hand. Anthony’s anger turns to me now.
“You dare to put a hand on me?”
“Step back and I won’t need to do it again.” I’m not scared of Anthony Fraser, even though I probably should be. He has the weight of the syndicate behind him. But my first loyalty and priority is always to Zeke.
“Call off your guard dog,” Anthony growls at his son.
“I don’t control him. He does what he wants.”
Anthony gets in my face. “You work for me. Don’t you fucking forget it.”
I meet his anger with my own. “I haven’t forgotten anything. I know exactly where my priorities lie, and my loyalties.”
Zeke pushes around me, placing a hand on his father’s chest. “As fun as all this posturing is, it doesn’t detract from the original point. Which is that Aurelia is staying with me.” He steps closer to his father, unable to keep the anger out of his voice. “If you come for her, try to force her into a marriage that she does not agree to, I will tear our family business apart.”
We leave the room and I follow Zeke back to the lift. He doesn’t say a word until we’re both inside and the doors are shut. “They’ll come for her. My parents don’t like to lose.”
“So how do we protect her?” I ask, needing desperately to have an answer.
“We give her a better protector.”
