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ChapterOne
He was fucking insane.
Aidan had absolutely no explanation for what was happening right now other than Declan had completely lost his mind. That was the only thing that could make his ridiculous statement make sense.
His brother didn’t look insane. He wore a cool, passive expression, one eyebrow slightly cocked and hands resting casually on the arms of his antique desk chair.
Declan Callahan looked like a man accustomed to getting his way. Because he usually did. But it wasn’t going to work today. Aidan was not going to agree to this…this…death sentence.
“Well?”
Aidan’s eyes were drawn to his sister-in-law. His lip curled at the word. He narrowly avoided the bond ten years ago when she left his brother at the altar. Until six months ago when she wormed her way back into Declan’s bed. Aidan wondered if she’d stick around another ten years before disappearing again. He hoped not.
“Well, what?” he said, tone icy.
“No questions then?” Declan wondered.
Leaning back in his chair, Aidan crossed his ankle over his knee and gripped it, steadying himself for the assault that would definitely come with what he was about to say.
“I don’t have any questions because I’m not doing it.”
Evie snorted, but Declan smiled, his lips slowly parting to reveal his teeth. Maybe not a smile so much as a snarl that pretended at one.
“You say that like you have a choice.”
Aidan jerked at his brother’s sharp tone. “And you’re saying I don’t? You’re saying you’ve decided, and that’s that?”
Declan leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the edge of his desk, his eyes never leaving Aidan’s. “That is precisely what I’m saying.”
“This is my life,” Aidan spat, his hand tightening on his ankle, barely checked rage threatening to bubble over.
“This is your duty,” Declan replied. “To this family, to the syndicate, to the future.”
“Exactly how long have you been planning this behind my back?”
Declan glanced up at Evie as if he couldn’t remember. She shrugged. “Since we chose Falcone.” Evie’s voice was level, but she shifted ever so slightly at the look in Aidan’s eyes.
“A month?! None of you thought to tell me you were going to sell me off like chattel for fourweeks?”
“That seems a little dramatic,” Evie countered.
“Oh, does it?” Aidan sneered. “What exactly would you call an arranged marriage to a fucking stranger, then?”
“A necessary evil,” Declan replied. “I want a blood tie between the families to avoid future wars, and you’re going to get it for me. This is not up for debate. You will marry her, you will fuck her, you will get her pregnant. The families will be joined forever.”
“Now I’m just here to breed her?”
Aidan shoved to his feet. The idea of being both a husband and a father against his will had his heart thudding in his chest. He couldn’t imagine a worse fate. He’d rather be buried in the ground next to…
“Finn wouldn’t want this.”
Pain flashed in Declan’s eyes before they went blank again. “It was Finn’s idea. We’re having dinner with her family tonight.” Declan pushed to his feet, the dismissal clear. “You will be there—on time—and you will behave yourself.”
“And if I don’t?”
Declan paused in his advance to the door, turning slowly. His expression was still carefully blank, but the muscle that ticked in his jaw when he was pissed off was beating a wild rhythm.
“You live under my roof, working for my syndicate, making my money. I’ve put up with your temper tantrums and your whining for far longer than I should have. You can marry this woman and give us the alliance we need, or you can leave Philadelphia and never come back.”
