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“Finally, someone with some sense,” Cassie said when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.”
“Carly.” Luke motioned toward the kitchen. “Let’s go finish that glass of wine.”
“Good idea.” Carly gave me a quick ‘I’m sorry you’re in trouble’ smile before hurrying out of the room.
Jude didn’t say anything as he poured another glass of vodka. His silence was frightening. I finished my drink and set the glass on the bar, trying to steady my shaky hands. He sipped his vodka, glaring at me and making me feel small.
“Jude, I didn’t…”
He lifted his arm and hurled his glass across the room, smashing it against the stone fireplace. I gasped when the glass shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces.
He came toward me, backing me into the wall. When I tried to move, he placed one hand on the wall by my face, and the other on my hip.
“Don’t ever disrespect me in front of anyone ever again.” His voice was low and terrifying, sending a chill along the back of my neck. “Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“Words.”
“Yes.” I squeezed my eyes shut, but it was too late. The tears already streamed down my cheeks. “Can I go upstairs? You can tell everyone I’m not feeling well.”
“I won’t lie for you.” He wiped my cheeks. “I want you where you belong.”
Do I really belong here?
“By my side,” he said as Cassie and Josh came into the room. When he stepped away from me, I took a breath and tried to calm myself down.
“Daddy,” Cassie said. “Josh brought this for you.” She handed her father a bottle of the vodka he liked to drink. “Wasn’t that nice of him?”
“Thank you, Josh.” Jude extended his hand. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Thank you for having me, sir.” Josh shook Jude’s hand. “Happy Thanksgiving, Emmie.” Josh smiled at me. “You look pretty.”
“Thank you.” The uneasiness in the room soaked into me.My stomached ached and I wanted to run to my room.
“You don’t dress like that in the stables,” Josh said.
“Do you see Emmie in the stables often?” Jude put the bottle of vodka on the bar.
“She’s there all the time, so it’s hard to miss her.” Josh smirked at me. “She’s always drawing something.”
“She’s really talented,” Cassie said. “She did an amazing picture of Sasha the other night.”
“I’d love to see it.” Josh looked around. “Where is Sasha?”
“Around here somewhere.” Cassie pointed down the hall as Carly came into the room. “I bet she’s in the kitchen. We can go find her.”
“I’ll go with you.” Jude placed his hand on Josh’s shoulder. “I’d love to have a conversation about your friendship with my daughter.”
Carly shot Cassie a look, and whatever Cassie was going to say to her father next, she thought better of it. The three of them left, leaving me with Carly. Jude hadn’t looked at me since Josh and Cassie came into the room. That wasn’t a good sign. This day wasn’t supposed to be like this.
“This family is a lot to take in, isn’t it?” Carly took a gulp of her wine. “We never get through any occasion without some kind of problem. It’s usually Cassie who causes the problem.”
“She did ambush Jude.”
“If he wasn’t so controlling, she could have come to him sooner, but she knows her father, and he doesn’t give an inch when it comes to guys.”
“Maybe he has his reasons?” My own father would never have protected me the way Jude does with Cassie. The way he does with me. “I shouldn’t have intervened.”
