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He scowls at me and lowers the blade. “Your father might have mentioned something about you begging for my forgiveness.” With a practiced jerk, he sheathes the weapon, sliding it home with a satisfying click.
The Clive I remember from my meeting with him back in the Crowley mansion was a simpering little weakling, but this man seems much more in control on his own home turf. Probably because he thinks I’m about to get down on my knees and treat him like a king. Too bad there’s no way in hell that’s going to happen.
I underestimated him once, and I won’t make that mistake again.
“Sir, I’m here to discuss the broken agreement between our families.” I stand with my back straight, my hands clasped. “I understand it caused you some problems—”
“Problems?” Clive sneers like a cartoon villain. “I had a contract with your father, but you went and ripped it all up. I knew you Crowley boys thought you were too good for my Robin—”
“Dad,” she says, a sharp warning on his tone.
He slams his hand on the desk. “But nobody is too good for the McLaren family.”
Well, that’s definitely not true.
I let a beat pass before answering. “I would’ve been lucky to marry your daughter,” I say, glancing at her. She’s beaming in return. “Robin’s a very smart and capable woman, and our families would have been a good match, but fate intervened. My wife is pregnant.”
Clive’s jaw ticks. “You knocked her up, huh? That’s why you put a ring on her finger?”
I nod slowly. I definitely don’t like this man’s tone, but I have to bear it. For now at least. “Yes, I got my wife pregnant. I understand you’re upset, but please speak about the mother of my child with some respect.”
He looks like she wants to rip the sword free and run me through with it, but before he can make a fool of himself, Robin steps forward.
“Dad, I have a proposal to make.”
“Haven’t we already established that proposals are meaningless with these people?” he says through his teeth. But when Robin laughs at his joke, his face softens. So this man has a soft spot for his daughter. “All right, let me hear it.”
“I know you wanted certain things from the Crowley family. I think you can still achieve those goals.”
“What sort ofgoalsare you thinking, daughter?”
“Your birthday is coming up,” she says brightly. “Sixty-five, right? I think you should have your party at Finn’s club. What’s the place called, Finn?”
“I have several,” I say smoothly. There’s nowaya fucking birthday party is going to fix all this, and I’m bracing myself for the real hit.
“The good one,” Robin says, snapping her finger. “Havoc? Harness?”
“Hazard,” I correct gently.
“That’s the one.” She nods to herself. “Hazard has been a huge earner for a while now, and word is that the whole place was recently renovated. It’s all upscale now.”
“Get to the point,” Clive says, leaning back and crossing his arms.
“Okay, here’s the point. We have your party at Hazard, invite all the big, fancy people you want to impress, and at the end of the night we reveal the real gift. And it is…” She pauses for effect. “The club itself!”
I stare at her, mouth open. Clive’s face screws up in confusion.
“Sorry, you want to give him my club?” I cut in before she can go on. It feels like she just offered to sell my own flesh and blood. I’d rather cut out a kidney than give this pathetic weakling my Hazard.
She nods happily like this is totally reasonable. “It’sexactlywhat you need, Dad. You’re always saying you want to diversify into entertainment and hospitality, right? Hazard is popular, it’s prestigious, and it’s already established. It’ll be the perfect starting point for your new empire.”
Clive strokes his chin thoughtfully. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“I never agreed to this,” I say, my voice a low growl. “Hazard is my baby.”
“You have a new, actual baby coming that you should focus on,” Robin says lightly. She’s got a fucking point, but still. “What do you say, Dad? He gives you his favorite club, you let all this go?”
Clive considers. I want to walk over to the desk and pound his face until it’s nothing but blood and sinew. This spineless cocksucker doesn’t deserve Hazard—he doesn’t deserve anything of mine. I built what I own with my two hands, Genna and I together, and now Robin wants me to give away a piece of that.
