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I blink because he sounds so cocky and confident that this marriage is a done deal.
“Absolutely not.”
He takes a moment to look me up and down. Then he tosses another folder onto the kitchen aisle.
“Open it,” he orders.
With trembling fingers, I do as he says and gasp. On top of a stack of photos is a picture of Dean Walsh, outside of Eve’s boarding school. I flip through image after image of him in front of the school’s large gate, talking with the gate security guard. But it’s the last photo that almost buckles my knees.
In the photo, Dean is in front of Eve’s dorm, talking with her. The timestamp is from several months ago. Right before he ever approached me.
“What is this?” I ask as vision my blurs.
“That, is what could happen if you don’t agree to this marriage.”
I whip around, seeing red. “What the fuck are you talking about? My niece has nothing to do with this,” I shout.
“Does he know that?” He asks the question so calm that it triggers my anger all over again. He dips his head toward the picture. “You say you two aren’t in this together.”
“We aren’t!” I insist, feeling helpless.
“Then it looks like the bastard is willing to use whatever he can to keep you in line.”
He pauses, and I suspect he’s doing it to let all of this sink in.
“How do you know all of this?”
“My head of security reached out to a few nearby contacts. They were able to get intel from the security cameras and staff around the campus.”
I recall back to the time when Dean all but threatened my niece if I didn’t do what he wanted.
“Back to you and me,” Kyle says. “I can protect her. She’ll never know or see any security around, and Dean will never get near her.”
“How can you do that?” I’m still staring at the pictures.
“My security team. But—” He stops.
I turn to face him.
“Only if you marry me.” His condition is final.
I look from him to the picture of Dean Walsh standing in front of Eve’s dorm, talking with her. My stomach twists painfully. My head starts to throb. I don’t know what to do to keep her safe.
“For how long?”
His eyes shift from the drive between us then back to me. “Until I’m appointed as the permanent COO. By then I’ll have what I need from you to take down Dean and anyone he’s working with. Along with implementing your recommendations to secure the Waterson acquisition goes smoothly.”
I’ll have what I need from you.
Those words shouldn’t hurt the way they do. Kyle wants to marry me because I’m a means to his end goal.
I’m used to being used.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”
CHAPTER23
Riley
