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11
The wedding had been three months before. Top-shelf all the way. The National Cathedral in DC for the wedding, the Hay Adams Hotel for the reception.
Connor and I hadn’t attended.
It didn’t exactly seem right to go to the wedding of the person who wanted both of you dead, and had actively tried to kill one of you.
“Tell me the truth – did you get married because you were preggers?” Sebastian piped up.
Miranda ignored him. “Let’s get back to – ”
“Because I can’t see the Templeton clan wanting an illegitimate child hanging around at Thanksgiving,” Sebastian said.
“Why?” Miranda asked, then turned to look at Connor. “They already have a bastard for a son.”
Okay… score one for Miranda.
“Two, if you count your husband – which you should,” Connor said with the barest of smiles. “Speaking of which, why isn’t Vincent here? Or my mother and father?”
“You’re not actively trying to destroy them,” Miranda said.
“Tell them to be patient, they’re next on the list.”
“Listen to what I have to say,” Miranda offered, “and I’ll call off the entire clan. Your family will no longer be a problem.”
“In exchange for what, exactly? My firstborn child?”
My stomach churned, even though I knew he was joking. Miranda was so evil, I couldn’t even think of casting her in a fairytale role where a hypothetical child of mine might be in danger. Not even in jest.
“I have no use for children,” Miranda said.
“Except for eating them, maybe,” Sebastian muttered.
Miranda gave him a cutting glare, then looked back at us. “Call off all the lawsuits and we’ll call it even.”
Connor stared at her. “Even.”
“Yes.”
“Clear the board,” he said sarcastically. “Wipe the slate clean. ‘Even Steven.’”
“Whatever term you prefer.”
Connor shifted his jaw to the side.
From that one simple action, I could tell there wasn’t going to be any compromising today.
Instead, he was about to unload both barrels of a metaphorical shotgun.
“You hired someone to kill me,” he said.
“No, I – ”
“Fuck you, we both know you did. Even if I can’t prove it in a court of law, we both know you did. Not only that, but if your assassin had succeeded in killing me, he probably would have killed Lily right afterwards. AND you threatened Lily’s life at the hospital, while I lay in my bed recuperating from your botched murder attempt.”
“I told you – ”
“I’m also pretty goddamn sure you’ve orchestrated every move my family has made over the last six months, trying to impede my progress at every turn. Do you deny that?”
