AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What does that even mean?” I drop into one of the stools at the bar and pull my purse into my lap. They took my gun, so it’s not as comforting as it has been. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“If you decided that marrying me was the only way to save the company, I’d do it for you.” Nathan takes a deep breath and pushes a hand through mussed hair. All my blood has turned to ice. Acid made of ice.How could he be saying this? Why?“I don’t want to, but I’d do it for you. For the family. For the goddamn company. Because as insane as my father is, he’s right. On paper,” he continues, and it’s even more horrifying with every even-handed word out of his mouth. “On paper the marriagewouldlook good for the company. The shareholders would stop being raging assholes.” He presses his lips together tight, then forges on. “The criminal organizations wouldn’t move against us, like they would if you’d married someone like Montague. And you and I would both know it wasn’t real.”
The truth struggles to get free and this time I can’t stop it. Nathan doesn’t want this—I can see that in his eyes. But the fact that he’s willing to do it rattles me. It makes my chest ache. I put a hand over my heart, fresh tears clouding my vision.
“I really love him, Nate.”
Nathan’s eyes go wide at my broken whisper, and I hate that I sound so fucking weak.
“Montague.” He frames it as a statement, not a question, because he already knows.
I nod. “I think I always have. I’ll never marry anyone else for some business arrangement. Not after I almost died. Not after what happened to me. Life is too fucking short to keep doing things for everyone else. I’m tired of being the family pawn. Aren’t you?”
Nathan looks at the floor, his hands shoved into his pockets. “It’s different for me,” he says, his voice heavy. “I wasn’t born into this. The life I was born into… the life I was saved from by becoming a Capulet… my father never lets me forget for long that he could just as easily throw me away again.”
“He wouldn’t throw you away,” I say, horrified at the thought. “He loves you. He’s being an asshole, but you’re his whole world, Nathan.”
Nathan smiles sadly. “I wish I could believe that the way you do,” he says. “But the simple fact is, this family is only my home if I play by the rules. You might not be my cousin by blood, but you’re still the best friend I’ve ever had. I don’t want to marry you. All I’m saying is, I’ll do what I have to do for you. For the family.”
“You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, too,” I reply. “I wouldn’t have survived losing Adeline if you weren’t here. I would never abandon you, even if everybody else does.”
He gives a slow nod, the weight seeming to lift from his shoulders. “I’m going to go, Aves. You gave us our eviction order pretty clearly. You keep in touch, okay?” He’s already moving, already going.
“Wait.”
Nate stops at the kitchen door, shoulders going back up an inch. I wanted them out, yes. Of course I did. The reality of watching Nate leave feels much different than the decision I made in the car on the way over. He’s been my one constant since my sister died.
My throat goes tight. The XO killer stole more from me than my security and safety. He also stole time. Nate and I are always going to have that missing hollow in our relationship where our paths diverged so violently.
“What is it, Aves?”
“The girl you’re in love with.” It hurts to say this, and not because I wanted to marry him. “It’s Jennifer, isn’t it?”
A smile breaks over his face, lighting up his eyes. “Yeah, it is. I’ve been seeing her for a long time.” Nate’s smile falters and falls. “I was so obsessed with her at your birthday party that I didn’t know anything had happened until it was too late.” He puts a hand over his mouth and seems to steady himself. “If I’d been paying closer attention—”
I run forward and throw my arms around him. It takes me back to before any of this happened, to the truth that lived in my heart then. “You’re the only person in this family I trust,” I murmur into Nate’s shirt.
He lets out a rueful laugh. “And I’m not even a real Capulet.”
Nate presses a kiss to my forehead, and then he’s gone. Ten minutes later, the front door closes behind Nathan and his parents and I’m left alone, the only beating heart in this godforsaken building. The Capulet mansion settles into an eerie silence around me. Can it feel me here? Does it know my father is missing?
I can’t stay here.
I take the stairs two at a time to my bedroom, into the walk-in closet where I modeled that dress for Nathan a million years ago, and pull down a travel suitcase from the top of one shelf. It’s something the old Avery would have ironically delighted in. Sleek and rose gold and meant for a businesswoman on vacation. I barely pay attention to what I’m throwing inside. Clothes. Underwear. A toothbrush. Toiletries. Hopefully enough to last me.
The lights in my dad’s garage take a minute to warm up. I don’t need that full minute. I already have the keys to the vehicle I want. The other cars sit in a neat row, silent carriers. Waiting.
I toss my suitcase into the backseat and climb behind the wheel of the second car in—a Mercedes AMG C63.
My father’s off-roading SUV.
It’s time to go.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
AVERY
Renal failure.
