“Wait just a minute!” Dad yells. “This is not the deal! This is not what Fergus and I talked about at all! Kera is supposed to be set up for life—a good life—not just paired up randomly! She was supposed to be treated like a princess, and you’re talking about her like she’s a whore!”
Dad takes a step toward Sean and his chair, and everything happens so quickly that when it’s over, I have to run through it again in my head to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Sean doesn’t move as Deklan comes around the wingback chair, grabs my father by his outstretched arm, and spins him around. With one leg, the henchman catches my father near the ankles and takes him to the ground. I hear a click and see a gun in Deklan’s hand, the muzzle pointed at the back of my father’s head.
My mother lets out a high-pitched squeak and squeezes her eyes shut.
I’m the opposite. I can’t look away as Sean stands slowly and then crouches down next to my father. Sean tilts his head and smiles broadly at him. Deklan leans forward, smashing my father’s face against the expensive woven rug.
“Let’s get something crystal clear between us,” Sean says, still smiling. “If it wasn’t for my family, your daughter would be either dea
d or being passed around some rich sultan’s household as a fuck toy. Instead, she’s a pristine little virgin”—he stops speaking to my father and looks up at me—“You are a virgin, right? I mean, you wouldn’t dare present yourself to me if you’d let some high school boy get up in there before I got the chance, would you?”
I can’t speak. All I can do is stare at the gun now pressed against my father’s neck.
“Kera? I’m going to need an answer.”
I finally manage to switch my gaze to Sean’s face, see his raised eyebrows, and then nod quickly.
“Speak up!” he commands.
“Yes!” The word comes out as a sob. “I never even went back to high school after…after...”—I take a shuddering breath—“I’m a virgin. I swear!”
“I thought so.” He turns back to my father. “As I was saying, instead of dead or fucked senseless by a hundred different guys, she’s here, safe and sound, hymen intact, and just waiting to become my bride and absolve you of your debt. The fact that I’ve decided to make a slight change to this deal doesn’t really have an impact on you, so stop your bitching.”
Sean stands and motions toward Deklan, who releases my father’s arm and pulls him back to his feet. The gun disappears somewhere inside Deklan’s jacket, and he takes his place behind his boss.
“Now, let’s speak reasonably, shall we?” Sean slides nonchalantly back into his chair, and my father sits heavily on the couch next to Mom. “Your debt will still be paid with the hand of young Kera here. I just need to figure out who the best fit for her might be.”
Sean rubs his chin in thought, and Dad sits, red-faced and rubbing his shoulder. Mom isn’t even trying to stop the tears running down her face. Though my heart is pounding, I try to keep myself composed. If I have to marry a guy twenty-eight years older than I am, I will. It’s not like I have any real choice.
If I refuse, my father will probably kill me. If he doesn’t, Sean will. Or rather, he’d have Deklan do it.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to afford all those little blue pills, Lucas.” Sean snickers, and Lucas shakes his head. He shrugs his shoulders and looks back at me. He licks his lips slowly as Sean continues. “I’m going to have to come up with another option.”
Mom and Dad both look at their hands clasped between them. I sit still, but I keep my eyes on Sean’s smiling face as he looks around the room once more and then looks over his shoulder at the buff man behind him.
“What are you, Dek? Thirty or so?”
“Thirty-two, sir.” Deklan narrows his eyes slightly.
“That’s not too bad. Do you own a tux?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What are your plans for tomorrow?”
Deklan glances at his boss. I can see his forearms tense and his tongue dart out to wet his lips before he responds.
“Whatever you need, boss,” he says.
“Well,” Sean says as he stands and reaches up to place his arm over Deklan’s broad shoulders, “I need you to marry that young lady over there.”
Using his cigar as a pointer again, Sean aims the lit end in my direction as he grins up at his henchman. I hear Deklan mutter something under his breath, but I can’t make out the words.
“Of course I am,” Sean says softly. “How often do I make jokes?”
Deklan’s throat bobs as he stares intently at his boss. There is a silent battle going on between them, but Sean’s expression never wavers. Deklan clenches his fingers into a fist but only briefly.