A Death to Seek (Thornes & Roses 3)

Narrowing my gaze, I regard my father with as much trust as I would Zaria. I don’t know her. I’ve only just met her, and yet, I may just trust her more than I do the man before me.

“And what could that be?”

“You’ve always wanted to travel,” Dad says, as he gestures with his chin. “You’ll be able to fly to the countries where you’ll meet the Sovereign and represent our family in meetings. The men you’ll meet aren’t good people, and they will do anything to get ahead in life, that’s what happens when you have money.”

“And you want me to go to these meetings and what? Rub some shoulders so your name can be whispered about?” The incredulousness in my tone is enough to have my father chuckling. He shakes his head before he steps closer to me. His hand lands on my shoulders, and his fingers tighten with a grip so firm, I almost wince. But I’ve trained my features to never show weakness. There is only one person in this world who can now break me, and I’ve allowed him into my heart and mind.

“You’ll take Zaria to Tynewood to meet with the Lancasters,” Bradford tells me. “They’re the ones we need to impress. I want their business, Finn. Once you sign them as clients,” he murmurs, stopping to ensure he has my attention. He does have it. He’s fucking claimed it because right now, all I can think about is leaving Thorne Manor. “I’ll give you the option to decide your fate.”

“What?” Shock laces my tone. My mouth falls open as I regard him staring back at me. He’s never given me choices, not when I was younger, and certainly not after I’d turned eighteen. Growing up was difficult because all I wanted to do was please my father. I wanted to make him proud of me. I watched as he doted on Damien and Cassian, but he was harder on me than either of them. And now, I wonder if this is the reason for it. I’m meant to go sit in weird secret society meetings and hold my head up high.

I’m a Thorne.

And it seems like my father had been training me without me knowing about it.

The smile that curls my father’s lips makes me take pause. “If you can pull this off, I’ll gift you the choice. You know, Finn,” my father says, then pauses, and I know it’s only for dramatic effect. “I’m an old man. I’ve been around the block a time or two, and I’m certainly not stupid.” Something flicks inside my mind. My chest tightens as he speaks, and when those eyes that match my brother’s look at me once more, I realize there’s something that he knows and it’s something I don’t want him to know.

“I didn’t think you were stupid, Dad,” I tell him, but it’s too late because he chuckles. It’s a dark, foreboding sound that sends warning bells off in my head.

He knows.

I don’t know how, but he knows about Jarred and me. It’s the only thing I can think of because it’s the only secret I’ve kept. Besides the fact that I knew my mother cheated on him. But that wouldn’t cause him to change my destiny. My path was set out a long time ago.

“There are choices we all have to make when it comes to matters of the heart,” Bradford continues slowly as he settles back in his chair. The fact that he’s far away from where I’m standing eases my tension, but not by much. I don’t speak, I simply wait for him to continue. “I’m not a prude,” he tells me. “If you want to live your life one way, then I’m not going to stop you. But, if it becomes a hinderance on the family…”

The warning is clear. It hangs in the silence. In the words my father doesn’t say. There’s no longer a doubt in my mind that he knows about Jarred. I’m not going to deny it, and I’m not going to show any fear in my expression. I’ll allow him to hold this over me for a moment.

“Just make sure you sign the contract.” It’s a dismissal, which forces my feet to move for the door. But before I can escape the lion’s den, my father’s voice halts me in my tracks. “And when you go to Tynewood, you can take him with you.”

I want to turn around and see if he’s joking. I want to laugh out loud and call his bluff, but I don’t. When my father offers a mercy to me, I don’t fuck with it. I take it and run.

In the hallway, I stop, breathing deeply as I shut the office door. I’m no longer a child, but my father continues to instill the fear of God in me.