Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
That would make him at least thirteen years older than me. “What about them?” But I don’t want to know. A part of me is aware of what he’s about to say and it’s rebelling. My head’s like one long scream, like my brain’s filled with a glitching, broken movie stream.
“You are going to marry him. Declan Whelan and I would like the wedding to happen in two weeks.”
I sit back like Dad just kicked me in the chest. My heart’s racing. He’s watching carefully, scrutinizing me for any sign that I might disobey him, and it’s hard to keep a straight face. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, because all I want to do is cry.
But I know what happens when I cry. I know how it makes my father feel.
“Marry him?” I ask in a very small voice. “But we’ve never met.”
He waves a hand. “You will. He wants to speak with you at least once before the two of you make it official, though I don’t know why. It’s an arrangement, Caroline, a lucrative and important arrangement. This marriage will bind our families together for a very, very long time, and everyone will benefit.”
Everyone but me.
“What’s his name?”
Dad stands and turns his back to me, hands clasped behind him, and talks as if he hadn’t heard me. “My work is never finished, Caroline. You know how injustice spreads. It takes from the working class first. Always it takes and passes power and wealth up to those who don’t need it the most. We struggle against that process. Your marriage to the Whelans will help power the engine of struggle.”
I could scream. He sounds like he’s giving a speech at a fucking union hall, not telling his daughter she’s being sold off to a frickin’ stranger. “But what’s his name?” I ask desperately.
He pauses and looks back. His frown is deep. “Did you interrupt me?”
I go very still. I know that cold tone. I know what happens next. “I apologize.”
His fists flex. I flash back to a thousand different moments, just like this one. My eyes stray to a rusty brown stain on the edge of the carpet. That was my fault. I bled too much.
But the blow never comes. “His name is Finn.” He picks up his phone and turns the screen to show me a photograph. “This is him with his family at our fundraiser two months ago. He’s the man on the far left.” I stare at that face, at the incredibly beautiful and empty face, and Dad pulls the phone away. I’m tempted to grab it from his hand. I’m tempted to scream. He starts talking about doing what’s best and obeying our family but I can’t hear any of it anymore over the hammering in my ears.
I know that man. I’ve seen him before.
I was kissing him last night.
It’s my boss. My boss is Finn Whelan.
And I’m supposed to marry him.
This can’t be right. This can’t be happening. But suddenly, the last few weeks click into place.
That job wasn’t just some lucky coincidence. I wasn’t chosen because of my sterling record or my personal attributes.
He sent that recruiter after me. He hired me on purpose and knew I’d take the job because of how well he was paying.
He knew from the start. And he knew when he saw me in that pool. He had to have known.
It wasn’t some coincidence. It was so much worse.
I feel ill. My legs are shaking as Dad keeps talking. Eventually, I realize I’m being dismissed. I teeter from the room. Dad doesn’t comment, probably because I’ve done nothing but nod and agree with everything, even while internally I’m panicking.
I fucked my Finn Whelan last night. I fucked my future husband, and he knew, he knew and he still did it and he didn’t say a word.
I’m beyond freaked out when I step into the hallway.
Red’s still waiting for me. He glances up from his phone, frowning at me. I stand in silence, too stunned to do anything else.
“Are you going to make trouble?” he asks.
I look up at my youngest brother. I slowly shake my head.
“Good. Come on.” He puts his phone away. His tone’s almost gentle now. “I’ll bring you home.”
No, I won’t make trouble. Not for Red or for my father. Not yet, anyway.
But I will make trouble for that bastard Finn Whelan.
5
CAROLINE
Istep into the foyer and don’t move for a solid thirty seconds. The lights automatically respond to my presence and turn on, but they also dim and go dark if I’m not moving or making any noise. I had to get used to that early on. When the dimness comes, I take a step forward, feeling sick and angry and a dozen other confused and mixed emotions.
I don’t want Finn to be here. But I also hope I get the chance to chew him to pieces.