Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“Marriage?” Dad says slowly. “First I’ve heard of it.”
I turn, meeting his intense stare. “I said I’d take care of things. This is me taking care of it.”
Gideon shakes his head in disbelief. “Taking care of it would be getting the girl an abortion. Marrying her is insanity. How long have you been with her? It wasn’t until recently she even mentioned a boyfriend.”
“Romy needs someone who will protect her and not drug her into oblivion,” I tell her father. “I’d appreciate it if you keep it between us. I haven’t officially asked her yet.”
Dad smirks at me, and I know my words amuse him. We both know I’ve been drugging her at every turn to keep her compliant. It’d be a lot easier if we could just run her through the official CUP program in the lab, but since she’s mentally resistant to my personal one-on-one efforts, it’s unlikely she’ll respond to those procedures.
A twinge of guilt niggles at me. The thought of taking her to our facility and subjecting her to the mindfuck that is CUP isn’t one I want to do. Would she lose the fire in her eyes? The intelligent way her mind works out puzzles so quickly? Would she remember anything we shared this morning? Would I even want her to?
Yes.
The answer is yes.
I’ve seen CUP completely alter personalities time and time again. People with mental issues, traumas, anger problems—whatever it was, the program made them docile and compliant. Their past is forgotten—rewritten to whatever we want—and they’re a new person.
I don’t think I want Romy to be a new person.
“It’s clear you both have it all planned out regarding my daughter,” Gideon states with irritation, rising from his chair. “Dinner awaits us.”
We exit the office, having been dismissed. Everyone will be going to the president’s event, including my soon-to-be “fiancée.” If Huxley’s connected to both Gideon and my father, does that mean he might have a lead for where Calista may have gone?
As we make our way to the dining room, I tug the murky memories from the recesses of my mind. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her. I can’t even remember what she looks like.
Tiny, sad, confused.
Every time I try to recall her face, I can’t. It’s all a blur, which makes finding her even more complicated. Sometimes I wonder if I’m lost in a constant loop of madness, never truly having an end in sight. I’m always searching but never finding what I’m looking for.
All memories fade immediately when I lay eyes on Romy. She’s standing beside Eva, both of them admiring a dangly charm bracelet on Eva’s twig of a wrist. There’s true joy in Romy’s eyes, her smile pretty and not one I’ve seen before. When she notices our arrival, her features darken. I watch in awe as the lively young woman hardens before me. Most of her frostiness is aimed at her father, but I know some of it is for me, too.
I was a dick this morning after we fucked.
Was it really fucking, Caius?
The tender kisses, desperate moans, needy whimpers… It was more than just that. I’m not too much of an asshole to admit it either. We’d connected in an unexpected way. She made me shed my carefully cultivated exterior, glimpsing the vulnerable man hidden beneath. In those sweaty, passionate moments, we were one and it felt good, dammit.
Which is why it can’t happen again.
Losing myself in any woman is a risk, but this woman? It’s beyond risky. It’s asking for trouble.
Tearing my gaze from Romy, I seek out Kaitlyn. She clings to Theo’s side, warily eyeing Gideon and Eva. My chest aches with pain. The kid is another unnecessary complication. Gareth created too many problems. Adopting a young girl after getting caught being a pervert with another one, should have been something I could have prevented. Dad, though, is still the ruler of our world.
I demanded a nanny thinking it would help stop him from being a sicko.
It was a stupid delusion, especially since Vivienne victimized Kaitlyn too.
Out of all the potential nannies, why did Dad choose Vivienne? Until yesterday, I had no reason to question it. Now I question everything. Dad’s playing a game I’m clearly not in on. What exactly is he doing?
Years of distrust toward my adoptive father weigh heavily on me. I haven’t ever trusted him fully. This brings those feelings to the surface again, reminding me I’m not truly a part of them.
Someone knocks on the front door and Romy jolts. She lifts her chin and starts for the door. I block her path, grip her jaw, and tilt her face to meet mine. I press a soft kiss to her lips for her father’s benefit before releasing her. With a barely suppressed growl, she pushes past me. I follow after her and watch as she answers the door.