I balk at his words. “What?” I shake my head, utter disbelief making me pause. “Who on God’s green earth would put in a contract to allow their child to be killed if it was broken? I’m guessing that was your father, right?”
“Correct. He knew Joey and I were close, so he used that to his advantage. By adding the bit about Joey, he knew I would follow the contract to the letter of the law.”
My eyes flick to Wren, then to him. “You should marry her, then.”
“Or I could kill her.” He smiles and mischief touches his eyes making them twinkle.
“I’m sure there’s something in there about that as well,” I reply with an eye roll.
“There is.”
“See.” I throw up my hands. “Why the contract to begin with?” I ask. “What is the point?”
“It’s how our families have stayed so powerful for so long. We enter into contracts to ensure our bloodlines stay pure and have the right connections. Back when I was younger, Paige’s father was my father’s second in charge. He saved my father’s life multiple times, but toward the end, he took a bullet for him. And in doing so, a contract was served to protect his family and ensure that everything he did would not go unnoticed. We protect our own, Sailor, with a vengeance.”
“That’s great and all, but marrying someone you don’t love? What a fucked-up life. You think you would know that from what your mother went through.” Walking back to him with the bag and stroller now in hand, I lean down and pick up Wren from his chest. As I do, my hands scrape over him and he sucks in a breath of air when I’m close. Our eyes lock. “What happens if you kill her?”
“I lose everything.”
“I’m sure your men wouldn’t just leave you.”
“Everyone is hungry for power, Sailor. Everyone.”
“I’m not,” I tell him, pulling Wren up and into my arms. She hardly makes a sound as I lay her into her stroller.
“You, my sweet lollipop, are irreplaceable. I wish I could have met you in another life, under different circumstances…”
His words shock me.
Keir rises from the couch and goes straight to the kitchen and pours himself a stiff drink. His eyes are cast down, and I can see the tension radiating from him as he stands there, one hand braced on the counter while the other lifts the glass of brown liquid to his lips.
Demons haunt him.
Ones I’m not sure I’m ready to see.
Ones I’m not sure should be released.
“We’ll come out for the weekend,” I finally say. “But, Keir…” he looks up at me, “… I’m not sharing a bed or room with you.”
“If you say so.” He smirks.
“I just won’t come.”
“No, come.” I nod and head toward the door. “My driver is downstairs to take you both home.” Keir turns and leaves us standing there, and I wonder why his face holds such a haunted look. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that look on him before, and I’m not sure I want to know the reason why either.
The elevator dings, and I step in, taking one last glance back.
Maybe being him isn’t as easy as I thought.
Maybe it’s everything you wish you never had but can’t give up.
Chapter Thirteen
Keir
She’s back. Does she ever leave? I know if Paige killed my family, I would never want to see her face again. Yet, here we are, in front of each other like it’s normal. Like anything about this is normal.
“I want you to stop seeing her,” Paige demands as she walks into my apartment. How the hell did she get past security when they all know she isn’t permitted to enter? Maybe I should start locking it? Her hands are on her hips and her face is dead serious.
“Do you really think you can come in here and tell me what to do?”
“If you want to see your son, you will do what I say.” I throw my head back and laugh at her. I haven’t questioned her before or asked her why I have never been invited to any of the baby appointments. She just showed up one day and said she was pregnant, and she needed a ring. Because we aren’t allowed to have a baby out of wedlock. That child needs to be brought into the world with our last names matching.
I’m really getting sick of old family laws.
Contracts.
Her.
It was a mistake sleeping with Paige. I know this. I got back from watching the most magical thing ever—the birth of my child—and only planned to stay a few months before I returned and brought them home. But then I fucked up. I slept with her for the first and only time two months after I’d been back. And just before I was going to leave, she showed up with a pregnancy test, telling me to stay. I had already decided I was not going to marry her. Fuck the contract. Those who wanted to contest me, I would kill.
But…
… babies change things.
And I knew Sailor would not accept it.
I’d fucked up.
Badly.
Yes, Sailor and I weren’t together, but I doubt that would have mattered to her. It mattered to me. I hadn’t fucked anyone since she left, not that I didn’t try, but Paige came at the right time. The perfect time because I was drunk, horny as fuck, and only wanted one person.
I’m pretty certain as I fucked Paige, I even called her lollipop.
That woman is nothing like my sweet lollipop.
The words she just said hit me, and it takes everything in me to not walk over and strangle her to death. Who the fuck does she think she is, threatening me?
“We have an appointment for you to see your son. Do you plan on canceling on me today like you did the other day?” she asks. “And by the way, your men aren’t doing shit. Today, I found a dead rat at my door. Aren’t they meant to be protecting me?” she yells.
“Stop fucking leaving the house when you aren’t meant to,” I bark at her.
“I can’t stay tucked away like a prisoner. Why does he want me scared anyway?” I look at the ring on her hand and know exactly why. Romarc likes to hurt those close to you before he goes after what he wants. He has a reputation, but it never applied to me because he knew if he fucked with me, I would end his fucking life. He thinks hurting Paige because she’s my fiancée affects me. It doesn’t, but I will protect her because if she is carrying my child, which I have doubts, I can’t have someone hurting what is mine.
“Can I move in here?” She eyes the apartment, and I immediately grab my jacket and head for the elevator. The doorman doesn’t let just anyone up, so she snuck in, because no one else would be stupid enough to enter my apartment.
“That’s not happening,” I say as we get into the elevator.
She huffs, and it’s not as cute or adorable as when Sailor does it. In fact, everything Paige does annoys me. I would never willingly choose her to be in my life. Even growing up when she would come around with her father, I avoided her like the plague. In fact, Roberto used to have a crush on her, and we used to give him absolute shit about it.
I actually don’t even remember fucking Paige. I was so fucking drunk that I only remember her hands rubbing over my body as I pushed her away. But back she would come until it was too late.