Chapter 56
“I’ll never understand why people stay in marriages they have no intention of honoring,”
“Politics.” She rolls her eyes, even though we both know she’s right. “It’s probably easier to be the pitied wife of a wayward sleazeball who holds influence in the White House and Pentagon than the disgraced ex–wife of said sleazeball. Plus, the alimony can’t be as good.”
“Oh? How do you figure?”
“Well, if she outed him as a cheating scumbag, he’ll lose a shit ton of votes. No votes means no office. No office, no cushy paycheck. No cushy paycheck-”
“No cushy alimony.” I unlock the car and wait for Sofi to slide in before I do. Not for any security reasons on our end; I’m more concerned about her changing her mind and going back in to teach Mrs. Brennan a thing or two about boundaries.
Even now, as we talk through stats, I can still feel Sofi’s rage simmering under the surface.
“I’ll have my men keep digging,” she says as I fire up the engine. “Tailing him hasn’t brought much insight, other than confirming what Cora said about the late night meetings.”
“At his office?”
Sofi shakes her head. “Not usually. He hasn’t departed from his usual haunts, the same old clubs and bars and the like–just changed up his schedule a bit. And if anyone notable is meeting him, they arrive before he does and leave long after him.” She shrugs and pulls down the visor to check her lipstick. “It’s the only explanation we have for not seeing who exactly he’s meeting with.”
It’s all I can do not to peel the car out of Brennan’s driveway and leave a few burned tracks. I’d rather not risk my good tires or what’s left of our tenuous relationship.
“We need to figure out a backup plan. Just in case.” “In case the deal falls through?”
I feel my back teeth grind just thinking about that possibility. “If it does, I’m going full scorched earth on the mudak. And Cora, too. Hell, I’ll torch the whole damn estate if I have to. No one fucks over a Chekhov and lives to laugh about it.”
“If I were you, I’d be more concerned about what you just pulled over Cora.” At my sidelong glare, Sofi
e’s just going shrugs again and gestures back toward the manor we’ve left far behind. “What? You thi to take your word for it? She’s going to verify you’re engaged, and once she finds out you’re not… well, better fire up that restraining order.”
“Daphne’s already wearing the necklace I gave her. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
48.7%
Chapter 56
“Yes, if anything screams Property of Pasha,‘ it’s the diamond necklace equivalent of a dog collar.”
Again, I shoot my sister a glare. “You know that’s not how I think of her.”
Sofi is completely unfazed, “What I know is that it’s not an engagement ring. And I also know it’s not what Mama had in mind when she said-”
“I know what she meant. I’m considering my options.”
“Sounds like you made up your mind back in that spider’s web.” She arches a brow at me. “Or was that just cowardly bullshit?”
“Careful, sister.”
“Careful‘ is exactly what I want you to be with Daphne. Same with Mak and Mama. You already carelessly sowed your seed and got pretty fucking lucky that it’s her and not some airheaded bimbo without enough good sense to fill her bra cups. But you can’t look me in the eyes and tell me that your overprotective obsession is enough to lock things down with her. Women need more than just shelter and resources–they need commitment. Children need commitment.”
I’m not going to argue with her on this. I don’t even know where I’d start, frankly. “Fucking hell,” I say with a suddenly exhausted sigh.
Sofi’s mouth twitches in a wry grin. “Which means…?” “You know damn well what it means.”
“Yes, but I want to hear you say it.”
I grit my teeth. “It means I will. It means you’re right. Mama’s right. Fuck, even Mak is right. I’ll give Daphne my ring and my name, and our daughter will have everything she needs.”
“Music to my ears,” she says with a giddy grin. “But is that all you’ll give her?”
The way Sofi asks it, all gentle and shit, sets me on an uncomfortable edge. I know what she’s asking. What she’s really asking.
“It’s all I can give. It’s all I’m able to.” She sighs, but she lets it go. Thank God.
I can make Daphne my wife and our daughter my legitimate heir. They deserve my protection and all the benefits that come with bearing my name.
But love? Affection? I wouldn’t know those things if they stabbed me in the throat.
I can’t give her what I’m pretty sure I don’t have.
