Forsaken Duty (Red Team #9)(101)

She did, but held it as if it contained a mass of spiders. “What’s in it?”

“Open it.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I need you to.”

Cautiously, she lifted the lid. Inside was a long, folded legal document. She took it out and tucked the box under one arm as she read it. She looked at him, tears pooling in her eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“I wish it could have been written for a human instead of a lawyer, which I’m not. The gist is that I’m giving you a million dollars to start your life. You and the boys. Anywhere. You can do anything. It specifically states that I have no say in your life. You may seek my advice if you wish, but you’re under no obligation to take it. Ever.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“It’s your freedom, Addy. My Laidy. Your life is yours. Freedom isn’t mine to give, but I am anyway. Someone had to. You could go back to school and get your masters. You could start a business. You can do anything with this seed money. Give it away, if you want. Of course, I’ll still pay for the boys’ education, up to and including college.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks. He had to look away.

“You want me to leave.”

“No.”

“Then why do this?”

“You’ve never been free to make your life what you wanted it to be.”

“Neither have you. We were both born into this hell.”

Owen shrugged. “I feel as if I’ve made my choices consciously. Except for losing you. You didn’t get to do that…until now. You’ve never been able to make choices about your own life.”

“What if I don’t want to go?”

He blinked, silently screaming for her to pick that choice.

“What if I choose you? Is that an option?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“I can still go to school while I’m with you, no?”

“You can.”

“I can still make a career while I’m with you.”

“Of course.”

“I can still have my freedom and have you.”

Owen huffed a breath. “I would gladly beg you to stay.”

She shut her eyes and shook her head. “Then why do this?”

“Because it has to be your choice.”

She gave a pained sigh. “Tell me what you want, Owen. In your words. Let me see it in your eyes.” She put her hand on his chest. “Let me feel it in your heart.”

He covered her warm hand with his ice-cold one. “Addy, stay with me. You own my heart. If you go, I’ll die.” He shrugged. It was as simple as that.

Addy pulled free, then knelt on the ground and opened the beautiful box. She tore the contract into pieces and dropped them inside it. Then, standing, she slammed her heel down on it, again and again, crushing it into little slivers. Her eyes had gone orange. She looked furious, absolutely on fire, as she glared at him.

“Don’t you ever put me in a box, Owen Tremaine. I won’t stand for it.”

She pivoted and started back toward the house at a fast pace. He frowned at the shattered box, then rushed after. “Addy, wait!” She didn’t. He ran and caught her up, spinning her around.

“Put me down.”

“No.”

“I said put me down.”

“No. Not while you’re mad at me.”

“I’m not mad. I’m furious.”

A ray of sun was just peeking through the clouds. He turned her to catch the golden light. God, she was gorgeous. A thing of shifting lights and colors, a mystery caught in a prism. He would never understand her, but holding her gave him extreme joy. “Does this mean you’re staying with me?”

She caught his face. He could see her struggling to find the right words. “Owen, I’m not staying…because I was never leaving. I love you. I love you. Don’t you see?”

“Yes. I do see.” He didn’t see. Was she or wasn’t she his?

She looped her arms around his neck. “Then put a ring on my finger and change my name. I can tell I have my work cut out for me with you.”

He laughed, then tossed his head back and laughed even harder. She was his. Forever.





Epilogue





Casey grabbed the white cardigan that her mom had forced she wear to the dinner. She hated having to cover up her pretty dress, but Mom insisted, since they were eating outside on the patio. Heaters were set up all around the two long tables. It wasn’t needed, but when she’d tried to reason with Mom, Dad had given her that look, the awful one he probably gave his men.

Her dress, a sleeveless deep pink taffeta that was fitted in the bodice but flared out from the waist, was perfect. She turned sideways, admiring the feminine curve of her bust, aided by the slightly padded bra she was wearing. She couldn’t wait to see Zoe next summer at camp—she was finally getting breasts.

The day wasn’t entirely ruined. Mom did let her wear a pair of black patent-leather, low-heeled pumps, probably because Uncle Val had picked them out for her, as he had her dress. They were from a shopping trip several of them had taken a while back to get the pride some clothes.

She was hurrying over to Miss Wynn’s apartment. They were going to go down to the pride to make sure they were all dressed in their new outfits that they hadn’t had a chance yet to wear. They’d been practicing tying ties. So had she. She hoped Lion needed help with his.