Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(94)

I ran my hand through my hair and looked around me, finding men trying to look normal as hell when really they were trying to eavesdrop. George must have noticed it too because he nodded for me to head back in the direction we came.

“He died before either of us were married off. Does that count for anything?” I whispered.

George shrugged. “Not sure. Like John said, Parliament stands behind Chitwood. Something just doesn’t seem right.”

“It’s fake.”

“But how do we prove it?”

“There had to have been witnesses,” I stammered. “It couldn’t have been them standing in a room alone.”

“I’ll do some digging.”

Digging. I was going to dig Sophia into a grave.

Alive.

My nerves were wrecked; I couldn’t focus.

Life wasn’t going to be without Ava.

She was mine.

And I’d destroy anyone who got in our way.





Ava





Chapter 38





Garrett had been quiet all night, and I knew something was wrong. It was in the air, stagnate and suffocating. From his glances that he didn’t think I saw, it was written all over his face. The crimped eyes and heavy sighs, he was keeping something in. And it pricked my nerves.

George and he exchanged strange glances throughout dinner. Garrett picked at his food, taking small bites to make it look like everything was normal. I seemed to be the only one to notice; Isabella and Hara laughed continuously at George’s jokes, that were far from funny.

When supper finally ended, Hara suggested playing cards, and I found myself tapping my leg in suspense, waiting to get Garrett alone. George was keeping his collected attitude, teasing Hara and trying to involve Garrett, who was zoning out. He lost every hand he played because he wasn’t focusing.

Garrett opted out a few hands in and walked over to the liquor cart. Excusing myself, I sauntered over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. His body stilled, which pricked my pride, and he stopped the decanter pouring the brandy into his glass. Like I’d caught him doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing.

“What’s wrong, Garr,” I asked him gently. “Don’t tell me nothing.”

He continued to pour his drink. “What makes you think something is wrong?”

I released his waist and turned him to face me.

“You barely ate, you haven’t said but a paragraph all night, and I’m not stupid.”

He gave me a smile; that smile that made me weak at the knees. The one he was purposely trying to distract me with.

“Never thought you were stupid, my goddess,” he murmured, wrapping his hand around my waist.

“Garrett, please,” I continued. “What happened?”

He gave me a light kiss on my forehead. “Not here, okay?” he murmured softly against my skin.

I nodded without hesitating.

He knew he must tell me, and that was all I needed right now.

∞∞∞

“Can you sit down for me?” Garrett asked in a strained tone. His shoulders were tense, and he wouldn’t stop pacing my room.

I did what he asked, watching his face the whole time. He raked his hand through his dark hair and knelt in front of me. “Before I begin, I need you to know that we are going to get through this.”

I raised a brow. “What are we going to get through, exactly?”

He clasped my hands, rubbing them with his thumbs. I could hear servants bustling outside my bedroom, the soft wind hitting my window gently, making it rattle. The sounds were welcoming because the dead silence in here was unnerving.

“Is it Papa?” He shook his head, to my relief. “Sam?”

“No.”

I exhaled my held breath.

“What is it?”

“John found some startling information today.” He peered up at me. “Before Father died, he allegedly signed an agreement, that neither George nor I were aware of.” I nodded, and Garrett looked away from me, biting the inside of his lip.

“Go on.”

Bring his attention back, he locked eyes with me. “He arranged for Sophia and I to marry.”

My heart started beating rapidly, adrenaline pumping through my veins at lightning speed, and my stomach turned in knots. All I could do was stare at him.

The feeling of being powerless overwhelmed me; something that I used to manipulate into anger or rebellion, but this…this was something all too new.

The familiar feeling of disappointment and betrayal crept in my mind. That state of mind was something that I fought so hard to destroy, but it assaulted me so quickly that I was thrown off.

“Ava.” Garrett broke through the silent tension, shaking my hands. “Did you hear what I said? We are going to get through this, I promise.”

“What else?” I stammered. “What happens if you don’t?”

I know that Edward would have all his bases covered. He was a smart man; always got what he wanted, no matter the cost of others. No matter how lonely or heartbreaking it was, he would play the game and win the prize. Whatever that was.

Garrett put more pressure on my hands. “It’s not going to happen.”

“What happens to her?”

He looked down at our clasped hands and back at me, knowing who I referenced. Edward knew Hara was Garrett’s weakness, and to get him to move in the direction Edward needed, Hara was the only wager to play.