Exodus (The Ravenhood #2)(18)
“Say what you will, but twice I’ve seen you let your emotions overrule your judgment, and I’m not willing to gamble on that.”
And then it hits me.
“This isn’t a conversation. This is a negotiation.”
He’s here to strike a deal.
Not once in my time here have I ever taken advantage of my position. But I’ve learned well that everything comes with a price. And I seem to be the only one who’s been paying it. Until now.
“You truly don’t believe love and loyalty go hand in hand?”
“Two separate words with two distinct definitions. But if you look up the synonyms for love,” his eyes lock with mine, “I’m sure you’ll find weakness amongst them.”
“And what exactly is it that you think you have to barter with? You took away the only—”
He raises his brows.
My inheritance. “My mother—”
“If I move in now, it all goes. All of it. But I can’t take that chance, can I?” He shrugs. “So, what’s a few more months.”
That’s his card. He’ll wait to move in on my father until I’ve signed for my inheritance. Sean told me he would try to hold him off, and I admitted to him just nights ago my purpose for being here, but no matter how he got the info, it’s leverage.
Fuck.
It’s time to show my card, but we already know what it is—my silence. If I speak up, I may be able to stop him from taking my inheritance, from getting his revenge. He sees it the minute I figure it out.
He lifts his chin. “Name your price.”
“You really don’t believe I’m capable of keeping my mouth shut without being blackmailed?”
“This isn’t blackmail. And your real question is, do I trust you? Fuck, no. But don’t take it personally.”
I open my mouth to snap out a worthy retort, but he raises his hand.
“Let’s save the insults for dessert. You need to really think about what you want.”
I want him to pay, that’s what I want. I want to strip him of some of his confidence, to humiliate him the way he has me. I want to hurt his pride and his feelings if he’s capable of having them. And that’s when the idea strikes me.
His eyes flare when he reads the price in my expression. “Cecelia—”
“Promise me my father’s safety.”
“You can’t be serious.” He curses and shakes his head disbelieving.
“It’s the only thing I want. Maybe he does deserve whatever you do to him financially, but you yourself said you were never going to hurt him physically, so what’s the harm in making you swear to it?”
“Like I said, he has other enemies.”
“And you know of them?”
Another nod.
“Even better. You’ll be the one to watch over him.”
“You’re putting way too much stake in your place, Cecelia. Either way, he’s going down. The when is up to you.”
I palm the counter and lean in. “You want to buy my loyalty? Then you wait until that money hits my bank account and guarantee my father’s safety.”
“You’re asking too much.”
“He’s my father, Tobias. Whatever he’s done, I assure you he’s paying for it. The man is bankrupt in life already. His company is all he lives for. You take that, and I guarantee you will have taken everything from him. Just give him a chance to do something different with his life after you’re finished with him.” I circle the counter and look up at him. He towers over me, his posture rattling with anger, his eyes bleak. “You take his wealth and position, and he’ll have nothing left. It’s not like you can get revenge on a corpse. Consider it protecting your interest.”
“I told you, this isn’t just about me.”
“But the victory will be much sweeter if you gain control as he is forced to watch.”
It takes nearly a minute of staring off before he finally dips his chin.
“With words, Tobias.”
“He’s under our protection, from here on out, until we’re done with him.”
“Swear to me.”
His eyes flare. “I’m not repeating myself.”
“Fine. So now what?”
He nods toward the cutting board. “Dinner.”
Tobias sits on the floor across from me in his slacks and starched shirt, his hair slightly askew as he studies the pieces on the board before moving to claim one of my pawns.
Dinner was mostly silent, a battle of wills as he watched me eat. I didn’t compliment him on his cooking or thank him, nor did I fight him as I consumed every last bite of chicken and Greek pasta salad barely holding in my groan of satisfaction. I assumed he’d leave as soon as he got his way. Instead, he’d ordered me into the formal living room and declared we’d be playing chess.
He wiped the board with me on our first game, which is no surprise. I’d be bored to tears if it weren’t for the company. I tuck that thought away as I try to ignore his effect on me from a foot away. It’s been a struggle sitting across from him. I’m exhausted from fighting the constant crackle of electricity due to his proximity.
My hate for him continues to grow, along with my attraction. I’m in a constant state of anger and arousal with him near, his smoldering gaze always calculating, assessing, when I catch him watching me.