The Reluctant Bride (Arranged Marriage #1)(39)

Done with trying to make her happy all the damn time.

It’s someone else’s turn.

I need to take care of me.

And my wife.

She doesn’t say a word as I finish gathering my things, which I end up doing blindly. I just grab a bunch of shirts and pants off the hangers in my closet and bring them to the suitcase, dumping them inside. Then I slam the lid shut and do up the zipper, not even bothering to fold anything. When I turn to face her, I’m breathing heavily, my blood hot, my hands clenched into fists.

“I’m leaving,” I bite out.

Mother nods, remaining quiet.

I grab my suitcase and head for the door, appreciating that she at least steps to the side as I walk past her.

*

I make it to Halcyon headquarters a little over an hour late. The moment I’m on the executive floor I head for Winston’s office, ignoring his secretary as she rises to her feet.

“Wait a minute, Mr. Constantine. Your brother is on the phone,” she protests.

“I can’t wait,” I tell her as I push open the door and barrel into his office, slamming the door behind me.

The look on my big brother’s face would slay me dead if it could. He covers the phone he’s holding to his face and mouths, “What the fuck do you want?”

Ignoring him, I settle myself into one of the chairs that faces his desk, pulling out my phone and checking my text messages. I have a few from business associates. One from the reception caterer with a request for her deposit.

I forward that one to Mother without an accompanying text explaining myself. She’ll get it.

There’s another message from a phone number I don’t recognize. I open the text thread, my head starting to pound when I see what the first text says.

Unknown number: Hear you’re marrying the Lancaster slut.

I frown, staring at the words, reading them over and over.

What the fuck?

Me: Who the hell is this?

Unknown number: Good luck with that one. She’s hard to control and a bit of a screamer. Nothing a fat dick in her mouth won’t fix.

I see red. I’m so fucking mad my hands are shaking.

Without thought I hit the number and listen to it ring. It goes straight to voicemail, the automated voice telling me the person isn’t available.

Damn it.

“Who the fuck do you think you are, barging into my office like that unannounced?” Winston barks the moment he’s off the phone.

I glance up at him, ready to give as much ragey energy as he’s giving me currently, thanks to those shitty texts I just received.

“I’m your fucking brother, that’s who. And I can barge into your office whenever the fuck I want. You do the same shit to me,” I bark back.

Winston leans back in his chair, his brows up, the faintest smile on his face. I think he might be impressed. “What crawled up your ass this morning?”

“Mother,” I spit out. I don’t bother bringing up the texts from the unknown number.

I need to look more into that.

Winston grimaces. “There’s a visual I’d rather not imagine.”

“I’m not being literal. Jesus.” I lean back in my chair as well, mirroring his position. “I moved out this morning. That’s why I was late. And she was nagging my ass the entire time, saying she’s going to buy Charlotte and me a place in Bishop’s Landing.”

“Mommy’s buying you and the missus a home in the same neighborhood so she can keep you nearby at all times?” He’s trying to get under my skin, and it’s working.

“Fuck that,” I mutter, shaking my head.

Damn, my mood is foul.

“Really? I figured you’d want to bring your bride back to Bishop’s Landing to live close to Mother,” he says, sounding surprised.

“No way.” I shake my head, tired of feeling frustrated all the damn time. No one listens to me. No one lets me make one fucking move without managing it for me. I can’t do shit by myself, and I’m over it. “I don’t want her managing my life anymore. I agreed to marry Charlotte Lancaster for the family but that’s the last sacrifice I’m going to make. I need to be my own person for once in my goddamned life.”

And I mean every word of that. If this is what I have to do to finally be free of everyone in my life controlling me, then let’s go.

I’m starting to realize I have more in common with Charlotte than I originally thought.

Winston contemplates me before he finally says, “I love this new side to you, Perry. Very forceful.”

“I learned from a master.” I tip my head toward him.

He rests his hand lightly against his chest before dropping it. “Are you giving me credit where it’s due? I’m honored. Still doesn’t give you the right to just enter my office like you own it. I was on an important call.”

“With who?”

“Our sister. Tinsley was asking about you and Charlotte.”

“It wasn’t an important call,” I retort.

“Tinsley wanted the gossip.” He shrugs. “It was important to her.”

“What did you tell her? That I’m being forced? That I don’t know Charlotte at all? That I’m a fucking puppet who does whatever this family wants?” I leap to my feet and start pacing the length of Winston’s office. Which says a lot, because his office is gigantic.