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Grace and Naomi are giggling now, Naomi sitting in Jonah’s seat and Jonah and Ash are outside talking to their father. Eli slipped out to make a phone call.
Derek holds a chocolate dipped piece of melon in front of my lips with his fingers.
I fail at leveling him with a glare. I ignore the dangling fruit and excuse myself, asking for the nearest powder room.
Carson walks me there himself.
“I’m sure you heard. I could really use some help,” I whisper to him before I step into the bathroom.
He looks into my eyes. “I’ve been a loyal member of the Steele family’s team for sixteen years, Miss Turner.”
“Right,” I mutter. “If anything bad happens to me, it’s on all of you.”
He says nothing, but his expression changes. We stare at one another for a moment, and it seems like he’s about to say something, so I wait. His expression blanks, so it’s obvious he’s made his decision.
I go into the bathroom and lock the door, blowing out an exasperated huff.
I stare at my flushed reflection in the mirror, feeling frustration bubble in my blood.
Derek acted like I shouldn’t dare to out him to his family, but in truth, it doesn’t matter because he outed himself and they don’t seem to care.
I can’t wrap my head around this dysfunction. My family isn’t perfect. Far from it. My parents are barely cognizant of my existence. But this? This is like being in an alternate universe where filthy-rich elitist people only care about themselves.
Talk about a strange family…
Thad – the now dead one with two dead wives. Derek – the psychotic stalker. Talk of Elijah and Jonah being tied to organized crime. Mr. Steele’s political connections. Being told Steele family members don’t ever get divorced, so the dead brother had two dead wives. The mysteriously absent wife of Elijah. Is she okay?
Women survive in this environment by getting drunk at brunch.
I need to get out of here. My thoughts are all over the map. I need to take my fate into my own hands here.
Maybe I need to walk out of here and take my chances.
When I exit the powder room, Derek is waiting for me.
Damn it!
“We’re going outside for the vow renewal and then we’re leaving. Too bad we didn’t go get a marriage license on Friday. We could’ve done it here today.” He hands me my handbag.
I stare at him with disgust. “This isn’t funny. None of it.”
“I’m not telling you a joke, Chloe,” he says, smiling wider.
“I’ve just blasted everyone in earshot about you and nobody’s doing anything about it.”
“I’m aware,” he says.
“I’m not attending your parents’ vow renewal,” I tell him and attempt to change directions so I can try to find my way out.
My back is suddenly touching the wall in a move that has me pinned by his hips as he rips his sunglasses off his face. He crowds me, caging me with both hands pressed against the wall on either side of my face. He looks down at me with a dark expression. “Yes, you are. And then we’re leaving. You’ve already tested me today with how fucking naughty you’re being. Don’t push me past the point of decorum.”
“Meaning?” I demand.
He smiles. “You keep nudging, Chloe. Are you not concerned that one of these days you could send me over the brink.”
“Meaning?”
“You don’t want to find out.”
