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That thought was disgusting and humiliating, but it paled in comparison to the stress over how to protect Jacey and Quaid. She would somehow be punished for hiding the card from him. She could only hope he’d punish her and not torture someone else.
“Tuck in your shirt, please.”
She obeyed.
Walking to his massive leather chair, he gestured. “Sit please, doll. Let’s strategize what to do with this exciting development.”
Her heart thudded out of control as she sat and crossed her legs at the ankle. She couldn’t let him see her horror. What to do? What to say? Jacey would pay the price if she did not play this correctly. Her cowboy husband would be tortured and murdered, Jacey brought home to ‘help’ Elizabeth achieve her political dreams. Who knew? It would be dreadful. And once Father had Jacey in his power, Quaid wouldn’t be far behind.
Slowly pulling out the photo and the card, Father set both on the desk. “A cowboy.” He shook his head, giving her a slight smile. “I blame myself. I was too indulgent with Jacqueline, allowing her to associate with cowboys and fall in love with my high-quality horseflesh.”
Elizabeth pasted her own fake smile on, folding her hands in her lap. Her nerves tingled as she sought the best route to keep her sister and brother safe. Her father wouldn’t scream and rage as her mother would have done. With him, it was all amicable exchanges and mind games.
“Thomas will be at this celebration with his new wife Anna.” Father gave her a significant look, as if she would be thrilled to control and exploit her brother because he had escaped from Father twice and rescued Jacey from his clutches over a year ago. She was only thrilled Quaid and Jacey weren’t in Father’s control currently.
She hoped Quaid would stay far away, but she could not wrap her mind around him allowing Jacey to invite her or Father. Her siblings had both been focused on Mother and duped by their father. Benjamin Oliver was a pro, she would give him that, but sometimes he slipped at home. Quaid had been gone for too long, and the continuous evil acts their mother had performed had consumed her brother. Jacey had blinders on where their father was concerned; Elizabeth understood that better than anyone. If a man as depraved as their father could feel an emotion such as love, he felt it for Jacey.
“I would imagine Thomas would attend.” Elizabeth smiled as her stomach turned over and bile climbed her throat. Pleasant. Always pleasant.
“I can imagine you would love to reunite with your brother and sister, meet their spouses.” He smiled indulgently. A father planning a family reunion.
“That would be lovely, Father, but we have a list of summer functions I cannot miss.” He knew that. He had scheduled them all for her. Couldn’t Quaid and Jacey be happy? Not on her father’s agenda.
Elizabeth had lived in fear for the past month, wondering when Father would start making plans to manipulate and exploit her siblings again. Thankfully, he had been busy sticking all the blame on his deceased wife, revealing the assets he wanted seized to recompense for Catherine’s crimes and hiding the bulk of his wealth and anything incriminating.
“I will attend them on your behalf.”
What was he saying? She couldn’t remember a banquet, dinner, conference, or dance where they had not been joined at the hip. He’d told her last week that he trusted her, but she’d only believed it was another manipulation.
“Yes, doll.” He stood, walked around the desk, and leaned against it. He was only a foot away, peering down at her. His Clive Christian cologne made her stomach churn. “You will represent our family in Montana. You will reunite with your brother and sister and meet their spouses, ascertain strengths and weaknesses and how we can utilize them for our gain. Thomas and Jacqueline have let their defenses down. It is time to make allies of your siblings or send them to be with your mother. Though I would miss my favorite, little Jacqueline ...” His gaze grew intense. “It would be better to have her dead than out of our grasp.”
Elizabeth’s heart raced. The outright threat to Jacey and Quaid wasn’t his normal mode of operation. Especially Jacey.
Tragically, her father had not been too busy to plot and plan what to do with his wayward children like she’d thought. He had been waiting for the perfect opportunity and felt this wedding celebration was it.
Allowing her to go by herself was unforeseen. Could it be the opportunity she longed for? She doubted it. Her leash was short, and no matter how her father claimed to trust her, he didn’t trust anyone but himself.
Quaid and Jacey would never agree to be ‘allies’ with them. They would both have to go back into hiding. A beat of hope thumped in her heart. She might have a chance to convince them, in person, the peril they were in. Would they listen? Would they believe her? She was terrified that the answer was no. She could imagine what kind of listening devices, cameras, and top-level bodyguards her father would have on or with her. How would she dare say anything without the fear of him hearing or knowing about it?
“Peter will be part of your guard detail, so no need to worry about your safety.”
Cold chills raced along her spine. Here was her punishment. Peter was sadistic and unbeatable. She’d watched him take out elite special ops warriors and top MMA fighters. Yesterday, Peter’s hazel eyes had roved over her as he said how much he enjoyed watching her on the security cameras. He was foul. Now that she realized there were cameras in her closet, she realized how disgusting he was. She wouldn’t have any chance to warn her siblings with Peter sticking by her side.
That look in her father’s eyes … He knew exactly what he was doing. It was planned out with exactness. The man didn’t require sleep and his brain was on level with Einstein. As always, Elizabeth was in a lose-lose situation. There was no way out. No hope for her. The only reason she hadn’t taken her life years ago was her quest to give her brother and sister freedom and happiness.
Quaid and Jacey. Could they not have their own lives?
Of course they couldn’t. They were Olivers. Their destiny would be as miserable as her own. The crushing despair almost sent her to her knees. Somehow, Father would orchestrate it so she would damage, manipulate, or even murder her own siblings. She would believe she was helping them, and in the end, every feeble effort would ultimately destroy Quaid, Jacey, and their innocent spouses.
Her dad straightened and reached out both of his hands. Elizabeth placed her hands in his, and he tugged her to her feet. With her four-inch heels on, she matched his six feet. It did not matter. Her father did not need stature or kudos. He lived for the quiet chess game with everyone around him. He would eventually control the entire nation through her, his most obedient pawn.
“I am exceptionally proud of you, doll. You truly are flesh of my flesh and have proven you would never do or say one thing that I would not approve of.”
Of course she wouldn’t.
Unless there was a chance she could save her brother and sister.
She had hidden the card and he’d retaliated by sending Peter with her. He’d act like he trusted her, but they both knew the truth. He was a lying snake.
