Page 103 of Avenging Azalea

Fawn jerked on her arm, and I let go.

“For your information, my meeting with your father had nothing to do with you.”

“Then what did he want?”

Fawn licked her lips. “He was curious when I was moving out.” I snarled and swore. “I told him that he had nothing to worry about. I’ve already found a great place and I’m leaving in a few days.”

I stumbled back like Fawn had just punched me.

“What?”

“I told you I was leaving, and that I couldn’t be here once you were married to Vera. This is not news. School starts up again in three weeks, and I don’t want to be moving at the same time.”

“When were you going to tell me?”

Fawn crossed her arms, and for a moment, I didn’t think she was going to speak.

“Tomorrow. I was going to talk to you at breakfast. But there you go, now you know. If there isn’t anything else, I’m going to bed. I’ve got work in the morning.”

Fawn stormed up the stairs with the dogs in her wake, making it clear who they were siding with in the situation.

“Well…that went smoothly,” Naji said. I turned my glare on him. “Want a drink?”

“I think I’m going to need two.”

Naji clapped me on the shoulder. I let him guide me toward the den and pulled out my cell.

T: What the fuck do you think you’re doing, taking Fawn out for dinner? What game are you playing?

D: I see that Fawn has already spoken to you. That happened faster than I anticipated.

T: Answer the question.

D: This girl has been in your life for years, and I was tired of you not bringing her around to get to know the family. She is quite the woman. I can see why you’re so protective.

T: Don’t give me the placating lies. She told me that you wanted to know when she was moving out. What Fawn does or does not do is none of your business.

D: I won’t deny it. I asked. She is interfering with your head and emotions, where Ms. Vilanova is concerned. If you don’t think I can see the conflict in you, son, then you’re not as smart as you think you are. She needs to leave so that you can move on with your life. You are marrying Vera. This is not up for negotiation.

T: I don’t give a fuck what you think, and I know my obligations. I don’t need you pushing your way into my personal life where you aren’t welcome. Don’t come near Fawn again. Don’t call her, text her, or even accidentally run into her. I mean it, Father, or you will lose more than just me walking away from the company.

D: Do not threaten me, son.

T: It’s not a threat, it’s a promise. Leave Fawn alone. That is an unconditional demand if you want me to continue with this farce of a marriage to Vera. If not, I will call it off and let you deal with the Curators on your own.

D: Fine, you have my word that I will not be the one contacting her.

I narrowed my gaze at my phone. That seemed too easy. The son of a bitch was up to something, I could feel it in my bones. The question was, what did he have up his sleeve? One thing was very clear. If he hurt Fawn, then I wouldn’t be able to control what I did to him next.

Chapter

Thirty-Three

FAWN

My gut had churned all night after I lied to Titus. Well, not an outright lie. I’d omitted facts about the dinner just like his father had ordered me to, and it was sitting about as well as spoiled milk.

His anger pissed me off. Mostly because I had wanted to prove that I was a big shot who could take on a man like Dimitri Mikhailov. If I could do that, then I was the adult I claimed to be, and Titus could stop trying to shield me from his world. Instead, all I found was humiliation. Titus had been downplaying just how dangerous his family really was, or maybe I hadn’t wanted to hear it. Either way, Titus’s concern and anger had rubbed me the wrong way. Now, in the stark light of day, all I wanted to do was apologize and tell him exactly what happened.