Page 40 of Devil’s Promise

It isn’t the idea of performing in front of the cameras. Even getting married tomorrow doesn’t bother me.

But my father’s goals, they scare me a great deal. And the brothers…they aren’t helping my nerves either.

The more I talk, the more agitated Gunner seems to get. He keeps swearing, scowling at me, and going to run his fingers through his hair only to ball his fist and slam it down on his own thigh.

Nipping my lip, I look at Angel, who is watching Gunner with the same skepticism I feel. I tap him, and he swipes the phone so that I can type a message.

But I go back to the notes that are just between the two of us.

Tell Gunner to be like me. Silent. Tell him to act like he’s at a funeral.

Angel nods as he reads and then hands the phone to Gunner. Gunner reads it too and his shoulders unwind with clear relief.

I place my hand through Angel’s arm, pasting a smile on my face as my father walks toward us, a parcel of reporters behind him, the event coordinator to his right.

She’s attractive enough and looks like she’s no more than ten years older than me.

I can tell by the way she sizes me up that she’s attracted to my father. He’s probably sleeping with her and it’s how he got the venue.

She is of no concern to me. If she wants to get in bed with a snake, that’s her funeral.

My father hesitates for the briefest moment, a dark expression shuddering his face as he takes us in.

I knew he sent those clothes on purpose. Whatever his plan, I’ve wrinkled it.

But I don’t gloat. One should never provoke a reptile. Instead, I dip my chin, my smile dimming, as my fingers tighten on Angel’s arm.

But my fiancé doesn’t respond. Doesn’t touch me back or acknowledge my fear. He keeps walking, a slight tensing of his muscles the only indication that he felt my reaction.

“Don,” he rumbles, doing a decent impression of a plastic smile. Even his accent is smoother. “Good to see you.”

My father’s smile slips a little more. “And you, Angel.”

Angel doesn’t even look at me as he shifts me to his other side and then falls in step next to my father. I’m glad to have Angel between us, but I’m a doll again. Just a prop meant only to look pretty.

Even Angel’s body has grown more rigid, creating distance between us.

I look back over my shoulder, Axel and Gunner doing their best to walk the way I taught them.

I look forward again, smiling automatically when a reporter calls for a picture.

“Let’s have one of the father and daughter duo,” another calls.

Angel hands me over to his other side, my father’s arm wrapping around my shoulders as we both smile.

I don’t feel in these moments. I just turn off. It’s like my voice…

My hands are folded in front of me as we adjust angles for whoever wants a picture next.

“Promise, how did you and Angel meet?” one of the reporters calls.

I look to my father, surprised. I expected there would have been a press write-up already with all the details. It’s always this way, but even more so now that I don’t speak.

He smiles back at me with a wicked glint in his eyes. He’s trying to trip me up.

“We met in Don’s office,” Angel says smoothly. “Love at first sight.”

My father’s tongue clicks. I just hear it over the oohs and aahs of the reporters.