“Is that for my house?” he questioned. “What did I tell you?”
I straightened, sticking my hands in my pockets. “Vanessa arrives in three days,” I told him.
His scowl slowly fell away, and I saw Will out of the corner of my eye put his drink down and lift his head up.
Kai said nothing.
“Part of the update from Gabriel this morning,” I explained, feeling the same knot build in my stomach that I had when Gabriel told me. “Surreal, isn’t it? What you’ve gotten yourself into?”
All three of them just sat there, and I didn’t know if they were stunned or mad or what, but they definitely weren’t happy.
“I’m sure you fancy yourself the architect of some grand scheme,” I continued, “but the agreement you made moves forward regardless of whether or not you’re ready. Your bride will soon be on her way here. I’ve arranged a suite at the Mandarin for her while we do repairs at the house.”
Kai picked up the envelope, his jaw flexing as he ripped it open, pulled out the paperwork, and began flipping through pages.
“He didn’t make the revisions,” he said, scanning it.
“Nor will he, I dare say. Take it or leave it.”
Kai was cornered, and he knew it. But really, what was the problem? He knew how to get on the twelfth floor now. He didn’t need the hotel, and he didn’t want any connection to the Torrance family. Why not just back out? Why had he agreed in the first place?
“If I don’t sign, it’s open season on Damon,” he warned. “Michael, me, Will, Rika…we’ll handle it, and we’ll do it any way we like.”
I nodded, understanding. If he didn’t sign, Damon would have no promise that he’d be welcome back in the city. If he came home, they might go after him.
“But if I don’t sign,” he said, his voice lower, “you’ll leave.”
I’ll leave? Is that what was binding him to this stupid agreement?
I saw the lump move in his throat.
He didn’t want me to go.
And I’m not sure how much I wanted to anymore, but that contract couldn’t make me stay if I really wanted to leave. He had to know that. I was only here at Gabriel’s behest.
“I can leave any time I want,” I reminded him.
“You would go back to him, wouldn’t you?”
I dropped my eyes, not wanting to have this discussion and especially not wanting to have it in front of his friends.
His voice was eerily calm. “Do you want me to sign it?”
“Yes,” I gritted out. “I want Damon home.”
He watched me, his eyes hard, but he didn’t make any other move. The guys listened silently.
“I woke up last night, wanting you again,” he said.
My heart pumped harder, the heat of embarrassment rising to my cheeks.
Leaning back in his cushioned chair, he drew in a deep breath. “I fucked up, guys,” he said, this time to his friends.
Michael looked over at him. “We want what we want, right?”
Kai shook his head at me.