He grabbed the glass and finished it off. “Hope so.”
“I know so.” I told my parents how much this man meant to me, and I wouldn’t feel this way about anyone else. Bones didn’t treat me right in the beginning, but I quickly forgave him for it and fell in love with him…because of his darkness. I liked that he was rough around the edges, dangerous at all times, and so intense it made the air difficult to breathe. I loved his power and strength, the way he owned a room the second he walked into it. My father was a terrifying man, but Bones didn’t hesitate when he faced him. He was a fearless man, so powerful that even bullets couldn’t slow him down.
Instead of pouring another drink, he grabbed the bottle and dragged it toward him. “Get naked. I want to pour this scotch on your tits and suck it off your nipples. I want to drench your pussy and devour every last drop. The two things I love most…booze and my baby. I want to enjoy them both.”
As if our serious conversation didn’t just happen, Bones turned his thoughts to the one thing he loved above all else—sex. He wanted it all the time, several times a day. And even when we were finished, it seemed like he needed more.
This man always needed more—more of me.
At the end of the workday, Bones and I prepared to leave. We didn’t talk much during the day. We didn’t even see each other. He didn’t take breaks, getting as much work done as possible so he could prove himself.
Even though he’d already proven how strong he was.
My father stepped out of the main building and caught my attention. “Tesoro.”
I stopped and turned around, trying not to be angry about what Sapphire told me. Even if I confronted my father about it, he would just repeat himself. He loved me in a different way than he loved Conway, so his expectations were different. “Yeah?”
He glanced at Bones, who stayed by the truck. He always looked at him suspiciously, like Bones would pull a stunt at the most random time. My father’s gun sat on his hip, a loaded pistol.
I hated seeing my entire family arm themselves just because of the man I loved.
“Could you come by the house? Your mother and I want to talk to you.”
“Uh, sure.” I didn’t know why they wouldn’t just do it here. That meant it was something serious. My thoughts turned to Bones, wondering if they’d decided they couldn’t accept him into their lives. “But if you’re going to tell me you don’t approve of Griffin—”
“That’s not what this is about.”
“Oh…okay. Should he stay at the house?”
“He can come. But I want him to wait outside.”
“Father, you’re scaring me.”
He gave me a tight expression. “It won’t be a pleasant conversation, tesoro. But I promise everything will be alright.” He turned around and walked away.
I moved back to Bones.
He must have heard every word because he didn’t ask. He opened the passenger door for me then got behind the wheel. He left the winery and pulled onto the road.
“I’m nervous…”
He stared straight ahead.
“Do you know what this is about?”
“I have a hunch.”
“What?” I asked.
He was quiet for a long time, dismissing me by staring straight ahead. “Not my place to say. But I don’t mind waiting outside until you’re finished.”
I didn’t know what my parents wanted to tell me, but I was a little scared. If it didn’t have something to do with Bones, then I didn’t know what else they wanted to discuss.
Bones arrived at the house, and my parents were already there. He killed the engine and rolled the window down. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“I don’t understand why you can’t come inside.”
“It’s a family matter. I don’t mind waiting for you here, baby.” He pulled me into his arms and gave me a tight squeeze before he released me. He gave me a kiss on the forehead before he pushed my door open.
I gave him one final look before I left and walked into the house. My parents were in the dining room, so I sat down and looked at the fresh coffee and pastries Lars had set out. I could feel the tension in the room, the approaching misery that was about to descend on us all. They didn’t say hello when I walked inside. They weren’t angry, but something was bothering them.
I stared at them. “You guys are freaking me out.”
My father rested his hand on my mother’s back, right between her shoulder blades. “It’s time for the three of us to have a conversation. It won’t be easy. But when we’re finished, we never have to speak of it again. We can move on.”
The realization began to hit me. I knew exactly what they wanted to talk about. I took a breath, unsure if I was prepared for the gravity of the situation.