She looks like she wants to argue, but instead nods and climbs off me. “Fine, but don’t think I don’t notice you’re pushing to have this conversation during our twelve-hour flight on our way to another country, where I can’t escape.” She quirks a single brow and glares before traipsing down the hall.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Camilla asks her father for the dozenth time since we arrived and she saw the black eye and busted lip he’s sporting. With only the patience of a father, he nods and tells her again that he’s fine.
The guard announces we have ten minutes, and I place my hand on Camilla’s leg to get her attention. “Can you do me a favor? Can you give your father and me a few minutes to talk alone?”
She huffs, glancing from me to her father and back to me again. “I don’t like being in the dark.”
“I know, but there’s something I would like to speak to him privately about.”
“That you can’t say in front of me? No.” She shakes her head. “Whatever you guys need to talk about, I want to hear.”
“Cam…” I groan.
“No,” she insists. “We’re together.”
I curse under my breath at her stubbornness. I both love and hate it, and right now I really fucking hate it. But fuck it. She wants to know… fine.
“Okay.” I turn my attention on her dad. “I’m in love with your daughter. I fell for her the first moment I saw her and I’ve been falling every day since. I know to some, it might seem like it’s too soon, but she’s the one for me, and I’d like your permission and blessing to ask Camilla to marry me.”
Camilla gasps, her hands flying up to her mouth, and her dad snickers. “I-I didn’t… know…” she stutters.
“No shit,” I say dryly, mock glaring at Camilla. “That’s how it works. The man asks permission before he proposes.”
She groans, dropping her face into her hands, muttering something that sounds like, “Kill me now.”
I reach for her face, not caring that we’re in front of her father, and tip her chin up. “You can’t die.” I give her a chaste kiss on her lips. “I’d miss you too damn much. Even your stubbornness.”
Daniel chuckles, and I turn my attention back on him. “It’s clear from our short visit today how much you two love each other, and while I hate that this is being done from inside prison, I’m grateful my daughter has you to protect and love her.” His eyes gloss over, and I feel for him. Having to watch his daughter from behind bars, only seeing her once a week for an hour. And all while knowing he doesn’t deserve to be here. “You have my permission and blessing to marry my daughter.”
“Dad,” she chokes out, shaking her head. I pull her into my side and kiss her temple, vowing to make this shit right. “I can’t do this…”
He reaches across the table and takes his daughter’s hand in his own. “Yes, you can, Cam. It would break my heart for you to stop living your life because I can’t live mine. I live for seeing you every week, hearing about your life, and it’s been killing me inside to see you so unhappy and hurting and struggling. Last week, when you walked through the door, I could tell something was different, and when you told me you’ve met a man, I could tell it was love. The way your face lit up reminded me so much of your mother.”
He smiles softly. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to know you’re safe and protected and being loved.” He looks at me. “Thank you.”
The guard lets us know our time is up and Daniel envelops his daughter into a tight hug, telling her how much he loves her and to have a good birthday. When they’re done, he extends his hand, then pulls me into a half hug. “Take care of her, please. James is—”
“I know,” I tell him, not needing him to explain. “I got her.” I back up and look into his eyes, hoping to silently convey what I want to say to him but can’t. I’ll kill anyone who fucking tries to hurt her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CAMILLA
Isaac asked my father’s permission to marry me. He wants to marry me. In the visitor room of the federal prison, he told him he loves me. I’ve been in shock ever since, having no idea what to say or think or feel.
Isaac’s been giving me space, focusing on his phone instead of me, and once we arrived at the airport and boarded his lavish company jet, he’s been talking with Noah about work-related stuff. The entire time I keep replaying what happened in my head. It feels as though my life has become a whirlwind of emotions and I can’t keep up.