“Griff has been good to me, Charles. In a way no one else ever has. He loves me.”
He gives me a confused look before he suddenly bursts into laughter. His laughter cuts through my heart.
“You think I’m a joke?” Tears fill my eyes, but I fight them.
“I didn’t mean it like that. Shit.” He runs his hand through his hair. “He’s a cold bastard that only loves money and power. Why do you think our parents were in business with him?”
“He loves me,” I say again. Sure, to others Griff is cold. I kind of like that about him. It’s me that gets the sweet, warm side of Griff. I love that he saves it for me alone.
“As long as he has you, he has control over my and Dad’s shares of the company. I’m guessing he knows that time is limited, so he needs you to want to stay past the guardian date. Let me guess, he’s been telling you that he loves you and wants you to stay forever?”
I nod. Charles rolls his eyes.
“Vivian, come on. You might be naïve, but people don’t fall in love within weeks.”
I’d like to tell him it didn’t take weeks. Griff and I were made for each other long before we even met. “Even if what you’re saying is true, which I don’t think it is, it doesn’t matter. I have to stay with him either way, so I don’t get what you mean. I can’t just leave.”
“You can if you get married.” He smirks as if he has it all figured out. “Griff didn’t tell you that, did he? If you marry, the guardianship is no longer in place. Everything Mom and Dad left is then yours.”
I stand there.
“Are you listening to me? You’ll be rich!”
“But Griff is rich already.”
“So you think.”
“Let’s call him.”
My brother's face grows serious at my suggestion. “Call him? I just got you away from him. Are you not fucking listening to me?” he shouts, his face starting to grow red.
“What’s going on?” My eyes flick past Charles to a man in a suit. “Are we doing this?”
“Give me a second,” Charles tells the man.
“I’ve been waiting long enough. You promised her to me weeks ago.”
“What is he talking about, Charles?” I look to my brother.
“Give me a minute,” he tells the man.
“Time’s up, Charles. The deal has already been made.” He pulls a gun out from behind him. I gasp as he points it our way. “We’re getting married.”
“To me?” I squeak. “The hell is happening here?”
“Unless you want me to put a few holes in your brother.” He points the gun right at Charles. “Come to me, my little bride,” he orders, giving me no choice but to go.
25
GRIFFIN
“Let’s go.” Mrs. Putnam walks into my office, a small arsenal strapped to her body.
“You need to stay here in case she comes back.” I stride past her toward the garage.
“Not a chance.” She muscles past my men and stomps right into the garage by my side. “You wouldn’t last a second without me.”
I don’t have time to argue. Not when I have to get to Vivian.