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“For how long?” His brows shoot up.

“Weeks.”

“Jesus, son.” He falls heavily into the chair he was just gripping, rubbing a hand along his jaw. “What if she’s not the one for you?”

“She’s always been the one for me,” I correct, needing him to know how serious I am about her. “I’m going to marry her.”

“A Lancaster?” He drops his hand. “I suppose you could do worse.”

“This isn’t a business merger,” I start, but he holds up his hand, silencing me.

“All marriages are business mergers. You don’t think I’m aware of that wedding between the Constantine kid and that other Lancaster girl? Talk about a power move.” He sounds impressed. “You could do the same thing. A Donato and a Lancaster coming together. You could build a new dynasty between the two of you.”

“I’m in love with her.”

“Bah.” Another dismissive wave. “Love is a weakness.”

“Not to me.” I clear my throat. “Not to us.”

He leans his big body back in the chair, slouching a bit. Looking more like my father and less like the powerful businessman he is when he’s in the office. “You can find good quality pussy anywhere, Spence. You don’t have to marry it.”

“Don’t talk about her like that,” I snap.

He grins, the fucker. “Ah, so itisserious. No one can talk about the precious pussy, just you.”

“You really shouldn’t say such things,” I bite out between clenched teeth. “She’s going to be your daughter-in-law.”

“We’ll see. Once you put a ring on it, then we’ll talk about weddings and all the bullshit that comes with them.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on the chair arms. “You take her to meet your mom yet?”

I slowly shake my head. I didn’t even want to tell him about Sylvie. I knew he’d react like this. He most likely wants me to dump her, while my mother will ask why I haven’t married her already.

“When you do that, then I’ll know you’re serious.” He rises to his feet with a grunt, pointing at me. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but a woman is a liability, son. Your enemies will figure out your weak spot and they’ll come in for the kill.”

I sit up straighter, anger making my blood run cold. “No one will touch a hair on her head.”

“You’ll need bodyguards.”

I raise my brows. “I don’t remember any bodyguards around when I was growing up.”

“Because you didn’t notice them. Didn’t see them for a reason. I hired trained assassins to guard my family. I never fucked around. If you want to keep her safe, don’t fuck around.”

And with that last blistering statement, my father strides out of my office, leaving behind the scent of his overpowering cologne in his wake.

A sigh leaves me and I prop my feet on the edge of the desk once more, my phone clutched in my hand. I bring up the phone number and make the call, grateful when he answers on the second ring.

“It’s too early for you to be calling,” Whit growls into my ear.

“You have children now. Aren’t you up at the crack of dawn every morning?”

“My wife is a genius. She somehow trained Augie to sleep in, which we should enjoy because that baby of ours is coming soon.” I hear the murmur of a voice in the background, and I assume it’s Summer. “Call me later.”

“Meet me for lunch later this afternoon and then I won’t have to call,” I counter.

“Done. Text me where and when.” He ends the call before I can respond.

The grouchy asshole.

* * *


Tags: Monica Murphy Romance