23
STRIKER
“You barely said a word throughout the ride. What’s going on in your head?” I sent her up to her room. She wanted to go home to her house, so I didn’t insist since her mood seemed to have shifted tonight.
“I’m just tired, I guess.” She threw herself into her bed and stared up at the ceiling with a deep long sigh.
“That’s not it, Vanderford. You were chatty at Linden’s earlier and still talked to me even if you were tired.” I went to sit on her bed, taking her shoes off one by one and placing them on the floor.
“I’m exhausted, Cade.” She was pissed. I could feel it in her voice. I wondered what I had done wrong.
“Okay.” I rose from the bed. “I’ll be swamped with work tomorrow, but I can pick you up afterward.”
“Of course, you will be.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” My brows knitted, confused about how she suddenly acted like this, but she chose not to tell me shit.
“Why were we really at Linden’s house, Cade?” She sat on the bed. Her eyes narrowed at me.
“Beck is always busy in the ranch, but when Linden told him that I am getting married and he was setting up a dinner for us, Beck came all the way just to meet you and congratulate us. Even Rome wanted to fly here, but I told him we would have another wedding. We met once and a while at Beck’s ranch. We were there because that dinner was for us, and that’s what family does.”
“What else?”
“What else what?” My brows creased.
“So this is how you wanna play it? Play dumb. Fine. Go.” She laid back in her bed. “See you tomorrow.”
I went to her side. “Vanderford, I’m not leaving until I see the smile on your face. Or, if you don’t mind, I want to stay here for the night.”
“You’ll be busy with whatever you’re gonna do tomorrow.”
“We’re meeting at your dad’s office tomorrow for the prenup. I’m sure Neke told you that. Then I’m going to be at the firm. After that, Princess Carlott asked for a favor, so I have to do it.”
“You have an assignment at the firm.”
“No.” I held her arm. “Look at me.” She didn’t. “Vanderford, please? Just tell me already.”
“You’ve already told me if you wanted me to know.”
“Whatever it is, maybe it’s best you don’t know. There are things in life that it’s best not to know because they could be dangerous or hurt us. Ignorant is bliss.”
“Okay.”
“We’re not okay. You don’t even wanna look at me before I go.”
“I thought we should never keep secrets.”
“We don’t.”
She looked at me—the pain was deep in her eyes. “I can’t believe you just lied to me right now.”
“London.” My chest ached.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. When I heard my name, I couldn’t help it. You, Linden, and—”
“And Beck.” I clenched my jaw hard. Jesus Christ. How am I even going to start without frightening her? I sighed exasperatingly. “Sit down, Vanderford.”
This time, she did as I said, still wearing that angry look on her face.
“I didn’t wanna tell you because it would bring back bad memories. I hate keeping this from you, but I want to protect you and not trigger something. Please, don’t make me do this?” I held her hand, but she snatched it back.
“Tell me, or you won’t tell me, ever.”
“What are you trying to say?” I knew where it was going, but still wanted to hear it from her.
“I can’t marry someone I don’t trust. To hell with you and my father.”
I shut my eyes closed, cursing my breath. I let go a shaky breath before I looked at her again. “Okay, okay.” I nodded. I was about to start, but my mind went blank—I wasn’t ready for this. On the other hand, I had to tell her one way or another.
“Tell me, Cade, or leave.”
“It breaks my heart seeing you so terrified, even in your own house. That’s not living if you don’t feel safe in your home. I knew I had to do something when you came to me last night. So I went to the case officer.”
I was starting to tell her, but she had already understood. I could see the horror on her face as she wrapped her arms around her.
“Why are you trying to dig it when it was over years ago?”
“Is it, though?” I looked at her intently.
When she dropped her gaze, it just confirmed my suspicions.
“I understand trauma. I’ve seen it myself. It destroys everything around it. It plays with our minds. I know you’ve been through a lot.” I held her hand and never let it go. “I know there’s something inconclusive in the report. I read it myself. Either you couldn’t remember or were not ready to talk about it. London, I know it’s scary, but you are no longer alone.”
“I told them everything I remembered.”
“I know, baby. I know.” I kissed her hand. “I’m so sorry if I have to bring this up. I want a fresh start. I want you to sleep at night, not being afraid of anything. And I can’t see the look in your eyes again. It kills me.”
“Will you stay with me tonight?”
“Yes, of course.” I quickly took off my shoes before she could change her mind and went to her side. I pulled her into my arms, and she curled into me.
“I will help however I can.”
I kissed the top of her head. “It would be a big help. Thank you.”
***
London didn’t even read the documents. She scribbled her signature and dropped the pen on the table as she looked at her father, our lawyers, and my father and me. “Happy now?”
“This is necessary, Vanderford.”
“Is it, though?” She arched a brow at me and then at her father. “He’s not marrying me for money because, technically, I’m poor. So what if this marriage won’t work? Where do I stand in your charade, Dad?”
Linus hadn’t said anything, clearly unimpressed with his daughter’s behavior.
“But don’t worry, I will work harder to earn my own money. I will pay my bills and buy my own clothes, and I’m sure Cade will take care of my food from now on.”
I held my smile, but when I saw Dad, he looked more amused than me.
“Now your liabilities are secured. Can I go now?” When she rose to her feet, her father finally called her name.
“It’s not my liabilities. It’s your future. You will thank me later. And I have no doubt Striker will take care of you because he is a good guy.”
“You keep saying that. Is there anything you’d like to add besides Striker’s a good guy? How about asking him what he will get from marrying me? I feel like you secured my future but not his.”
“He can make you happy, guide you, help you run the entire business, not control or manipulate you, or ransack my hard work. This company is my entire life, London. I can’t just throw it away.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I offered Magnus a job. Instead, he wanted to run LH, and he wanted me to put you on the boards and give you your share. I told him I wouldn’t pressure my daughter. She’s just starting to learn how to run a business. I mean, who is he other than a struggling tech guy.”
“Then he stole ideas from his friend,” my dad said. “I think they are still trying to settle the case, but he’s gonna pay the damages since he just sold it to a foreign businessman.”
“That’s why he’s desperate,” Linus added.
“And how I didn’t know about this?” she asked her father.
“I made sure you won’t find out.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, disappointed.
“Do you know about this?” she asked me.
“I hate talking about your ex, but I know some. Linden told me yesterday.”
“Great.” She picked up her bag and walked to the door. “I’m still the sacrificial lamb. Thank you for coming, Tate. Sorry for the family drama.”
“This is your life and my son’s now, honey. I will always be here for you if you need me.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I patted his back, and then I went to shake the hand of my future father-in-law. “I’ll talk to her.”
I found London waiting for me in the elevator. “Don’t leave alone like that.”
What I got was a punch to my abdomen. “What was that for?”
“You knew, and you didn’t tell me?” The door shut before us when Reed gave us some privacy.
“I’m sure you already know I hate your ex’s gut. The last thing I ever wanna talk about is him.”
“God, I want to punch you in the face right now.” Her scowl deepened.
I held her arms to face me. “Go ahead, baby. If it makes you feel better.”
She met me in the eye. I still saw a wave of minuscule anger in those big hazel eyes. Then the least that I expected happened that caught me off guard, in a good way. She grabbed my head and smashed her lips into mine in a quick, hard, hot kiss. “Jerk.”
“Wow.” I licked my lips. “If you wanna kiss me, all you have to do is ask or give me a sign. We could do better than that.”
“Did you just tell me I’m a lousy kisser?”
“No, Vanderford. Great—” I was interrupted when the door slid open. “It was just quick. I could kiss you right now, press you against the wall, hold your leg up.”
“You have lipstick,” she whispered.
“Leave it. I want these guys to know that we just had an elevator kiss.” I held her hand as we walked out to the lobby.
She shook as she tried hard not to laugh.
I checked my lips when I entered the car. “You lied to me.”
“Yeah. I wanted to see your reaction.”
“Now you give me an idea. I might smear lipstick before I go home.” I put my hand on her thigh.
“Are you trying to make me jealous?”
“I wanna know if you’re a jealous type.”
“Try your best, Cade.”
“Trust me. There’s nothing to get jealous of.”
