Page 79 of London Has Fallen
“If you respond to that fucking statement, I will shoot the cunt right here and leave him to rot next to his father.” I nod my agreement. He drops his hand but I love the way he eyes me skeptically, like he knows I’m about to say something that will make him wish he never moved his hand.
“I really wasn’t going to accept his offer in front of you.” Dad slams his eyes closed and looks up at the ceiling.
“It’s not okay to strangle your own child, your wife would be very upset,” he mutters to himself and I scoff.
“That’s fucked up that you have to talk yourself out of strangling me!” I huff as I climb to my feet.
“It’s either strangle you or him.” I look at Artemis who widens his eyes in warning.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” he warns.
“Fine. Don’t strangle him,” I say in a bored tone as I look around for one of the fingers I chopped off Costa. “Oh, there you are!” I say happily as I snag his chubby finger off the ground and slip the lion ring with the stone off his finger smiling to myself. I turn back to my dad and Artemis to find them both gawking at me like I’m a mutant. “What?”
“Nope, I'm not saying a word,” Dad says as he climbs to his feet.
“You had to fall in love with a crazy person who gives zero fucks about dead things,” Artemis scolds himself as he stands. I make an ugly face and give them the middle finger before tossing Artemis the ring. He catches it and turns it over in his palm a couple times. I can see the relief in his face that his nightmare is finally over but when that relief is overshadowed by a look I don’t recognize I begin to worry. He turns to my dad and holds the ring out to him.
“What are you doing?”
“Making a choice,” Artemis answers without hesitation.
“What choice?” Dad pushes.
Artemis flicks his gaze to me for a second before turning back to my dad. “You said if I lead I don’t get her.” I gasp, that motherfucker. That’s why he was acting all weird and shit earlier because my dad said something to him. “So, I choose to give up the position of Godfather and choose your daughter.”
“Artemis–”
“Quiet, London.” I glare at the back of my father’s head ready to stab him in the ass until he speaks. “You are willing to give up a role that will guarantee you financial security, status and a position at the head table, as well as places for your brothers at your side for my daughter?”
Artemis takes a deep breath and nods. “Yes. Honestly, it wasn’t a hard choice to make. I love her and I know you don’t agree with me being with her but with all due respect, I don’t give a fuck.” I bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling at the fact my dad’s stupid ass plan backfired. Dad remains silent for a minute as he stares down at the ring in the palm of his hand.
“What do you plan to do without all of this? You know she will run mine and my father’s empires when the time comes, right?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. This is all I have known my whole life. I guess I’ll figure something out and yes, I know that and I’ll stand by her side and help her, guide her if I can and keep her safe.”
A groan comes from my dad. “Fuck.” He turns and heads for the exit, but pauses in the threshold looking back over his shoulder at Artemis. “If you impress me over Christmas break you get the ring back, you piss me off you’re out.”
“Does she come with the ring?” my man asks. Pride swells inside me that he isn’t willing to budge on this unless I’m the grand prize. Dad looks at me and sighs.
“You know you could do so much better, right?” I laugh but shake my head. “That’s up to her, she knows her place is here with her family when the time comes, but I also won’t stop her from forming an alliance with the Greeks through… whatever the fuck it is between you two.” I squeal and clap my hands, they both ignore me as they continue to stare at each other.
“If you don’t leave in the next two seconds you’re gonna see me kiss him.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, London,” Dad snaps. “You better get a new army because you’re going to need the protection from her when she’s mad.” Artemis laughs at my expense. The moment Dad is out of there, I launch myself at my man. He catches me with ease and I claim his lips in a kiss that sets my blood on fire and has need burning inside me. He breaks the kiss with a groan.
“Now I have to walk out there with a hard-on.” I smirk.
“Want me to take care of that?”
He gapes at me. “Seriously? My dad’s dead body is right there.” I shrug.
“Not the first dead person you’ve fucked me next to.”
“Dear God, you will be the fucking death of me!”
“So, is that a no?”
“London!” I groan at the sound of my dad’s shout.