Page 10 of Wicked Knight
“I’m not, but you’re not going to fuck with my mind this year. It’s a big year for me with the college championships. If I do my best this year, I could be looking at signing with the Patriots after graduation. I don’t want extra shit to worry about.” It’s a good excuse, one of my best, because it works.
The harshness in my father’s eyes recedes, removing the darkness of contention, and acceptance loosens his jaw.
Anybody who knows me knows I can play football with my eyes closed. So, I wouldn’t allow a marriage contract to screw with me. I just don’t want the hassle of it, and I don’t want my father meddling where he doesn’t belong.
Fending him off with football is my get-out-of-jail card. He knows the recognition and fame I’ll attract with my talent, especially if I have any future with the Patriots, who are way better than the Centaurs. That’s more important to him than anything else.
“As long as that’s all you’re focused on.” His lips thin with displeasure.
“It is.”Another half-truth.
“Very well. But we’ll discuss the marriage contract again after the championships. I want you to be engaged by the end of the college year.”
I release a slow breath and give him a reluctant nod. I feel like I’m betraying myself again, but I know I won’t win this battle tonight. “Fine.”
“In the meantime, do your best to keep your dick under control. I take my new role as Lord Chancellor very seriously. You will not embarrass me by fathering any bastards or acting like some manwhore on campus.”
“That’s rich coming from you.” I neither have to justify nor explain myself to him, of all the people. He’s forgotten the numerous times I’ve caught him fucking around.
Yuliana has even caught him herself. Any other woman would have left his ass, but their prenup bounds her to stay. She’ll be broke if she divorces him.
“Don’t test me, boy. What I do behind closed doors is no one’s business. But you fuck around for the world to see.”
Maybe he’s right. I fuck to forget the shit on my mind. But I haven’t been that way since I bought the contract for the girl I can’t have.
“Don’t worry about me.” I straighten and steel my spine. “Are we done?”
“Yes. We’ll catch up tomorrow. There’s some stuff I need to go through for Tommy. That was the reason I wanted you here this weekend.”
A lump forms in my stomach and rises into my throat. “What kind of stuff?”
“The rest of his things. I’m sending them to storage. I want to sort through the things we can dispose of.”
I stare back at him and take in the grief lurking in the corners of his eyes. Very little was sent to the storage unit he’s talking about. It was mostly the stuff that was already packed away in the attic that Tommy didn’t use. We still kept all the things he used on a daily basis to the point where his room looks the same, as if any moment now, he’ll be back.
“Why? Why now?” I keep my tone low and respectful, removing the harshness that was there.
“It’s time. Time to let them go. It’s… not like he’s coming back.”
“No. He’s not.” I bite the inside of my lip, tamping down the wave of angst threatening to break free. I never know which emotion I should feel for Tommy.
Regardless of what happened, I didn’t want him to die.
“I’m also considering selling the house.”
I raise my brows, and my jaw goes slack. He’s always been adamant that he was never going to move. If we were ever going to sell, it should been after Tommy’s death, but back then, he was more determined to stay than ever. He wanted Mackenzie’s family to move, insisting that he didn’t want to live next to the man who murdered his son.
“Is it time for that, too? To sell?”
“Maybe. There’s little point in keeping the place now that Yuliana and I will be based at Raventhorn. My partnership with Logan’s father also allows everything at Valneko Investments to run itself now. I’m not really needed in New York.”
“I guess not.”
“I’m thinking of buying a house somewhere in Boston, near Raventhorn. I need somewhere off campus. I think Yuliana would appreciate that, too.”
“That’s understandable.”
“It’s also good for Bratva business. I’d like to keep that off campus.”