Page 64 of The Marriage Negotiation

"Your brother is facing twenty years in prison, Patrick," my father pointed out.

"Good," I replied without hesitation. "That means I don't have to worry about him trying to kill my husband again for twenty years."

"Patrick," my mother exclaimed as her head whipped around. "He's your brother."

My mother just wasn't going to get this.

Chapter Eighteen

~ Zaq ~

"Sir." Jackson appeared in the entryway standing straight and tall, his hands clasped together in front of him. "Mr. D'Amato and Mr. Cranston are here."

"Let them in," I directed the man.

Jackson gave a curt nod. "Very good, sir."

If he wasn't a bodyguard, he'd make an excellent butler.

I wasn't stupid enough to mention that.

When the two men walked in, they were both dressed in very slick business suits. Armani if I wasn't mistaken. Jake's suit was black. Miles's was dark gray and he was carrying a black briefcase. They looked very impressive.

They must have gone home to change.

"Jake, Miles." Patrick got up to shake their hands.

"Sorry for barging in like this," Jake said. "I didn't realize you had company."

"These are mine and Zaq's parents," Patrick replied.

Jake smiled as if he was happy to meet them.

I wasn't sure what game he was playing, but it was fun to watch.

"Mom, Dad, Mr. Dinh, Mrs., Dinh," Patrick began. "This is Jake D'Amato and Miles Cranston. We attended the university together. Jake now runs his own company here in New York and Miles is a lawyer."

"Lucas said he would stop by later after Kyue gets done with his race." Jake smiled almost sickeningly sweet as he glanced at our parents. "You might have heard of him. Lucas Kincaid."

I swear, my father and Patrick's started salivating.

"You know Lucas Kincaid, son?" Patrick's father asked.

"Yeah," Patrick replied casually, "he's another one of our frat brothers."

"Why did you never tell me you knew these men?" my father asked.

"Why would I?" I replied. "You'd only tell Peter."

My mother frowned. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"I don't know why you can't see it, but Peter is bad news. He's manipulative and he bullies people, and when that doesn't work, he attacks them. I would never want my friends to be subjected to him. I've already seen what he can do to someone he says he loves."

Patrick waved his hand toward me. "This isn't the first time he's done something like this, but you always believe whatever sob story he tells you. You always say he was just confused or misunderstood. He's not. He's just crazy."

"Your brother is not crazy!"

"I'm sorry to interject here," Miles said as he opened his briefcase and pulled out a file. "I just received this report from the district attorney prosecuting Peter's case and he is, in fact, crazy."