Page 60 of Undertow
14
Myriam
Father was less than thrilled when I said I was leaving my gilded prison and his watchdogs. He was so focused on getting the best deal for my sale that it had crossed into obsession, and after I’d made it clear I was less than thrilled with his plans, he’d done everything to lock me down.
Too bad my mother was spineless and wouldn’t do anything to help me. Either way, Father could make all the plans he wanted, but I would never be sold. I didn’t care the mess it made for him later or even if he beat me to death.
I would never become my mother, the dead look in her eyes as she moved through life like a doll. It was beyond disgusting and she hadn’t even shifted in years because her tiger was all but gone.
I’d rather just die now than have that fate.
I said the one thing that even my father couldn’t shoot down, especially when I did it in front of his men. “A debt was called in. It’s my honor if I don’t go especially since they saved me in school. All they ask is a meeting and to go to them. A small price given it was a hit on me in retribution for your business.”
I had wanted to make it clear that he couldn’t deny this, but I realized my mistake when he put the pieces together of who could have called in that debt. There was only one person whofit that description and I’d forgotten that Father had known who had saved me.
The greed that filled his eyes was ridiculous.
“I expect you to be a Metcalf and use that relationship for the family,” he told me firmly.
I studied him and then snorted. “The family that is selling me like a mare and has locked me up? I’ll do my best, Father.”
He wasnotthrilled I’d talked back and especially in front of his men, but I’d stuck to my guns and made it clear that I hadn’t felt his loyalty to me in a while. So asking me to help the family and be loyal was a bit of a joke.
I actually think he maybe heard me and realized I was more than a breeder for him to sell for his alliances. I pushed on that and reminded him that he once said he would always treat me with respect and no daughter of his had any less value to him than a son.
“What happened to that, Papa?” I whispered before I turned to leave. I’d once believed him that he’d thought that. He’d sent me to the best schools to be educated and had pushed me to be just as smart and accomplished as my brothers.
But something had changed.Hehad changed and I didn’t know how or why.
Or how to get the father I’d loved back.
Either way, that was how I ended up flying to a neighboring country at the request of the future queen a week after she’d buried her parents.
No, I hadn’t expected that call either. Not in a million years and honestly, the curiosity was eating at me which was why I dropped everything to make it happen.
Also, I had nothing going on since Father kept me like a docile kitten waiting for my wedding now.
But mostly curiosity.
Sagan De la Rosa and I had never been friends. Yes, we’d gone to school together. Two years in the same master’s program, but… We honestly didn’t even like each other.
Frenemies was maybe the right term?
No, those were people who pretended to be friends but honestly hated each other and were rude, right? That didn’t describe us.
There was a mutual respect, but we knew we wouldn’t be close and skipped the games. She and I were on different sides of just about everything.
She was the only heir to the throne and her parents were known for being righteous, kind, and honorable rulers.
I was one of a dozen children the most powerful Mafia boss Protesia had. Sure, he hid behind a list of legitimate businesses, but it was the world’s worst-kept secret that my father was in organized crime.
And business was good.
I had to give it to Sagan, she didn’t sneak me through the back door like others would. No, she was respectful and had King’s Guard—soon to be Queen’s Guard—waiting for me at the airport and to escort me to the castle as promised. It was made clear that my father’s security wasnotwelcome though and that had been a sticking point to my father.
Too bad. Most of them were murderers and she was going to be queen of a nation.
Noshitshe didn’t want them seen in her fucking castle.
