Page 92 of The Enemy Protector
He doesn’t answer.
“I’m going. You can go with me with your balls intact, or you can try and stop me and I promise you, I’ll get at least one before you overpower me.”
He flinches. “You’re mean.”
“I’m determined.”
“I’m going in with you.”
“That’s fine, but I’ll want to talk to my father alone.”
“I’ll be outside the room.”
“Fine.”
“I have to clear this with Sergei.”
The idea that I have to ask for permission pisses me off. I’m not going to be an obedient wife. That’s not me.
“You can tell him I’m going, but I’m not asking for anything,” I reply.
We walk to the parking lot with the waiting SUV. Nelson is on the phone for about ten seconds.
“Sergei wants you in and out in ten minutes.”
I snort but I don’t admit I had zero plans to hang out.
We’re followed by a second SUV. The guards at the gate of my father’s estate try to prevent entry, but my father gives the order to let us through.
At the front door, a guard informs me my father is in the sitting room.
“Stay,” I order Nelson.
I’m not happy Sergei insisted three additional guards accompany me home.
Okay, I’m a little happy because I honestly wouldn’t put it past my father to try and murder me.
That’s a topic for another therapy session.
My father is in the sitting room when I walk in.
He looks worse. He's in his chair by the window. The oxygen tank is visible today. He used to hide it when I came. He's stopped bothering.
That tells me everything.
His time is short. I wait to feel the hurt. Sadness. It’s not there. It probably would have been six months ago. Maybe even a month ago. But now I know he doesn’t love me. I don’t know that he ever did. I was his heir—until I wasn’t.
He sees me and sits up a little straighter. He reaches up to remove the nasal cannula.
“Leave it,” I tell him. “I want you fully conscious for this conversation.”
"Sit down," he says.
"I'd rather stand."
He doesn't like it.Good.
"You got married without telling me. Without my blessing. Without even a phone call."
