Page 84 of Bound Bride
I half-expected Calvin to pack his bags and leave after being doubted and beaten like that, but for some reason he's still here.
"I'm fine," Calvin assures me. "Are you?"
I squint up at him and shake my head. "Nope. Just… can you promise me something?"
Calvin nods immediately.
"Just let me deal with him. Mathew. This could get messy but I just… I need to do this, okay?"
Calvin's eyes narrow but he nods again. "I promise to let you try, but if I see you in any danger then I'll pull you out."
"Don't worry." I touch his arm as I take a breath and move past him toward the restaurant. "He won't do anything in public."
That's what I tell myself as we head into the little bistro and a waitress escorts me toward a table tucked away at the back.
As promised, Calvin hangs back near the counter to give me some space, but he remains within view.
I use that as an anchor as I sit down and face Mathew.
He's not alone.
"Lev?" I can't keep the surprise from my voice. We haven't seen each other since before the wedding, but the thought of his twisted games is enough to make my blood run cold.
Anger knots his face, making his eyes dark and his jaw tense as he glares at me across the table. "The fuck makes you think you can say my name, cunt?" he growls darkly. "You're lucky I don't fucking kill you right here and now."
"Relax," Mathew snaps stiffly. "I already told you she'll pay for Daniil. But we still fucking need her."
Lev snarls as if he's chewing on a wasp and struggling to keep it contained behind his lips, then he tears his gaze away from me and stares down at his coffee.
"So." Mathew sighs deeply. "You don't look pregnant."
I press my lips together and lift my chin while interlocking my fingers under the table. "That's stupid. Even if I got pregnant on my wedding night, I still wouldn't be showing by now. Don't you know anything?"
"I know one more word out of you like that and I'll smash your fucking face in," Lev growls and his eyes snap to me. "Maybe you'd like that, huh? You were always begging for me to fuck you."
Bile burns at the base of my throat and I swallow hard while my heart begins to pound. It takes every ounce of strength I have to meet his eyes and speak calmly. "Begging not to bemurderedisn't the same as begging you to fuck me."
Lev slams his hand down on the table and draws the attention of Calvin, along with a few other guests, but Mathew is quick to intervene.
"Fucking hell. If I knew you'd act like this, I never would have brought you."
"Are you kidding me?" Lev hisses. "This whole entire plan was your fucking idea and now our baby brother is in the ground and this cunt thinks she can talk to me like that?!"
"We need her," Mathew reminds him sharply. "And I'm sure she's sorry, because she certainly doesn't want you to take all that anger and work it out on her little sister now, does she?" His cold, calculating gaze slips back to me and locks me in place.
Beatie.
Shit.
I came here with a plan to tell them where to stick it, but what use is any of that when Beatie or my mother will be on the receiving end of their fury?
A chill closes around my shoulder and I grip my knuckles tightly. "I'm sorry, Lev," I say, each word strained and tight. "I shouldn't have said that."
Lev leans into the table, licking his lips as he wrestles with his anger. "Damn fucking right you shouldn't have. Fuck. Give her the fucking tests and let's get out of here. I'm done with this bullshit."
Mathew sighs wearily, then he reaches into his jacket and pulls out a couple of pregnancy tests. "You know this is your last chance," he says as he slides them across the table alongside the bread basket. "I brought multiple to be sure but let me be clear. If you walk out of that bathroom without the answer I want, I will kill you before my food gets here."
His threat doesn't land with the impact intended. Each threat is the same and they all roll into one.
