I’d watched Rowan sleep the night before long enough that I should have had my fill. But every time I learned more about her, it changed the way I saw her. Yesterday, she’d unloaded a mountain of information. We’d both been exhausted after an eventful twenty-four hours and passed out early. I woke the following morning just as the sun warmed the horizon, providing me with the opportunity to watch my new wife sleep yet again.
Without makeup, she had an innocence about her. A smattering of freckles and a softness. Knowing what she’d gone through, however, made me see her in a different light. That little girl had to grow up so much faster than she should have. It was no wonder she wasn’t like other women her age. She’d had to mold herself early on for survival, stealing away her childhood.
I’d seen and done some heavy shit in my life, but my childhood had been happy. I’d never had to face personal loss until well into adulthood. I couldn’t even imagine what it had been like for her.
Alexander was a decent man, and he probably coped the best way he could at the time, but it still pissed me off that Rowan’s pain hadn’t been addressed. I got the sense she was the glue that held them together—that was why her father’s career and being Little Miss Perfect had been so damn important to her.
Her father never should have allowed her to fill that role. And letting her date Wellington like he was some sort of catch? When it came to his daughter, Alexander had his head up his ass.
My sudden irritation coaxed me up out of bed. I needed to move, to get things done. My dad would be up already. He’d always been an early riser, so it was time to check in with the family.
I threw on some clothes and went across the house to the breakfast nook, hoping my voice didn’t carry. Rowan needed all the sleep she could get.
“Hey, boyo. I’ve been anxious to hear from you,” Dad greeted heartily.
“Hey, Pops. Sorry about the wait. We’ve had a lot going on.”
“I can imagine.” The innuendo was plain in his voice.
I rolled my eyes. “I know you think I’m good, but the girl was drugged, kidnapped, and married. She wasn’t exactly in the mood when she woke up. Things have been … complicated.”
“Eh, she’ll get over it. Have you talked with Alexander yet?”
“No, Pop. I haven’t had time.” My patience was wearing thin. “He’s well aware of the situation. We can talk to him about the commissioner when I get back.”
“The appointment is taking place soon, that’s all. Otherwise, I wouldn’t push you. I know you have a lot on your plate.”
“Now that I’m married to Rowan, we’ll have plenty of access to Alexander. And I’m aware of the deadline. I’ll do what I can.” If I didn’t give him some sort of assurance, he’d hound me relentlessly.
“Good boy. I’m proud of you, son.”
“Nothing to be proud of, but I appreciate it.” It wasn’t like I’d discovered a clean energy source or something of equal importance. That didn’t matter to my father. In our world, family was everything, and a strategic marriage was the ultimate show of commitment.
“See you soon.”
“Bye, Pops.” I set down the phone and leaned back with a heavy sigh, my gaze lifting to where Rowan stood in the doorway across the living room. She was still wearing my T-shirt, which pleased the hell out of me, but instead of enjoying the sight, my body went rigid at the betrayal etched on her face. It was plain to read, even from across the large great room. She’d heard everything. Motherfucker.
“That’s what this was from the beginning, wasn’t it? How could I have been so stupid?” she said with a sneer, her eyes flitting around the room in disbelief.
“Rowan—”
“No! Don’t call me that. It’s Miss Alexander, remember? That’s the important part, isn’t it?” She marched forward, shoulders squared. “You know, I wasn’t crazy about the fact that you’d married me just to keep me from getting killed, but knowing my safety wasn’t even the main reason is pretty shitty. And I was ready to marry Stetson, so you know my standards aren’t all that stellar.” She was lashing out, every bit of hurt festering into cynicism and anger.
I had to fix this. We’d been moving in the right direction, but this would ruin everything. I moved closer, not as close as I would have liked, but I didn’t want to antagonize her.
“This has nothing to do with your father.”
“That’s not how it sounded a few minutes ago.”
“That was my father. For him, that is what this is about. For me, it’s more complicated.”
“Complicated is just another way of saying I lied. How could I have been so naive to think someone like you would marry me just to play the hero?” She waved her hands out wide with disgust, pacing back and forth. “And here we are playing house when that poor girl is being subjected to a living hell. What is wrong with me? My safety isn’t worth letting her suffer like that.” Her face hardened as she turned a steely green gaze back to me. “Take me home. Now.”
“No.” Iron clashed with iron.
Her eyes narrowed to angry slits. “No?” She squared her shoulders. “Fine, then I’ll take myself home. I didn’t need you then, and I don’t need you now.”
“You’re not going back yet, Rowan, so calm the fuck down and listen.”
“No, you listen.” She pointed her finger at me, closing the distance between us. “I ran away once, and I won’t do it again. That girl needs us. I don’t fucking care how much danger I’m in because I don’t want to live a life if it comes at the cost of someone else. You want access to my father? Fine, you got it. Now let’s get home and save the girl before it’s too late.” She’d retreated into the skin of her warrior, locking up every ounce of the vulnerability she’d let surface the day before. Every bit of progress we’d made was erased in a flash.
Frustration scorched through the last of my patience. In a way, she had a right to be upset, but she wasn’t the only one. I was doing my goddamn best in a difficult situation. Her father had played a role in my decisions over the past week, but it was more complicated than that, and I wasn’t about to let her dismiss the other factors just because she was hurt.
“When I say it’s complicated, that’s because I mean it.” I stalked closer, my words like knives shredding the air between us. “I have concerns that my family is tied up in the traffickers.”
Rowan’s eyes widened, and her lips parted with shock.
“When you came to ask for my help, I looked into Wellington. I even sat outside his goddamn house watching him, and that’s when I saw men in possession of guns I’m confident were acquired from my family. Dangerous men with guns they shouldn’t have going into Wellington’s house like welcome guests. That’s why I dragged you from class the next day to tell you I’d help. Because if this had all been about getting to your father, I would have seized the opportunity the second you walked into Moxy. You were easy pickings. But I didn’t because I never wanted to put you in the middle. You think I would fucking marry just anyone to protect them? I did this for you because I fucking care—more than I should, it would appear.” I shouldered past her to the bedroom and slammed the door behind me.
