Dion tenses when the same two bodyguards that he assigned me walk into our living room, their gazes apologetic. “Mr. and Mrs. Windsor,” the taller one says.
“Andrew?” Dion asks, his brows raised in annoyance.
I stare in rapt fascination. These two men appear as and when they please, never staying long enough for me to ask questions. All Dion has told me about them is that they work for Silas Sinclair, but they seem dangerous somehow, despite their expensive black suits.
“Theo and I apprehended Mrs. Windsor’s father outside the premises. He insists on speaking to you and is threatening to go to the press if we deny him entry. How would you like to proceed?”
My eyes widen, and I blindly reach for Dion’s hand. “Must’ve come directly from the hospital,” Dion murmurs. “I suppose this was to be expected. It’s been an awfully quiet few weeks while he was recovering.” He turns to look at me, clearly waiting for my response. “What would you like to do, angel? We can simply send him away if you want.”
A chill runs down my spine at the thought of my father, and I shake my head. “I’m worried about what he might say to the paparazzi. I think… I think it would be better to hear him out.”
Dion’s eyes roam over me, and then he nods. “Whatever you want, darling.”
Andrew and Theo both nod at me politely as they walk back out, and Dion leans back against the sofa. “Remember that you aren’t alone anymore, okay?” he says, his tone fervent.
I look into his eyes, taking in his sincerity, his silent support. He reaches for me and gently brushes my hair out of my face, a soft sigh escaping his lips. “I can make him disappear if you want, you know? It’s not too late to do that.”
My eyes widen a fraction, and he looks away, his expression shuttering closed, as though he’s worried he’s scared me. I wonder how long it’ll take for him to realize that I’ll never see him the way I saw my father. I’ll never fear him like that.
“Faye,” Father spits in that tone that always used to terrify me. It still makes me tense, but only for a split-second, and then I melt into Dion’s side.
I rest my hand on my husband’s knee and smile. “Father. I’m glad to see you’re doing well after that unfortunate robbery.”
He hasn’t spoken up about what happened, and I can only imagine it’s because Dion threatened him. The official story seems to be that he was involved in a violent robbery. I never asked Dion about it, because truthfully, I didn’t want to know the exact details.
Perhaps I should’ve felt some remorse, but when I read the news, all I felt was relief. All of a sudden, this man that had such an uncontrollable hold over me no longer seemed untouchable.
“Robbery,” he repeats, fury blazing in his eyes. He takes a step toward me, but Theo places a hand on his shoulder and squeezed tightly. Father’s expression transforms from anger to pain, and it’s a fascinating sight to see. I’ve never felt so numb looking at him. When was the last time he stood in front of me without inciting fear in me?
“It’s one thing to touch me, but it’s something else entirely to touch my mines. You’re insane if you think you can pin it on me. I’ve been accused of insurance fraud because of you. You will not get away with this.” He grits his teeth, his anger so vehement that he’s shaking. “Here is what will happen. You will pay me twice the amount of damage you caused, and I will continue to feign ignorance about my injuries.”
I stare at him blankly while Dion plays with my hair, his attention entirely on me. I don’t think he’s even looked at my father yet, and it’s clear that it’s unnerving Father.
“I’m not walking out of here without a written agreement. Fail to meet my terms, and I’ll go talk to The Herald. They’d love to hear all about how the Windsor brothers rounded me up and beat me, one by one, taunting me as they told me about the bombs they placed in my mines. You will never get away with this.”
Dion sighs and gently brushes the back of his hand over my cheek. “There’s evidence of your father buying those bombs,” he tells me. “Courtesy of our favorite Kingston brother. Just thought you should know that. Even if he talks, there’s a paper trail leading directly to him. It’ll just sound like he’s trying to frame and exploit us. If you want to talk to the press, we can spin the story so he’s outed for the abusive, controlling asshole he is, and every single word he utters will just be another stone pulled from his foundation, until it all comes tumbling down on him. As for his injuries? There’s a huge paper trail proving his countless debts. You don’t need to fear the press, Faye. No one will believe him.”
I look into my husband’s eyes, surprised he managed to cover all his bases. He’s right. No matter what my father says, with Windsor Media on our side, we can push whatever agenda we want, even if the other half of the media spins a different tale. A thrill runs down my spine, and I smile involuntarily. I’ve never thought of myself as a vicious person, but it feels good to no longer be powerless.
Dion continues to stroke my hair, as though he couldn’t care less about my father’s threats. “What do you think, Faye? I’ll do whatever you want me to do. You don’t need to worry about the miners either, Windsor Enterprises offered all of them jobs.”
I nod and steel my spine as I turn back toward my father. Years of pain and humiliation, of tearing me down and bending me to his will, only for him to end up standing in my living room, at my mercy.
“I think your kindness was wasted on my father,” I murmur. “It’s clear he doesn’t value his life, so why should we?”
Dion chuckles, the sound a low rumble that brings a smile to my own face. He looks at me with such pride that I can’t manage to hold his gaze.
“Dion, I don’t want to see him anymore. Not ever again. I’m tired of being threatened and exploited. If we give in now, then where does it end? I can’t do this anymore.”
He nods before leaning in and pressing a sweet kiss to my forehead. “Understood,” he says.
His gaze is ruthless when he pulls away, pure venom dancing in his eyes. It’s odd, that duality. The man he is with me is so different to the version the rest of the world gets.
“You heard my wife. Get him out of our house, and out of our lives. Give him a chance to run, but if he doesn’t heed my words and attempts to appear in front of my wife ever again, remove him permanently.”
