Darkest Fire (4 page)
“You’re right.” Drako drew in a deep breath, released it. “A wedding is the last thing I want to think about right now, but it’s my duty. It will be done.”
3
“T
here’s our Romeo.” Chuckling, Malek pounded Drako on the back and sauntered into Drako’s bedroom. “Oh, what’s wrong, big brother? Are you
scared?
”
here’s our Romeo.” Chuckling, Malek pounded Drako on the back and sauntered into Drako’s bedroom. “Oh, what’s wrong, big brother? Are you
scared?
”
“No, I’m not scared.” Drako stuffed the velvet jewelry box into his jacket pocket and sent his taunting brother a warning glare, wishing he could physically wipe that smirk off his face. “You laugh now, but your time’s coming, little brother. Just wait.” Sitting on the bed, he stuffed his feet into his shoes.
“Waiting is exactly what I plan on doing.” The spark somewhat faded from Malek’s eyes, he threw himself into the chair in the corner and stretched his arms over his head. “In the meantime, I’m enjoying every minute of my bachelorhood. Or what’s left of it. Last night. Mmmm. Those Randall twins were something else. Let me tell you . . .”
Drako didn’t bother interrupting Malek’s story to tell him he was full of shit. Drako had had the Randall twins. A month ago. But his experience with them was a far cry from the erotic scene his brother was describing. They laid on their backs, legs spread, arms at their sides, stiff as blow-up dolls. He’d never have guessed. The gorgeous blondes looked the part of wildcats in heat, but in reality, they were as cold as corpses.
Just wasn’t right.
Talen shoved open the door and strolled in. “Ready to go throw away your freedom and tether yourself to the old ball and chain?”
“Can’t a guy get dressed in private anymore?” Drako grumbled, tying his shoelace.
Malek threw an arm over the chair’s back. “Check it out, our bro’s nervous. What’s wrong, Drako? Afraid she’ll say no?”
“She’s not going to say no. Not a chance.” Standing, he headed to the large mirror hanging over his dresser. His shirt collar wasn’t lying right. The cleaner didn’t use enough starch. Again. “I told you, I know how to pick them. You’ll see.” Still fighting with his collar, he grimaced at himself in the mirror. He wished he felt as sure as he sounded. If Rin changed her mind, after all the crowing he’d done, he’d look like a total ass.
Last night, he’d been so sure she wouldn’t shoot him down. But this morning all that confidence evaporated as he’d checked into the details of getting married.
Hitched.
Tying the knot.
The old ball and chain.
Shit, the whole institution made him feel sick, let alone all the tedious details. Dresses. Flowers. Churches. Dinner menus. Licenses. It was enough to make a guy want to run as far and fast as he could. But, duty being duty, and his life being what it was, he had no choice. Neither did his brothers. And it was his responsibility as the oldest son to set an example, to step up first and accept this responsibility like a man.
“What kind of ring did you make her?” Talen asked. “I haven’t seen it yet.”
The ring. That was the only detail he didn’t mind seeing to. “The kind any woman would be glad to have.” As a jeweler who specialized in designing high-quality pieces crafted with rare stones, he knew a fine, quality gemstone when he saw one. And even more important, he knew how women reacted to one. A little chunk of carbon could turn the most furious hellcat into a soft, sweet woman.
Ironically, he’d thought the ring he’d tucked into his pocket would have inspired his Rin to fall to her knees and propose to
him
when she’d first seen it. But it hadn’t, and she didn’t.
him
when she’d first seen it. But it hadn’t, and she didn’t.
“Forget about my personal life for a minute. What’s the news about Oram? Anything yet?”
“Still nothing.” Talen shook his head. “The boys I hired have checked everywhere. The bastard is deep underground. And I’m beginning to wonder if maybe he’s having a hard time trying to gather enough resources to lead another attack. After losing so many guys when father—”
“Right. And Malek’s the perfect candidate for the priesthood.” Drako turned to face his brothers. “That’s exactly what he wants us to think. The bastard wants us to think he’s lost the Chimera’s support, get careless and sloppy. But I won’t be caught by surprise. He’s been watching, waiting, planning for years. Once he knows who we are, he’s going to look for any vulnerability he can find. And then, when we least expect it, he’ll attack. Our father won the last battle, but the war’s far from over.” He headed toward the door. “As soon as I’m through with this marriage stuff, I’m getting back to work. No more distractions.”
“Good luck, bro!” Malek shouted after him.
“I don’t need luck.” Drako hesitated at the door, catching sight of something glittering in Malek’s hand. “Hey, what’s that?”
“What? This?” Malek raised his hand, something small—a piece of jewelry?—pinched between his index finger and thumb. He shrugged. “Just an earring one of the twins left behind. It’s worthless. Cubic zirconium, I think.”
“Hey, you know the rules about keeping things left by visitors,” Talen said, charging over to snatch it from Malek’s hand. After a brief inspection, he handed it back. “Get rid of it.”
“Yeah, yeah. I will.” Malek shrugged his shoulders, giving the tiny piece another look. “Wouldn’t want to find out it’s a bomb, bug, or secret spy camera. It’s too small to be any of those. You’re getting paranoid.”
“You can never be too careful.” Still standing at the door, Drako gave his brothers one final wave. “Later, boys.”
Rin dragged her sweat-slicked palms down her thighs and concentrated on taking slow, deep breaths. She straightened her skirt, tugged at her knit top, and checked her watch for the gazillionth time. Quarter to twelve.
Ohmygod.
Riley’s was only two blocks away. She’d be seeing
him
soon. Him. Her future husband.
him
soon. Him. Her future husband.
I’m making the right decision.
The irony wasn’t lost to her—that she was selling herself into an arranged marriage in order to buy her sister’s freedom. If anyone would have told her a year ago that this was where she’d be now, she would have laughed in their face.
Arranged marriages? In the twenty-first century? In Michigan? No way!
Yes, way.
Just like there wasn’t slavery in the United States anymore. All the slaves were freed during the American Civil War.
Not even close.
The minute Rin had learned her sister had been sold, she’d hit the Internet for information. And she was shocked, appalled, and sickened by what she’d learned. Slave trade was big business. International business. And way more common than she’d ever have guessed.
She shoved those dark thoughts aside as she rounded a corner and checked her watch again. It was twelve minutes before noon. She could see the restaurant now. Her nerves were skittery, her heart thumping heavily in her chest.
What if he changed his mind? Or what if he refused the only condition she wanted to add to their agreement?
She wouldn’t, couldn’t, change her mind. It had taken her only a few hours to think this through, weigh her options (there weren’t any), and get herself semi-used to the idea. She was going to be married. Married! Soon.
The air seeped from her lungs again, and she gulped in another breath.
It was going to be okay. Drako was an attractive man. Sex wouldn’t be bad. In fact, it would probably be downright enjoyable. There was most definitely chemistry between them. She didn’t know him very well, but she sensed he wasn’t a psychopath. And—most important—she, her sister, and her future children would have the kind of stability she’d always dreamed of. Already, she’d formulated a rough plan of what she’d do after she had Lei safe.
The restaurant was less than fifty yards from her now. Her pace slowed.
Everything’s going to be fine.
She repeated her mantra in her head a few dozen times. Took a few more deep breaths.
Better.
Her resolve reinforced, she clasped and unclasped her hands to work out the tension, hurried up to the door, yanked it open, and stepped inside. Semiblind after coming in from the glaring sunshiny day outside, she clacked up to the hostess. “Hi, I’m meeting someone, Drako Alexandre.”
The hostess tucked a blond lock behind her ear as she checked her list. “Yes. He’s already been seated. This way, please.”
Feeling a smidge faint, Rin followed the pretty girl to a wooden booth at the back of the restaurant. Drako—quite the gentleman, for a guy who was about to buy a wife—stood, flashing one of the most charming smiles she’d ever seen. That grin kicked all the fluttery butterflies in her stomach into frenzied action.
Ugh, like she was going to be able to eat a bite of food. Then again, she wasn’t there to eat anyway.
“Hello, Rin.”
“Hi.”
“You look very nice.” He waited for her to sit before he eased back down.
“Thanks. So do you. Nice . . . shirt.”
The hostess placed a menu on the table and she stared blindly at it.
He cleared his throat. “A drink?”
“Oh! Um, it’s a little early for the hard stuff.” Although she could sure use a few shots of something. She directed her drink order to the hostess. “I’ll just take a cola. Diet, please.”
“Coke?” the hostess asked.
“That’s fine. Thanks.” Trying to hide how nervous she truly was—the butterflies in her stomach were doing cartwheels now—Rin sat on her hands and smiled. “Have you eaten here before?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“The burgers are good. Salads too.” When he glanced down at his menu, her gaze skimmed down his neck, following the curve and curl of his tattoo before landing on a broad shoulder covered in crisp white cotton. “Then again, you probably don’t eat much salad.”
“Actually, I do.”
“Oh.”
He looked up, eyebrows pulled down. “Do you know what you’re ordering already?”
“Um, no.” She scooped up the menu sitting in front of her and unfolded it, deciding it made really good cover. Her cheeks were so hot the cook could probably fry bacon on them. “The soup looks good.” Shoot, her hands were shaking. Just a little. But she wondered if he could tell.
Calm down, Mitchell! Why are you so freaking nervous? You never get this wound up.
A set of familiar fingers curled over the top edge of her menu, and then she felt it being slowly pushed down, gradually uncovering Drako’s handsome face.
He tipped his head to the side. “The waitress is waiting.”
Had the waitress spoken? Was she so out of it that she hadn’t heard her? Knowing she wouldn’t eat, regardless of what she ordered, she just rattled off, “I’ll take your house burger with fries.”
“I’ll take the same.” Drako watched the waitress retreat for a split second before turning those haunting eyes her way again.
So dark. And mysterious. She could seriously get lost in them. And then there was that mouth. When the corners quirked up, she got warm all over. He’d almost kissed her when they’d been dancing. That moment was burned into her memory forever. Her lips still tingled.
“Can we talk now?” she blurted, anxious to just get the business end of the conversation over and done with. Before she passed out.
“Sure.” He clasped his hands together on the table. “I take it you’ve made a decision, then?”
“I have.”
Deep breath.
“I’ll accept your offer. But on one condition.”
Deep breath.
“I’ll accept your offer. But on one condition.”
He didn’t seem surprised by her acceptance or the fact that she wished to add a condition to the arrangement. “Which is?”
“I need fifty thousand dollars right away.”
“For?”
“A personal debt.” She added quickly, “This is a one-time thing. I promise I’m not a gambling addict, druggie, or shopaholic. I won’t have a problem living within my budget from this point forward.” She held her breath.
“How soon?”
“Today. Or tomorrow at the latest.”
Gaze sharp, almost to the point of being intrusive, he bent his elbows and leaned forward. “And how do I know you won’t take my money and disappear?”
Good question.
If she were he and he were she, she wouldn’t trust him. Herself. Whatever. Bottom line, it was a lot of money to risk. “I wonder how long it takes to get a marriage license in Michigan,” she thought aloud.
“Three days,” he answered.
“You’ve done your homework, then.”
Three days? Shit.
Plan A was out. “Okay, how about we go ahead, get the license, and then you give me the money? I’ll stay at your place for the next two nights, so you know I won’t run off.” She held her breath again.
Three days? Shit.
Plan A was out. “Okay, how about we go ahead, get the license, and then you give me the money? I’ll stay at your place for the next two nights, so you know I won’t run off.” She held her breath again.
After a couple of heartbeats, he shook his head. “No. You’ll wait for the money.”
Noooooo, I can’t!
She scrambled to come up with a Plan C.
Where could they get married today? Vegas popped into her head. But it was too far to travel. It was after noon already. By the time they got to the airport it would be late afternoon. And then who knew what kind of flight they’d get, if they could even get one. Anywhere else? Closer. Where they could drive?
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