Primal God (The Defiant God Brotherhood #4)

Chapter 14

14

Lilith

When we join the others, Uncle Wolfe says, “Everything is ready. Might I suggest we move to a more…comfortable location?”

Yemi says, “That would be wonderful. Your place?”

“Yes.” He turns to me. “Ride with Adam.”

Well, crap. There goes my plan of riding with Uncle Wolfe. I might not be a fan of him, but at least he hasn’t ever struck me. Yet. I honestly wouldn’t put anything past him at this point.

Riding with Adam is the last thing I want to do, but I nod. Adam goes to his car, starting it. I give Uncle Wolfe one last look before getting in the car. Adam waits until his father’s car leaves and follows it.

We ride in silence until Adam reaches out, turning down the radio.

“I hope you know that I really didn’t mean what happened back there.”

“And I hope you know that this is crazy. We are not getting married.”

He sighs. “Stop saying stuff like that. It will only make them mad.”

I turn to him. “You’re seriously telling me you’re fine with the idea of getting married?”

“I wasn’t looking to get married, but it’s not the worst idea, right? We’re both gaining something out of this.”

“Like what?”

Because I really can’t see what I’m getting out of this deal other than a husband that I do not want.

“My old man will stop riding my dick, for one.” He lets out a small laugh. “I’m finally doing something right by joining the same club my brothers and father are a part of. Hell, they haven’t spoken to me since I got kicked out of college last year.”

“I’m sorry. What ?”

His eyes widen for a fraction of a second.

“Are you seriously saying that you don’t even go to the college where we met?” When he says nothing, I say, “So, what? You knew I was going to be at the library and made sure to run into me?”

“Yeah, that’s basically what happened.”

“Anything else I need to know?”

“Not really. My dad gave me a file on you to study, so that’s what I did.” His shoulder lifts. “And here we are.”

I cross my arms, saying nothing. It figures the first guy that I kind of like wasn’t really into me at all.

Dimitri’s face crosses my mind, and I have to blink back tears that suddenly fill my eyes. No! I’m not going to go there!

“Don’t cry,” Adam says. “I promise we’re going to make this work. We have to.”

“Do you hear how crazy that sounds? We don’t have to do anything, Adam. We can literally tell them no!”

“I can’t,” he says. “They’ll cut me off if I do.”

“I really hope you’re not expecting me to be sympathetic.” I raise my voice mockingly. “Oh, no. Poor rich boy isn’t getting his inheritance. Poor guy.”

“I know I haven’t given you very much reason to trust me, but you have to believe me when I say there’s no choice for us. They’re not going to let us walk away until we do what they want.”

I look at him. “If you care for me at all, then you will find a way out of this.”

He’s silent.

Guess I got my answer.

We finally arrive at Uncle Wolfe’s house, and I get out of the car as fast as I can. Uncle Wolfe glares at me as I push past him, going to the living room. I take a seat in a chair so I’m not forced to sit right next to Adam. The couch is across from me. If I were vindictive, I’d sit on it, knowing the dirt on my shorts would get all over it. Adam sits next to his father and an uncomfortable silence settles over the room.

Uncle Wolfe is the one to break it when he enters, carrying a thick document.

“Lilith. Adam. We just need you to sign this, and everything will be taken care of.”

I ask, “What is it?”

Uncle Wolfe’s jaw tics. “The marriage agreement.”

“Why is it so thick?”

“That’s none of your business.”

I huff out a laugh. “I disagree, as I am the one who is being forced to marry someone I don’t want to marry!”

Yemi chuckles. “What did you say the girl is going to school for? Law?”

I answer, “The girl can speak for herself. I’m going to college for my Bachelor’s of Science in Child Studies.”

“Admirable, but unnecessary. Once you and Adam marry, your only job will be to take care of him and the children you will have.”

My head swims.

“What?”

“You heard me. Once you marry Adam, you will no longer go to school.” He turns to Adam. “You, on the other hand, will either re-enroll in your courses or come work for me. No more freeloading.”

“Yes, sir.”

What in the actual fuck is happening?

I shake my head, as if that will help clear it.

It doesn’t.

Uncle Wolfe moves toward me, handing me a pen. “Sign.”

The threat beneath his words is obvious. If I don’t sign, he’ll go right to Dimitri. I take the pen from him and scribble my name on the line where he points.

“And here.” He points again. “Here.”

Each stroke of the pen is the same as dying. There’s no coming back from this. No, my fate is sealed.

When we’re finished, I ask, “Can I leave now?”

Uncle Wolfe says, “Of course. We no longer need you.”

Of course they don’t. I grab my bag and rush out of the house. I don’t stop until I’m safely several houses away. Only then do I pull out my phone and order an Uber. There’s no way I can go back to Dimitri’s with the mind frame that I’m in, so I enter the address for NorthPark Center and then wait for my ride to show up.

Luckily for me, the Uber driver isn’t one of those who likes to chat, and I’m able to stare out the window as we go to the mall.

There has to be a way out of this, but for the life of me, I don’t see one.

“Miss, we’re here.”

“Thanks.”

Inside the mall, I walk aimlessly around. Since it’s Sunday, the stores will close at six. But at least it will give me something to do until then. People glance my way and two girls in their teens even point. I swing into the bathroom and groan.

My god.

No wonder people are staring. There’s a large bruise on my cheek from where Adam hit me. Not only that, but my clothes are covered in dirt and dust from where I fell.

I grab a paper towel and wet it before going into a stall. I do my best to clean myself up, but there’s nothing that’s going to hide the bruise on my cheek and the scrapes on my knees.

Horror spreads through me. How am I going to explain the bruising on my face to Dimitri?

Pulling out my phone, I search for make-up stores in the mall and find the nearest one. Hopefully, they’ll have something to cover it, because what I currently have on isn’t doing the job.

In the store, I find the foundations and browse through them.

A woman walks up to me, smiling. “Can I help you find anything?”

“Just looking for something that will cover this.”

Her eyes widen when I show the other side of my face.

“Do you need to call anyone?” she asks in a low tone.

I shake my head. “No.”

Because no one can help me.

I’m not sure she’s going to say anything when she points. “This works great over tattoos. We can try it, if you’d like.”

I nod and follow her to one of the consulting chairs. She tells me some facts about the brand as she gently applies the make-up.

After a moment, she says, “I think that will work nicely.”

I take the small mirror she’s offering. The make-up has mostly covered the bruising on my cheek. It’s still there if you look hard enough, but hopefully no one will pay that much attention to me.

“I’ll take it.”

She pauses. “Are you sure there’s not someone we can call? The police?”

I shake my head. “I’d like to check out, please.”

“Of course.”

She rings up my purchase and hands it to me in a small black bag with pink tissue paper.

“Thank you,” I say as I take the bag. And I really mean it. She helped me more than she knows.

My cheek still hurts, but at least I don’t feel like people are staring when I leave the store.

As I walk, Uncle Wolfe’s words dance through my mind. He’s going to force me to get married, even if it means ruining my life. The big question is why. Why does he want me to marry Adam so badly? I don’t buy the whole ‘wanting to take care of me’ bull crap. No, there has to be something that he’s gaining. Money? Power? Tears fill my eyes. The bigger question is, how do I get myself out of this?

Something Uncle Wolfe said stuck out to me. He said he wanted me to finish working for Dimitri, so it doesn’t raise suspicions. Again, it makes me wonder if Uncle Wolfe doesn’t know Dimitri.

I come to a stop in front of a toy store. Something inside catches my eye and I walk in, picking up the small package.

“I’ll take this, please.”

After I leave the mall, I take another Uber to my apartment. Cecely is at work, so Harvey is watching Raquel.

“How’s my girl doing?” I ask as I scoop her up.

“She’s the best baby in the world,” he says with a grin.

“She really is.”

But I can’t help but think about Isadora. She, too, is a good baby. I wonder how she would like Raquel. My eyes are watering as I nuzzle the top of Raquel’s head.

“How was the date?”

I groan. “Terrible.”

“So, no date number three?”

“TBD.”

Harvey is silent for a moment before saying, “You need more contour on your cheek. To hide the bruising better.”

I meet his gaze, and he gives me a small smile.

“I had an ex that liked to talk with his fists.” He takes my hand in his. “You’re a strong woman, Lilith Wolfe. You don’t take shit from no one.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It never is. Now come to my room so I can show you how to hide that shiner.”

It’s late when the Uber drops me off at Dimitri’s house. I feel like a jerk for coming in at nearly midnight, but it had to be done. I’m really hoping he’s asleep and doesn’t even notice that I’m here. I enter the code for the front door. When I’m inside, I close the door softly behind me. All the lights are off, and I let out a small sigh of relief. That sigh turns into a yelp as I stumble over a pair of shoes near the door. Dang it. These belong to Clara, and I make a mental note to remind her of the shoe rack in the morning.

I’m almost to the stair landing when a light turns on. Spinning, I find Dimitri sitting on the couch.

“You’re late.”

“Sorry. Time must have gotten away from me.”

He stands, moving toward me.

“I was worried.”

I feel like an asshole for making him worry. I really do. But I can’t deal with all of…this. Not right now.

I say, “Really? I would have thought your date would have kept you occupied.”

His eyebrows lift. “My date isn’t until Friday.”

Relief courses through me, but I shove the feeling aside.

“Good night, Dr. Santos.”

“Dr. Santos?” He moves toward me. “Lilith, what’s wrong?”

Those three little words have tears threatening to fill my eyes.

“Nothing is wrong, Dr. Santos. I just had a long day. Good night.”

He stops me with a gentle hand on my arm. “We missed you today.”

My chest is tight.

“Is the interview with the potential nanny still on for Tuesday?” When he nods, I say, “Good. I hope she’s a good fit.”

His lips part like he wants to say something, but I rush up the stairs to my room.

I let the tears fall when I’m in the safety of the bathroom.

I meant what I said. I hope the interview with the nanny goes well. I want the kids to be taken care of when I’m gone.

A sob works its way past my lips as I sink to the floor.

Just as I hope Dimitri will be happy…