Til Debt Do Us Part (Married At Midnight #4)

Chapter 31

Thirty-One

Talia

I n the passenger seat of the Porsche, I run a hand over my carefully curled mane of red hair. I glance at my husband.

My heart thuds. My husband .

God, he really is my husband now.

Dare holds the door open for me and takes my arm, giving me a little smirk as we walk up the few feet to the Morgan estate. I am just as nervous as I was the first time I saw the mansion with its time worn facade.

But I have been coached this time. I know better than to let my nervousness show.

Instead, I paste a smile on my lips and pull Dare an inch closer, cozying up to him as we approach the enormous front door of the Morgan estate. We are dressed to kill, Dare in his usual suit, me in a clingy white dress that is strapless and ends just below my knee. I think the flowers that decorate the low neckline are meant to suggests that one might get married in a dress just like this. However, I couldn’t envision wearing such a dress on my wedding day. The clingy nylon fabric is almost see through.

It might be okay for some people’s weddings, but it is a far cry from the fairy tale wedding I have somewhere deep down in my heart. I know that my marriage ceremony to Dare Morgan will not be nearly so casual as my dress implies.

I can’t even sit down in this dress; then again, I don’t imagine that I will be able to in the beautiful princess gown that Rob will put me in when I publicly vow to be part of the Morgan family.

As we walk through the doorway, my senses are on high alert. I’m surprised to find quite a few people at the Morgan estate when I step through the threshold. I lean close to Dare, whispering my observation.

“There are a lot of people here, all dressed in their Sunday best. It’s funny, I don’t think I recognize anyone, but I’ve lived and worked in Harwicke all my life. Where do you imagine these people hide out when they aren’t at your family’s mansion?”

His brow furrows and he puts his lips close to my ear.

“I think that Burn and Daisy have called all their family and friends to announce their wedding. I wasn’t briefed before we came, but that seems like the obvious occasion.”

I nod. “Makes sense.”

“All right,” Dare whispers. “Get ready to put on a show. My brother is heading this way.”

Suddenly, I find that my mouth is dry as a bone. I scan the room, looking up all the lovely party guests in their finest cocktail attire. Out of the corner of my eye I see a waiter making the rounds with a stack of short glasses of amber liquid. Making eye contact with him, I raise my hand, summoning him with two fingers. He makes a beeline for me, and I take a glass off the tray before he even manages to tell us that it is whiskey.

I take a huge gulp just as Dare pulls on my hand, taking away the glass. “What the fuck are you doing?”

I look up at him and then realize that I am not supposed to be drinking. Beckoning for the glass, I spit the contents out. Dare frowns and shakes his head then puts the glass back on the tray. “Sorry. She is on antibiotics.”

The waiter looks confused but Dare just leans forward, accepting a new glass and waving the waiter away again. Once the waiter moves on, I look at Dare. He gives me a cool smile.

“Take it easy. You look like a rabbit caught in a snare.”

I glance around, whipping my hand at the people around me. “It’s not an unfamiliar feeling. I’m trapped in a place where I don’t know anyone. The rabbit and I are not in totally dissimilar circumstances.”

Dare puts his arm around my waist and pulls me close. “I’m the only hunter you have to worry about right now, darling girl. I’ll protect you from everyone else.”

I part my lips to respond to him but I don’t get the chance to say anything else.

Burn and Daisy strut over to us, looking pleased with themselves.

Burn’s smile could not be more smarmy if he tried. “It’s good of you to come to our little engagement party.”

Dare gives him a smile that cuts like a knife. “It’s the first time hearing of a gathering, actually. But that’s all right, Burn.”

“Dare, dear,” Daisy says. Her voice is bright, but I can see that there is an edge to her words. “You haven’t introduced us to your date yet.”

Dare starts to open his mouth but I cut in first. “Actually, we have met. The last time I was here, you introduced yourselves.”

Daisy cocks her head, her eyes narrowing on my face. “Are you sure?”

“I definitely remember you, Daisy. Dare has told me so much about you.” I notice her flush, and I give her my big fake smile. “You know, if you want, my uncle is a neurologist. You should probably get yourself checked out if you are having trouble with your memory. It’s only been two weeks, for god’s sake!” I look to Dare. “Hasn’t it, darling?”

Dare is looking at me like I have grown a new head. He blinks and then gives himself a tiny shake.

“She is right, Daisy. By the way, this is Talia. But I don’t expect that you remember other people.”

Burn laughs. “You make us sound like monsters. I assure you, Talia, we are not anything of the sort.”

Just act like you belong , I tell myself. Smoothing a hand on my dress, I move closer to Dare. “Well, you will have to get used to me. Won’t they, Dare?”

Dare’s eyebrows go up and then he looks over at my ring finger. “Oh no! I forgot to give you your ring back. I had it resized.”

Dare reaches into his pocket and produces the same black velvet ring box that I saw yesterday. I assume that he hasn’t had the time to get it adjusted but he opens the box and plucks the ring out of the setting, sliding it onto my finger. To my surprise, it fits with ease.

I smile at him, leaning in for a kiss. He lays it on thick, smooching me several times and pulling my waist against his body. I pull back and give him a longing glance.

When I look at Burn and Daisy again, the sheer fury and envy in their eyes steals my breath away. I smooth my hand over my ribs, glancing nervously at Dare. Dare puts his arm around my shoulders and kisses my head as if he has done it a million times before. A shiver runs down my back but I just compress my lips into a thin line.

“Actually, we thought that we could add our note of celebration to today’s festivities,” Dare suggests.

“Don’t you dare,” Burn says, his voice low and threatening. “This is our engagement party.”

Dare protests that, seeming to weigh the pros and cons, then shrugs. “I mean, we did get married yesterday. But hey, if you want us to keep it hush-hush for tonight, we will be glad to. Remy will still be here tomorrow.”

Burn’s eyes narrow on Dare’s face. “I think that would be best. By the way, when I find out what cheap madam you bought her off, there will be hell to pay.”

I look at Burn and Daisy, a note of puzzlement on my face. “A madam? I think you have me confused with someone else. Dare and I met at a party here. Outside, just a few weeks ago. I don’t want to be too lovey-dovey, but I knew that I felt something for Dare the first time I laid eyes on him. Isn’t that right, darling?”

Dare stares at me, murmuring, you are perfectly right .

The tender, loving way that he stares down at me makes me blush bright pink. But I swallow and raise my head, asking for a kiss. He knows just what I want, and he gives it to me in spades. His lips are hot, his tongue sinuous, the whole kiss is enough to set me on fire.

“This is our night,” Daisy snaps. “You better respect that.”

We pull apart and I kiss Dare’s knuckles.

“No problem,” Dare says. He doesn’t look away from my face though.

Burn grabs Daisy by the hand and hauls her off, the two of them whispering like a couple of angry hens.

“Bravo,” says a voice. I turn around and see a man that looks familiar and one that I’ve never seen before. The one I’ve seen is Uncle Felix, I think. The one I haven’t seen wears a three-piece suit and has sandy blonde hair. He is good looking. That is, if you aren’t a such a sucker for the dark, tortured type as I am.

I find myself comparing him to Dare and finding the stranger lacking.

Dare jumps then, with a grin lighting up his face. “You came! Guys, this is Talia. Talia, this is Tristen and my Uncle Felix.”

I fold my hands against my waist and nod at them, strangely unwilling to shake their hands. Tristen just smiles. Felix, the familiar looking one, is the same as Dare, only thirty years older and fifty pounds lighter. He has dark features and he is graying at the temples. Not graying, almost salt-and-pepper, except for a stripe down the back.

Felix doesn’t say a word, just looks at me with an assessing gaze that chills my blood. Tristen is quick to greet me, though.

“So, you are Talia. I’ve heard a lot about you, but I wasn’t entirely sure that you were real.” He grins. “It’s good to know that Dare hasn’t completely lost his mind yet.”

Dare gives him a sly grin. “Tristen and I went to high school and college together. We definitely got into our share of trouble.”

Tristen gives me a conspiratorial wink. “Don’t tell anybody. I prefer to leave them guessing.”

“Felix, how are things?” Dare asks.

The older man looks at Dare, raising an eyebrow. “Things are fine. If you have time today, I would like to steal a few minutes to talk about the site where we are supposed to start the drilling.”

Dare’s brows furrow. “That’s important. But I think tonight is going to be more about personal intrigue, sadly. Talia and I just got married yesterday and I need to rub it in my brother’s face. I already told him and Daisy and to say they were surprised is a delightful understatement.”

Felix purses his lips. “I need two minutes. Just step over here and let me fill you in quickly.”

Dare looks at me then shrugs. “We’ll be right here. I’ll be able to see you. Plus, Tristen can keep watch of you. He does a hell of a job washing my money so I am confident that he can guard you for two seconds and keep the jerks at bay.”

I squint at him but don’t say anything. Mostly, what comes to mind is that the biggest shark in the room seems to be his Uncle Felix. The guy gives me the worst feeling. But I nod and smile. The two men walk away, huddling and sharing secrets.

I give Tristen my brave smile and he rolls his eyes. “Men, am I right? Let me see the ring that Dare chose.”

I hold out my hand to him and he steps closer to me, taking my hand and admiring the huge emerald on my finger. “It’s nice. Actually, it’s gorgeous.”

“Dare didn’t pick this out though, I think.” His gaze flits up to me and he releases my hands. “Am I right?”

There is a sour taste in my mouth as I nod. “You are right. He didn’t pick it out.”

“Yeah, he has a habit of relying on his assistant to have good taste. Luckily, his assistant picks excellent furniture and clothing. Jewelry, too, by the looks of it.”

My face burns but I nod. I have no idea who this person is or how much he might know about my life, so I am very careful with my next words.

“So, you’ve known Dare for a long time?”

Tristen glances at me, his gaze weighing his answer.

“You don’t really want to know about that.”

“But I do!” I protest.

Tristen steps closer, moving close to my ear. “I know how you two met. I know the whole story. You don’t have to pretend with me.”

Surprised, I step back. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

He exhales a laugh. “I know the whole fake marriage gambit. And I also know that you’re…” he mouths the word pregnant to me.

My cheeks stain with blood. I haven’t met this guy and I don’t know him from Adam but apparently, he knows all of my biggest secrets. When Dare and I leave this party, he’s going to get an earful from me. Why would he not have mentioned Tristen before?

“I didn’t know that Dare was so indiscreet,” I finally manage.

“Oh, I didn’t really mean it to come out like that. Dare is usually a black box. You tell him a secret and he never tells another living soul about it. But I just so happened to be around when the whole thing started up.”

I cross my arms, trying not to let my agitation show. “That’s nice,” I say. “It’s good that Dare has a friend, I mean.”

Tristen looks at me, his expression growing tense. But before he can say anything, someone clinks a knife against a wine glass at the far end of the room. I turn away from Tristen, glad that I have an excuse to pay attention to anything else.

Dare takes my hand, squeezing it as he looks toward the other end of the room as it clears around Remy Morgan and the butler, who stands with a wine glass and a piece of cutlery.

Remy is wearing an off-putting light green cardigan over a white Oxford and rumpled khakis. He leans on his cane and when he gets the attention he called for, he waves Clive away.

“Hello,” Remy grates out. “I’m so glad you could all be here tonight. My grandson Burn and his fiancée Daisy have set a date for their wedding. I never thought it would happen, honestly. But you know.” He pauses and everyone laughs a little uncomfortably. He raises his hand and beckons to the back of the room. “Burn, Daisy, why don’t you come up here?”

Burn and Daisy aren’t the only ones moving. Dare clenches my hand and practically drags me to the front of the audience, elbowing his way past everyone else. Remy glances over at Dare and I, his brow knitting. But in the next second, Burn and Daisy step out into the circle that has been cleared to a room full of applause.

“There they are now,” Remy says pointing at Burn and Daisy. “My grandson. The spitting image of my father, I always said.”

Burn has the audacity to bow and wave to everyone, a smirk on his face.

Dare, raising his hand. “Actually, Remy… We have an announcement to make as well.”

Burn and Daisy immediately turn their glares on us. If looks could kill, we would be pillars of ash by now.

Remy, pulling at his ear. “What’s that, Dare?”

Dare starts moving forward, causing me to stumble. But he doesn’t even seem to notice me at all. His gaze is fixed on Remy as he moves to the front of the room, trying to display me to everyone present.

“Remy, I would like you to meet my wife,Talia. Darling, this is my beloved grandfather, Remy Morgan.”

Remy’s face could not be more surprised. He hobbles forward, leaning on his cane and extends his hand to me. I take it and he grips my forearm. I glance down at his fingers against the flesh of my arm. It looks like five stubby, spotty, bumpy red slugs are now trying to work their way under my skin.

I open my mouth thinking of all the things I could say to Remy. How he’s a bastard. How his money and power have corrupted this town. How he has screwed my family over again and again.

Dare must have a sixth sense about this because he puts his hands on my waist and squeezes. I stand upright and look Remy in the eyes.

“Hello, Mr. Morgan,” I say softly.

Remy looks me in the eyes and then releases my arm, stepping closer and cupping my cheek. “I see you married my grandson. I hope you’re fertile.”

My mouth drops open, but Remy turns away, hobbling on his cane once more.

“Everyone go back to the party,” Remy shouts. The Morgans begin to talk amongst themselves.

He claps Dare on the shoulder.

“Good job,” he growls. “Now get her pregnant.”

He hobbles off toward Burn, who is still staring at me like he could strike me down at any moment.

Dare eases his grip, putting his hand around my waist and exhaling a huge breath. But before he can truly relax, a red-faced man wearing a rumpled suit and nasty expression steps in front of us.

Dare sighs deeply, his possessive grip on me growing even more tense.

Dare throws up his hand, stopping the man before he can even say a word. “Look, Dad. Not tonight. Okay? Surely there is a bar somewhere that you should be plundering.”

Dare’s dad leers at me, wiping his mouth. His words come out slurred and loud, the exact way you could only assume that he spoke. “I am Tripp, Dare’s dad. I know that Remy acts like he’s Dare’s father, but I am. And I am here to tell you that it is not too late. You can still get an annulment. Because if I am sure of one thing, it’s that this one… He’s awful.”

His breath is bad and I take a half step back to avoid him spitting on me as he talks.

“I know who you are,” I tell Tripp, wrinkling my nose.

“Dad, stop. You’re embarrassing yourself,” Dare says.

He pushes me behind him, holding out a hand to ward Tripp off. But Tripp doesn’t even seem to notice Dare. His eyes are locked on me.

“He’ll let you down. He’s never been anything but a disappointment. If his mother were here, God rest her soul, she would tell you the same.”

Tripp’s drunk words make me madder than I can ever remember being. I don’t know that much about Dare’s family, but I have seen his dad twice and both times he was drunk. Gives me a pretty good idea of just why Remy was the stand in father for Tripp’s kids.

“Dad, fuck off. Don’t talk to her. She doesn’t want to be involved in our little family squabbles.”

Tripp lashes out, whipping his hand at Dare. Then he tries to grab me. I catch a glimpse of pure malevolence on Dare’s face.

“I’ll fucking kill you if you try to touch her, Dad. I’m as serious as a grave.”

Tripp lunges toward me again and manages to catch my dress where it flares out at the waist. He grabs a fistful of the dress and rips it, snarling.

Dare grabs his father and wrenches him back, raising his fist. “I’ll end you,” he manages, his voice laden with threats. “You will fucking die, old man.”

“Stop it!” My voice leaves me in a shriek. I clutch at Dare, stopping him from hitting his father. I turn to Tripp, my face growing red. “Stop it right now. Leave Dare alone, you big bully. Go bother someone else.”

Tripp and Dare both turn and look at me.

I realize that my words were loud enough to draw the attention of the surrounding people. My face goes an even deeper shade of red, but I lift my head, giving Tripp a haughty stare. He sneers at me and then clambers to his feet, lurching off toward the other side of the room.

“Fucking tyrant,” Dare spits, his eyes still fixed on his father’s retreating figure. “If he ever lays a finger on you, I’ll kill him. Hell, I’ll kill anybody who touches you. And I’ll do it gleefully .”

I put my hands on my hips, my lips twisting. “I have to say, Dare. I don’t much care for your father. I hope that you don’t take offense to me talking to him like that.”

Dare whips his head around, his eyes fastening on me. To my surprise, he grabs me by the waist and hauls me close, his lips descending until they reach mine. He kisses me hard, his lips demanding, his breath coming out of his nose in a snort. It’s like kissing a dragon, or so I imagine.

I give myself over to Dare, pressing my mouth against his lips. He kisses me back, his hands digging into my waist, and I feel my pulse speed up. But then he slowly ends the kiss.

“I take that as an agreement that I should always talk to your dad like he’s a menace?”

Dare smooths back my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear. His gaze is direct and intense. “I’m going to reward you later, darling girl. Just remember that.”

We circulate for a little while longer, making sure that we are never far apart. I make sure to pretend to enjoy Dare’s possessive hold on me.

Well, maybe I don’t have to pretend that hard.

Dare, for his part, makes sure that he kisses me every few minutes. All in all, quite a spectacle for anyone that hasn’t met me yet.

And the best part is that I think it’s working. If I have to be honest about it, I don’t even hate his kisses as much as I could. There is a low tickle at the center of my stomach, thinking about what Dare promises me.

What will he reward me with in bed, I wonder? The question makes me shiver.

At one point, Dare steps away but keeps me in his eye line. I meet a lot of Dare’s female cousins and eventually I grow tired of my plastered-on smile and the continual shaking hands.

I excuse myself to go to the restroom and slip out the first exterior door that I see, which happens to lead to the gardens. Releasing a sigh, I lean against the outside of the mansion and look at the hedge maze.

It brings a smile to my lips before I remember that my marriage, such as it is, remains a hoax.

My phone buzzes in my purse. I blink and fish it out.

I haven’t heard it go off in days. At first, I think that maybe it’s just Olivia checking up on me. But instead of seeing texts from her, there are a series of texts, all from a number I don’t recognize.

Gulping, I shiver against the cold night air and read the text messages.

Dare is a liar.

He is not to be trusted.

Want proof?

There is a picture of Dare and Tristen from the side, their heads bowed as Tristen whispers something and Dare smiles wickedly back at him.

You didn’t just agree to marry him out of the blue… you were pushed. Dare had people damage your aunt’s store and leave threats. He also had people come into the restaurant you worked at and pretend to be impossible to please customers.

A video appears on my screen.

There is a short clip, shot in the dark. A squat balding man in tears rubs his hands over his eyes and looks directly at the camera with a pleading expression. “I’m sorry. I was paid to break some windows at some broad’s bookstore. I broke the front window and went inside to mess some stuff up and then left the message that I was told to leave. I really didn’t mean…”

The video cuts off abruptly but I am completely shocked. I lean over, trying to catch my breath.

This man is clearly talking about Aunt Minnie’s bookstore. My fingers shake as I play the clip again, trying to gain any additional clues. But the video is too brief for that, and I am ready to close my phone when a final text comes through.

Get out while you still can.

I blink rapidly, unable to process what I have just read. Could this be true? Could Dare have really paid someone to intimidate me into thinking that circumstances were more dire than they really were? Would Dare do something like that?

The answer comes to me without even having to really think about it. Yes, of course he would. Dare is the first person to say that he is a cutthroat businessman first and only out for himself.

No muss, no fuss, no romance.

Acid fills the pit of my stomach and I close my eyes, tears leaking free and running down my face.

What have I done? Here I was, trotting around this party, performing like a trained pony for Dare. And he fucking let me. I can’t even blame him, because that is the nature of the devil.

The devil is silver tongued, incredibly sexually attractive, and will steal the breath right out of your lungs.

God, I feel so stupid. Dare is the fucking devil. I should have known from the second I laid eyes on him, but I let him woo me with money and the lure of a fairytale life for my unborn child.

I don’t know who would have sent the evidence to me, but I do know that if I don’t leave now, I might never get away from Dare Morgan completely.

Shoving my phone into my purse, I turn toward the front of the mansion and begin to run.