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

Chapter 43

Forty-Three

Talia

I stand in the corner of the opulent office, watching as Dare and Burn sign the official contract. Olive stands beside me, rocking Hope in her arms. She looks like mentally, she is in another space instead of being here in this lawyer's office. I'm a bit jealous of her.

Dare and Burn's pens scratch across the paper, sealing their fates as co-owners of the family's controlling business interest.

"There you go," Burn says as he finishes signing with a flourish. "You are now officially my co-CEO. Welcome back to the family business."

Dare accepts the document with a nod, his eyes scanning over it quickly. "It's good to be back," he says. A smirk rides his face.

Burn gives him a knowing smile and claps him on the back. "You know, it's not so bad having a partner in crime."

Dare chuckles, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, I plan on being much more than just a partner in crime."

He glances at me and I give him a vague smile. Folding my arms across my chest, I carefully avoid Burn's questioning gaze.

Burn sticks his thumb out, gesturing to me.

"Is your wife ever going to defrost?"

Dare bleats out a laugh. "I don't speak for her. But I wouldn't expect much in that department. You're in the doghouse."

I glare at Dare and his laugh dies off. He clears his throat. Burn rubs a hand over his mouth and looks at me.

"I'll find a way out eventually," he says.

I turn away, attending to Hope. Olivia stares at me and touches my hand. It's her way of silently communicating that she understands why I'm so tense and upset.

Dare sets down his pen first, his eyes flashing with triumph. Burn's mouth quirks in a grin as he signs the final page with all due fanfare. They clasp hands firmly across the desk, solidarity in success.

But Dare's grip lingers, and unspoken emotion passes between them. My throat tightens at the rekindled love these brothers share, forged in fire.

Burn pulls Dare into a crushing bear hug, thumping his back. Dare returns it with equal fervor, the brothers reveling in their hard-won victory.

"I can't believe that we actually took charge of the company," Burn murmurs, his voice thick. "I secretly thought that Remy would stay in place as CEO until he died."

Dare shakes his head. "Remy is undergoing a sea change right now. He's talking a lot about family. And yesterday, I saw him help a kid tie her shoes without getting angry even once. It's a little eerie, honestly."

Burn nods slowly. "Well, this empire is ours now. And we're going to build it into something greater than ever."

They break apart, clasping forearms.

My heart swells with pride and love for my husband, who is half of the Morgan Drilling company now.

All those who betrayed him will rue this day. But especially Felix... that no good daughter stealing son a bitch.

With Dare's brilliant strategy and Burn's ruthless drive, they will reclaim their birthright. The world has yet to witness the true power of the Morgan name.

But it soon will. The brothers' jaws are set, spines straight with purpose. This contract is only the first blow in their calculated war to restore their dynasty. Their enemies and doubters will scatter like leaves before a hurricane.

Burn turns to me, eyes glinting. "What do you think, Talia? Are you ready for Dare to disappear into the world of business? If I predict correctly, in about two months, he will be so busy that you won't see him for weeks on end."

I whip around, my eyes going to Dare. "Is that true??"

"No." He glares at his brother. "I'll never let business take me away from you, darling girl."

Burn huffs. "We'll see about that."

Hope wakes up and starts crying. Olivia is quick to hand her over to me, turning her back to shelter me as I pull the blanket over the baby and present my nipple to her. The baby immediately relaxes as soon as the milk starts to flow.

"We're getting good at that transition," Olive says. "I feel like we could enter some sort of timed race."

I smile ruefully. "They could call the race The Golden Nipple, maybe," I tease.

Burn appears out of nowhere at my elbow, looking over my shoulder to see the baby. Or maybe he's just a disgusting pervert who wants to see my breasts while I feed Hope. I don't know and I don't wait around to find out.

Out of pure knee-jerk reaction, I raise my elbow and hit him in the throat hard . "Get back!"

Burn clutches his throat and staggers back, his eyes going as wide as frisbees. He makes an unintelligible grunt of anger.

My face flushes and I step back. Olive steps in front of me, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"I train in Muay Thai. I would love to put you on the ground," she growls at Burn.

"I was just trying to see the baby," Burn protests. "I didn't realize she had her tits out."

Bristling, I hiss, " She wants you to stay at least twenty feet away."

Dare enters the fray, pushing his brother back a few feet. "You need to give Talia some space."

"I just want to meet my baby," Burn says.

Dare slaps Burn's cheek, so fast that I barely see it.

"Look at me, asshole. Hope isn't your baby. You drunkenly slept with a girl. That's it. Everything else that happened after that was just biology. Get it through your incredibly thick skull."

Burn lurches back another step. "I just wanted to see Hope. That's all. Maybe... Maybe I shouldn't have called her mine."

"You're goddamn right, you shouldn't have!" Olivia's hackles are definitely raised. I put a hand on her shoulder, shushing the conversation.

"Shh. Can we all argue about this more quietly? I'm trying to nurse a baby here."

Dare lowers his voice to a stage whisper.

"We talked it over, Burn. We're not ready for you to be a part of Hope's life yet. You have a lot to make up for. You have to prove that you will be a beneficial influence on our daughter."

"And not be a fucking idiot," Olivia hisses.

Burn looks at the faces of my defenders. Finally he sighs. “Right. We still have work to do." He glances between Dare and I, resolve etched on his face. "There are a ton of Morgan Drilling investors coming to the estate today. Even if we aren't in perfect agreement--"

Dare pushes out a breath of laughter. "You can say that again."

Burn eyes him. "Even if we aren't in perfect agreement, we need to look like we're one solid entity. Fake it till we make it."

Olive crosses her arms but Dare nods.

"He's right. We keep our personal wars private."

I arch a brow. "Agreed."

The brothers exchange a knowing look, ghosts of past betrayals darkening their eyes. Then Dare turns to me, expression softening. "Tonight, we celebrate."

Burn grins. "I'll open a thirty year old bottle of Scotch."

* * *

Much later, we all reconvene at Remy's study on the estate. Remy is sitting at his desk, his lips pulled into a permanent pout.

He doesn't relish the fact that we are going to be announcing the changing of the guard today. But at least he has the decency to stay quiet about it. That may or may not have something to do with the two hour closed-door meeting he had with Dare and Burn just prior to this.

Olive and Minnie sweep into the study, glasses of champagne fizzing in their hands. They are dressed to the nines, Olive in a sleek green dress that matches her calculating eyes, and Minnie in a frilly pink confection as deceptively sweet as her smile. But there is iron beneath the silk and lace.

"Congratulations!" Olive purrs, kissing Dare on both cheeks. She hands him a glass with a smile. "To the future."

"Hear, hear!" Minnie chimes in, pressing a flute into Burn's waiting hand. "Here's to taking over the world."

Dare chuckles. "It's just a company, Aunt Minnie."

"For now," she says with a grin. "But Rome wasn't built in a day."

They clink glasses in a toast, and I can't help but smile. Despite their flaws, this family has endured. Watching Minnie fuss over Dare's hair, and Olive pick up a napkin that Burn dropped, I feel a pang. They each care immensely in their own little ways.

And I'm so happy to have them in my little family. Scratch that... not so little anymore.

Dare catches my eye, raising his glass higher. "To new beginnings."

"New beginnings," I echo, meaning it with all my heart.

I turn my attention back to the party, watching the celebration unfold. Music plays softly in the background as guests mingle and chat, glasses clinking. In one corner of the room, Hope sleeps peacefully in her stroller, oblivious to the momentous occasion.Olive and Minnie make a fuss over the baby, cooing softly.

"Just look at that little angel," Olive sighs. "She has the Morgan nose."

Minnie chuckles. "Poor thing. Hopefully she inherits the chin to balance it out."

They both dissolve into giggles and I can't help but smile. They do dote on Hope and I can't fault a single thing they do.

Dare slides up beside me, slipping an arm around my waist. "Can you believe we pulled it off?" he murmurs, his breath tickling my ear.

I lean into him, breathing in the cool scent of his cologne. "I never doubted you for a second."

His eyes crinkle at the corners as he grins. "Liar."

Across the room, Burn is holding court, charming the investors and board members with ease. He catches my eye and winks, raising his glass in a silent toast.

I return my attention to Dare, raising up on my tiptoes for a kiss. The future unfurls before us, bright and full of promise. Together we will transform the Morgan legacy into something better, something good. All my life I've searched for home, for family, for belonging.

I've found it at last.

For the first time, I feel like I truly belong.

Dare's arm settles around my shoulders once more, the heat of his body warding off the chill. I lean into his strength, his warmth, and know that I have forever with this man.