Page 26 of Jordan

“I-I don’t understand,” she chokes out. “I don’t want to marry him, Daddy. I want to stay with you. I just broke up with Zach. How can I get engaged again so soon? What will people say?” She looks at me like I’ve turned into an alien with three heads. “And he’s so—so…” Her eyes fall shut and she turns back to her father. “You can’t make me do this.”

Well, she’s taking it better than I thought she would. I was certain I’d see that hot temper of hers.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he says, choking up. “But there is no other way. It’s done.”

He looks like he’s on the verge of crying, while she goes through a myriad of emotions. I watch them, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Show me your anger, angel. Show me what you’ve got.

It doesn’t take long. She whips her head toward me, standing suddenly. The chair scrapes loudly along the floor. She leans close to me, her hands balled into fists.

“I’d have preferred you just tell him,” she hisses, turns on her heel, and rushes out of the restaurant.

“Jordan!” her father calls, getting to his feet. He moves after her.

“Stop,” I demand before he gets too far. “Sit down, Matteo. We have matters to discuss.”

“But…” He looks from me back to Jordan, who is now out the door. His shoulders sag, and he brings his attention back to me, his mouth opening like he may argue.

I raise a brow, gesturing toward his seat. He better sit his ass down before he makes more of a scene than was already made. Matteo Delise has no room to argue with me. If his debt isn’t paid, both he and Jordan are dead, and it’s out of my hands.

Chapter Twelve

Jordan

How dare he!

Does he think because I was so willing to sleep with him on Saturday night at the club that I want to do it every day for the rest of my life? I only did it because I had to!

Or was he okay with doing it on Saturday because he already knew this was my future? What is wrong with this man? He’s supposed to be my father’s friend. Why the hell would he make such a ridiculous deal? Why wouldn’t he help us out of the kindness of his heart? Isn’t that what friends do? You help each other. Are there for each other. You don’t force their child to marry you, damnit!

I ask Fernando to drive around for a little while because I can’t go home right now. I need space. Need to think. I don’t want to be angry with my father over this, but how can I not be? Nothing makes sense. There are so many questions. What did he do to get himself into so much trouble that he has to marry me off? What decade are we living in?

Mother would be so disappointed. She would be so upset! She would never allow my father to do such a thing.

I pull a tissue from the box in the center console and dab at my eyes to wipe up the tears.

What am I going to do? How am I going to stop this? I can’t marry Enzo! He’s twice my age and I know nothing about him. And aside from that, I don’t want to get married right now. Maybe not ever! Men suck. They just suck. I will not marry him. I won’t do it. There has to be another way.

After driving around for close to an hour, I decide it’s time to go home and speak to my father about this. Had he asked for my help in the beginning, we could have figured something out before he ran to Enzo for help. Maybe it’s not too late and I can help him figure out something now.

Saturday was fun, but I don’t want to live my life like that. The man is obviously a control freak! I can’t imagine the rules he’ll have in place for me. I’ll be a prisoner, no doubt. I can’t have that! It’s worse than Zach cheating on me!

I press the button to speak with Fernando. “Can you take me home now?”

“Of course, Miss Jordan.”

I sit back and close my eyes until we pull up in front of the house. Fernando helps me out, and I hurry up the stairs, fighting back tears.

“Has my father returned yet?” I ask Jeanette, who greets me at the door.

“No, Miss. He said he had meetings all day.” She frowns at me.

I grit my teeth but nod my head. Something as big as marrying off your daughter isn’t grounds to cancel meetings?

“Please let me know as soon as he pulls up. It’s important.”

“Do you need me to call him?”