Page 128 of Coercion

“No.” I gasp. I don’t want that. Anger flashes through me as once more he’s making the decisions, deciding my future with no negotiation.

He looks at me as if I might be mad.

“I…” He begins but I cut across him.

“Does it not matter what your wife wants?” I snap back.

A micro expression crosses his face. One of pain. One of anguish. “I have no right to call you that, not after what I did.”

“Preston,” I sigh. “It’s not for you to make that decision. It’s mine. I’m the one you hurt. I’m the one you tortured. I get to decide what your punishment is, and, when you deserve forgiveness.”

“I don’t.” He says, dropping his gaze like he really is defeated.

“Yes, you do.” I reply. “You saved me, even when you didn’t realise you were doing it, and you walked into that trap, you came back for me when you could have left me to Jace and my mother.”

“I would never have done that.” He states.

I squeeze his hand. “And I will never leave you.” I say. “Not until I die. Isn’t that how our kind of marriages work?”

His lips twist, for the first time in what feels like forever, he smiles. “I love you, Ruby. I love you so much.”

“I know.” I croak, as I fight back that wave of emotion. “And I want to fix this, but I have some conditions.”

I can’t go back to being that scared, pathetic creature I was before.

I have to make him see that I’m no longer that person.

“And what are they?” He asks.

“Jett.” I say. “If my brother wants to stay, then you find a place for him. You help him to fit in.”

He scowls. “That man stole you from me.”

“He thought he was helping me.”

“How can I trust him?”

“He’s my flesh and blood.” I state. “I want to at least give him a chance of redemption.” After all, he clearly had no idea what my mother was really up to. He clearly had no inkling that she was planning to usurp my father all those years ago. Perhaps if he did, things would have turned out differently.

He grunts. “Fine.” He says. “What else?”

“We’re a team now. You and me. From now on, we discuss things, we decide things, together. No more hiding information, no more keeping me locked up in that house.”

My lips smirk as I realise he couldn’t keep me locked up if he tried.

I’m the one with the power now.

I’m not some silly little girl, chained to a man twice her age, forced into circumstances she can’t understand.

I’m in control now and it’s time I proved that.

“Like what?” He asks, like he doesn’t know.

“Like the fact that Nico is my godfather, for one.” I state.

Yeah, he reacts to that, he shows with his face that he knew all about it, that officially the plan was I marry Nico when I was old enough.

“Alright.” He replies, holding his hand out like this is a serious deal we’re making.