Page 52

Margot

Matty sits beside me in the driver’s seat, wearing a blue button-up that perfectly matches my dress. I can’t help but think he planned it. He smiled so brightly when he saw I’d taken his suggestion. It makes me want to listen to him more, just to earn those smiles.

After about twenty minutes, we pull through a gate and follow the driveway up to a gorgeous house. Even though it’s huge, it doesn’t feel cold or empty. It feels like a home.

“Stay,” he says once the car is parked.

I stall in my seat, using the time it takes him to walk around the car to collect myself. I give myself a little pep talk.

It’s going to be fine. I can do this. It’s just his parents. I’ve never met parents before. Maybe it’s not as bad as people say. Plus, Matty’s here. He won’t let anything go sideways.

Before we reach the front door, it swings open and a stunning woman steps out. I can instantly tell she’s his mother. They have the same brown eyes. The same blinding smile. Hers lights up her entire face when she sees me .

She’s much taller than me. She carries herself with the confidence her sons do. But hers isn’t arrogant. She looks runway-ready in white pressed slacks, a navy button-up rolled at the sleeves, a white sweater tied over her shoulders, and navy pumps. The personification of power and class.

This woman is going to eat you alive.

I try to do that yoga deep breathing thing.

Nope. Still panicking.

“You must be Margot. I’m so glad you could make it!” She bypasses her son entirely and pulls me into a hug. It’s warm and comforting and makes me miss my mom.

She pulls back and looks me over. I try not to shrink back at her gaze. I’m praying, begging, for her approval.

“Aren’t you just beautiful! Matthias has a great eye. You’re far out of his league.” Her grin softens the teasing, but the compliment’s sincerity shines through. I blush.

“Mom, don’t tell her she can do better. She’s going to realize it’s true and try to leave me,” Matty jokes, but there’s something almost earnest in his eyes.

He pulls me from his mom’s arms and tucks me into his side like he can’t go long without touching me.

Good. I’m going to need his comfort to survive this.

A man steps outside. Definitely Mr. Montclair. Matty and Roman clearly get their strong noses and sharp features from him. He’s just as tall as Matty, and dressed sharply like he’s heading to a meeting, not lounging at home.

He’s extremely handsome in a silver fox kind of way. If this is how Matty ages, I’m a lucky woman.

Already picturing growing old together?

“Evelyn, give the girl some space. We don’t want to scare her away.” He pulls his wife into his side just as Matty did to me and presses a kiss to her temple. Despite his teasing, the way he looks at her… this man adores his wife.

He turns to me and holds out a hand. “I’m Damien, Matthias’s father. And this is my beautiful wife, Evelyn. We’re so glad to have you over. We would’ve done so sooner if our son hadn’t been monopolizing you.” He shoots Matty a glare when he says it.

I shake his hand firmly. They say a weak handshake reflects a weak person, right? The Montclair’s exude power. I need to match them. Or at least fake it.

“Thank you for inviting me over. It’s so nice to meet both of you.” And to my surprise, the smile on my face isn’t even forced. They seem kind and welcoming.

“Come in. We have refreshments.” Damien gestures inside.

Matty lets go of me so we can walk, but he grabs my hand the second we lose contact. When we get to the sitting room, he pulls me onto the couch beside him and tucks me into his side again.

“Thank you for coming early. We wanted to get to know you a bit before the rest of the boys arrive and chaos ensues.” Evelyn smiles like she loves every second of the chaos they bring.

“It’s no problem, Mom.” Matty says smoothly, like my meltdown this morning didn’t happen.

“So, tell us about yourself Margot. Where are you from? What do you do? What’s your family like? We’re just so excited to meet Matthias’s girlfriend. None of our sons have introduced us to anyone before.”

Wait, he’s never brought anyone to meet his parents? I’m the first?

That has to mean something.

Obviously.

“There isn’t much to tell. I’m from here, born and raised in Boston. I work for a shipping company, but I’m looking for something new. My parents retired and have been traveling for the last year.”

“She’s being modest,” Matty cuts in. “She’s a financial advisor for Northwestern Hemisphere Cargo. But she doesn’t need to work anymore.”

“Umm, I do. I need a job to, you know, make money and survive.” I say, confused. Does he really think I can just not work? I know I’m done with NHC, but I still need a job.

“Sweetheart, you don’t have to work anymore. I have enough to support us. You’ll never want for anything.” He smiles like he’s saying something sweet and leans in to kiss my head.

I jerk back. “Like hell I will! Are you out of your damn mind? We only just started… getting serious. I’m not mooching off you.” I correct myself just in time. His parents don’t need to know about the whole kidnapping situation.

“We already live together. I’d say that’s pretty serious.” He looks frustrated, like he expected me to just go along with it.

“I didn’t choose–” I catch myself when he coughs. Right. They don’t know I was his hostage. I should out him! Make his parents realize what a psycho their son is. But you won’t. You want them to like you and Matty together. “–to move in permanently. Just while my place is being worked on.”

“Maybe this is a conversation for later,” he says through a tight smile. But his eyes say it’s already over.

He’s insane if he thinks that I’m just going to live off him.

But it would be nice. No more spreadsheets. Just audiobooks.

Not the point.

I glance at his parents, bracing myself for judgement, expecting them to think I’m some gold digger.

But they’re smiling. What the hell ?

“How did you two meet?” Evelyn asks, kindly changing the subject.

I freeze.

No. No. No.

“I was ordering coffee,” Matty says smoothly, “but had to step out after paying. Margot, being such a good Samaritan, chased me down with my forgotten credit card. I knew then I had to lock her up and keep her. It took some effort to win her over, but she’s finally mine now.

She only tried to escape once, but she won’t be able to get away from me again. ”

My heart stops.

Did he just admit to kidnapping me?

Then he winks and all three burst into laughter.

I force a laugh too as relief crashes through me.

“Oh, son. The good ones always make you work for it,” Damien says fondly. “It took months for your mother to agree to go on a date with me. But once she did, she fell for that Montclair charm.”

“I find the best approach is to not give her a choice,” Matty says with a grin.

I dig my nails into his thigh. Shut. The. Fuck. Up.

He flexes under my grip.

The smug bastard.

***

After a few hours of small talk, the front door opens. “Mom, Dad, I’m here.”

The voice is unfamiliar, but then a younger, dorky version of Matty walks in. His wireframed glasses make him look studious. He’s lean, maybe around my age. A little shorter than his brothers, but not by much. He’s definitely the youngest.

He kisses his mom on the cheek, then freezes when he sees me. His face pales, and his eyes widen, like he’s looking at a ghost .

“Sebastian!” Evelyn hisses. “Introduce yourself to Matthias’s girlfriend.”

“I’m so sorry, Margot. I’m Sebastian, Matthias’s youngest brother. You can call me Bash. I wasn’t expecting him to bring you.”

Matty’s grip on me tightens.

Why are they acting so weird?

“It’s nice to meet you.” I say awkwardly.

A few minutes later, another man steps into the room. He has to be the oldest, not because he looks old, but because of how he carries himself.

He’s not like Roman, who radiated anger and violence.

This man is cold. Controlled. Calculated.

If Roman is fire, this one is ice.

I shrink into Matty when his eyes land on me.

“Who are you?” he asks, voice sharp and demanding.

“Dom, this is Margot. My woman.” Matty’s voice turns serious. All of his earlier charm gone.

Dom steps closer, looking skeptical. His eyes rake over me. Unlike his brothers, he has Damien’s near-black eyes. But on him, they don’t look warm. They look cruel.

I press closer to Matty.

Matty stands. Blocking me from Dom.

They’re face to face, glaring at each other.

And thankfully, Roman shows up out of nowhere and pulls them apart.

“Not now,” he says. When he spots me, he winks. “Looking good, Margot. How’re you feeling?”

It would sound sweet, if not for the extra purr in his voice.

Matty decks him. Fist straight to the stomach.

Roman just laughs. Doubled over, clutching his gut.

“It’s too easy. This is going to be so fun. ”

“Boys. Cut it out. You don’t act this way in front of ladies.” Their father’s voice booms. All three glance at either me or Evelyn and mutter apologies.

Evelyn shoots them a warning look, then sighs. “Seems like we only got it right with Sebastian.”

She pats Bash's knee and walks out.

Bash throws his brothers a smug grin behind her back. Okay, maybe he’s not as innocent as he looks.

I glance back at the three oldest, hoping the tension has dissipated.

Dom meets my gaze, then flicks his eyes at Matty. “We’ll discuss this later.”

Then he turns to me and flashes a smile.

It transforms him. For a moment, he looks… handsome.

“Nice to meet you, Margot. I look forward to learning more about you.”

Matty’s jaw clenches at his words, and his glare follows Dom as he leaves.

Roman catches my eyes and raises a brow in question. I give him a thumbs up and a forced smile. He nods and returns to teasing the others.

Maybe I misjudged Roman.

After a few more minutes, the brothers head out, leaving just Matty and me in the sitting room.

“So, that’s my family. Roman’s an asshole, but he means well. Dom will cool off. He’s just slow to trust new people. Bash is not as good as Mom thinks, but he’s solid. They’re good guys. You’ll see.”

He leads me towards the dining room.

Evelyn is a saint for putting up with these boys.

I have no idea how I’m going to survive the Montclair bothers.