Page 73 of His Son's Brid
I'm moving before I can think.
Burst into the sitting room. Leo looks up, sees my face, and goes pale.
"I'll call you back." He hangs up fast.
"What did you just say?" My voice is deadly quiet.
"Dad, I was just—it was just talk—"
"What did you say about Aurora?"
"Nothing! I was joking with a friend—"
I grab him by the collar, slam him against the wall. "You're going to break her in? Make her regret rejecting you?"
"I didn't mean—"
"YOU TRIED TO FORCE YOURSELF ON HER IN COLLEGE?" The realization hits like a freight train. "That's why she had you arrested. That's why you know her."
Leo's eyes go wide. "How did you—"
"You assaulted her." I'm shaking with rage. "You put your hands on her without consent, and now you think you're going to marry her? Make her pay?"
"She's mine! Dad, you arranged this! You gave her to me!"
"BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW!" I roar. "I didn't know you were a fucking bastard. Didn't know you'd already tried to hurt her."
"I'm not a—it wasn't—" He's stammering now, scared. "It was college. We were dating. She was being a tease, and I just—"
My fist connects with his jaw before he can finish.
He goes down hard.
"You're not marrying her." The words come out cold, final. "The engagement's off."
"You can't do that!" He's on his feet, nose bleeding. "The alliance—Luca—"
"I'll handle Luca."
"How?" He spits blood, eyes narrowing. "Or do you wish it were you marrying her, huh? You want her too?"
The accusation hangs in the air.
I don't answer. Can't answer.
"That's it, isn't it?" Leo's laughing now, wild and bitter. "The way you look at her. The way you defended her at dinner. The necklace. You want Aurora for yourself."
"This is about you being a monster who doesn't deserve to touch her."
"And you do?" He's right in my face now. "You're twice her age. You're her father's best friend. You arranged this marriage in the first place." He grins, cruel. "But don't worry, Dad. Once I'm done with her, I'll give you a piece. Share and share alike, right?"
I see red.
My hands are around his throat before I can think. Slamming him back against the wall, squeezing.
"Say that again," I growl. "Say one more fucking word about her, and I will kill you."
Leo's eyes bulge. He's clawing at my hands, gasping.
