Page 125 of Nothing to Win

“Leaving?You—no, you are not!”

“I am,” she said, maintaining her confidence even as he marched to her level.“You can’t hold me against my will.It’s illegal, Daddy.”

He blustered.“This is him, isn’t it?It’s because of him.”

“No,” she said.“This is because of you.”

“I’ve done nothing to—”

“I’ve found a man who makes me happy, a man I love.We’re going to have a future together.”

“Over my dead body!”

“Conway!”her mother’s exclamation was distressed enough that even she was concerned.

“What are you—Gianna has lost her mind.”

“I have not.I love Brogan and want to be with him.He’d do anything for me, including be nice to my family who’ve done nothing but be cruel and spiteful toward him.”

His father’s fury grew.“How has he done this?Influenced you like this?Whatever he said—”

“I chose you, Daddy.I came home with you and Bram.But you haven’t trusted me, you’ve kept me under tight control, and I will not live my life like this indefinitely.Brogan will always be out there and whether it’s today, tomorrow, in six months, or six years, you’ll have to let me out without supervision eventually.You’ll have to let me access a phone or the internet.And whenever I’m out there, you’ll never know if I’m with him.”

And even if she tried, she couldn’t promise to have the strength to resist temptation.

“Which is why you should stay here.”

“Forever?”she asked.“This is not The Brothers Grimm.”

Though it wasn’t far off.

Was he a father desperate not to lose his daughter or was it about winning?

Bram was easy to anticipate; she could read him like a book.Her mother fell into the perplexed and flabbergasted bracket, that wasn’t difficult to see.She and her friends liked to gossip about drama happening to other people, but it happening in her own home was a different story.Gia almost felt sorry for her.

“I… I don’t—”

“I came with you from Gault’s because I thought I could stop a feud, but the truth is, there was a feud before me.I didn’t start this.You threatened war, but war was declared long ago.This last week has proved I can’t stop it.”

“You’re going to him?”he said.“He’s ruined you!Can’t you see that?And where is he?He doesn’t love you.He doesn’t face your father like a man.”Because she wouldn’t let him.“Do you plan to show up on his doorstep?He won’t have you!This is what he wants.He wants to ruin you!”

“Let me worry about that,” she said.Even if she had to walk every step, she’d find her way.Brogan wouldn’t reject her, he wouldn’t.Regardless of him, she’d accepted this setup was not living.“I love you, Daddy.”She looked at her mother.“I love you all, but this is no way for any of us to live.If you truly love me, you should be happy he makes me happy.”

Waiting, her father’s scrutiny spoke more to strategizing than accepting.What a sad state.It was what it was.

“Gianna,” he said.“You can’t undo this.Leave now and we won’t have you back.”

Nice.That wasn’t a choice, it was an ultimatum.One she’d rather have avoided, but here it was.She wasn’t shocked, this was a sacrifice she was prepared to make.That was how much faith she had in Brogan.When she thought it best to keep the peace, she’d sacrificed the man she loved.A fool’s errand that hurt them both.If she couldn’t keep everyone’s interests safe, why shouldn’t she and Brogan be together?The war was on no matter which bed she slept in.Struggle without him or thrive with him?She was no martyr, not anymore.

Her family weren’t being rational.Maybe if she showed them the relationship was serious, they’d reconsider their position.Maybe, in time, they’d accept her and Brogan together.Naïve?Yes, she could hear her guy’s voice in her head.

“We’re being invaded.”Bram materialized from the hallway to hurry past them down the stairs, keeping a manic pace, for some reason.Her brother had really lost it.As she turned, Twyla was on her way to the front door.“Don’t open that!”

Her brother’s demand fell on deaf ears.Twyla must’ve heard him; the space was too big and empty for her to miss it.Still, Twyla went to open the door, maybe even picking up the pace a little to get there before Bram.Light flashed from outside and a breath later, a woman pounced to a stop just on the other side of the threshold.

Roxie.Oh, beautiful, incredible, somehow-psychic Roxie.

“Good evening, Mr.And Mrs.Sear,” Roxie said, focusing past Twyla and Bram.“Can Gianna come out to play?”