Gunnar A Motorcycle Club Romance - Nina Levine Page 0,21

earlier. I may not have enjoyed the conversation with my husband, but at least I’m prepared for what my father is going to ask of me.

We all head into the living room where Joe is still with his father. Rachel has rejoined them, sipping her wine quietly as the men talk business again. Andrew stands as soon as he sees my father, greeting Dad with more enthusiasm than he did his own son.

I assess Joe. His shoulders are like stone. His eyes are hard. He has the look on his face I’ve come to associate with the likelihood of him demanding sex from me later. He’s never forced himself on me, but he made it clear on our wedding night what his expectations are, and they involve regular sex. I say no as often as I can get away with, but when he looks at me the way he is now, I know that word is off the table.

I take a deep breath before handing him his phone. “You received a text. I thought it might be important.”

“Thank you.” He checks the message and stands to exit the room.

I glance around the room, and to no one in particular, I say, “I’m going to check on lunch.”

My father surprises me when he says, “I’ll come with you. We need to talk.” Usually, he waits until after lunch to approach me with his demands.

When we reach the kitchen and I take a good look at him, I note that he appears anxious to have this conversation. Odd. My father is never anxious about anything to do with me. He just takes what he wants or pushes me until I give him what he wants.

He cuts straight to the chase. “I want to talk to you about my re-election campaign and the fact I need you to appear by my side with your mother at certain functions.”

I nod. “I realise this.”

“Yes, but this is going to be a tight race, Chelsea, so you’ll need to take a few weeks off work so you can travel with us throughout the state rather than just coming to the Brisbane and Gold Coast functions.”

“No.”

He was expecting that and doesn’t even blink at my refusal. “That’s not the answer I’m looking for.”

“I know, but it’s the only answer you’re going to get from me.”

Dad’s eyes snap to Joe as he joins us. “Good, you’re here. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”

Joe looks at me. “The Liberals have a strong candidate. Your father needs you with him for this.”

“He doesn’t,” I say. “He needs better policies.”

My father’s eyes darken with anger. “Why don’t you leave the politics to the men and focus on what you’re good for?”

“See, when you say things like that to me, it doesn’t make me want to help you, Dad.”

He clenches his jaw. “You think you have a choice here, Chelsea?”

My heart races at what he’s not saying, and I do my best to ignore it. Surely he won’t make more threats against Mason to get what he wants here.

“I’ve given you everything you asked for. I married Joe. I do interviews and tell anyone who’ll listen how happy I am in my marriage. I show up to all your fundraisers on Joe’s arm. I’ll keep playing happy families for you, but I won’t do this. I won’t ever give up my work.”

Joe steps in, doing the thing he does when there’s tension between Dad and me. “Perhaps Chelsea and I can talk about this some more tonight, Mark?”

Dad doesn’t take his eyes off me. He’s all anger and control, and I brace myself for what I know he’s about to say. “You will do this, Chelsea, or else I’ll go after Mason. You think he’s seen the worst of what those new laws can do? He hasn’t, not by a long shot.”

I can’t breathe.

“You said he’d be safe once I married Joe.” I’m disgusted with myself for sounding so desperate in front of my father and husband. I promised myself I’d never beg them for anything, and here I am doing just that.

Dad’s eyes glitter with victory. He knows that regardless of where this conversation goes now, he’s won. He knows that all he ever has to do is pull the Mason card out and he’ll always win. “You honestly thought your marriage would protect that boy and his club forever? My girl, you have a lot to learn about the world. Your marriage saved them all once. Your choices