Truth (Betrothed #10) - Penelope Sky Page 0,67

privy to family drama, but the help always knew the intimate details of the people they served. She probably already knew Catalina and I were together.

“Thanks.” I moved farther into the house, having been there before. But I’d been marched to the left, and now I was headed in a different direction. I passed through the archway and entered a large dining room, a table that could easily accommodate twenty people. Cathedral-style windows were on the wall, letting in the faint light from the overcast day.

Richard sat there, his hands together on the table, his eyes on me.

I moved farther into the room, holding his gaze with confidence and toning down my naturally intimidating persona. It didn’t feel right to try to shake his hand, to be polite when this wasn’t a normal meeting between two men on good terms. I dropped into the chair facing him, taking the spot my fiancée had previously occupied.

I hoped she was still my fiancée. I didn’t buy her that two-hundred-thousand euro diamond ring for nothing.

Patricia came into the room and cleared the plates, placing a cappuccino in front of me even though I didn’t take my coffee with sugar or cream.

Richard stared at me the entire time, not saying a word.

I held his gaze, listening to Patricia’s footsteps fade until she returned to the kitchen on the other side of the house.

I didn’t know what to say.

Catalina hadn’t shared details about their conversation, so I walked straight into the dark. I assumed he didn’t like me one bit, and somehow, I was supposed to change his opinion in a simple conversation. I had a tiny bit of hope, because he wouldn’t have asked me to otherwise.

When he spoke, he didn’t sound like an old man. He sounded confident, as if his youth had returned to his veins like muscle memory. “I don’t care that you attempted to have me executed. It was just business. I get it.”

That was the last thing I’d expected him to say.

“If Damien can drop his prejudice when he’s had to deal with you firsthand, then I don’t see why I can’t too.”

Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.

“I believe men can change. I know I did.”

The coffee in front of me released steam that rose to the ceiling, smelling like fresh espresso beans.

“But I don’t like you for my daughter.”

It was a terrible blow. A bat was in his grip, and he smacked me hard with it, just as Damien did in the basement, spilling blood everywhere.

“I’m going to give you one chance to change that.”

Jesus, talk about pressure.

“Don’t blow it.”

“I don’t need more than one chance, sir.” I loved her and would do anything for her. That was all that mattered.

He didn’t react, but his silence showed that he approved of that response. “What kind of life can you give my daughter?”

“Whatever life she wants.” I sounded like a pussy, letting the woman tell me exactly what was about to happen, but that was how it was. I folded for her, took the knee for her, allowed her to take my power because she was the queen I wanted to serve.

“Be more specific.”

I didn’t see the necessity. “I’m not going to sugarcoat who I was. I was greedy, selfish, egotistical…nothing to be proud of. My life was filled with money, women, and booze. But then I met Catalina, and I think that very night I loved her. Everything changed. I changed. Now, I would do anything for her, make any sacrifice, if it made her smile.”

“I want you to put your money where your mouth is.”

I had no idea what that meant.

“You want my daughter?” He raised his forefinger. “Here’s your one and only chance to prove yourself.”

I kept a straight face, but my chest rose with the breath I needed.

“You step down as the Skull King. Now.”

Was not expecting that.

“My son is a kingpin in the drug world. But he’s not the leader of the underworld. You can’t be both. You can’t keep her safe if people want you dead. You can have my daughter, have my approval, if you do this.”

I wanted to argue that I could keep her safe even as the Skull King, that she was safer with me than anywhere else. But this was a test I couldn’t fail, and if I argued, I would lose my only chance. This was his sole demand, my chance to prove that I would sacrifice anything to be with his daughter—and that would make me