ALTON’S VOICE RESONATED through the office. “What I’m about to say may come as a shock. It may seem archaic, but I guarantee it’s true and legal. Ralph Porter volunteered to be here to show you the documentation, but I told him it wouldn’t be necessary. No one in this room would refute my claim.”

It was a dare, one I wasn’t stupid enough to accept. I had no idea what Alton was about to say, but whatever it was, when I could, I would most certainly be requiring documentation.

“This all began after Russell Collins died,” Alton went on, speaking to me. “Your grandfather was concerned about the future of Montague—everything Montague. You can understand how anxious he was about leaving it in Adelaide’s hands. He wanted to know, needed to know, that a capable man was in control. He chose me.”

“He chose you?” The words slipped out before I could censor them.

Alton’s gray eyes captured mine. “Do not interrupt. Do you remember your two questions?”

Do I want to see my mother? And do I want her to get better?

“Yes,” I said, raising my chin.

“Unless your answer to either of those is no, do not speak until I’m done. Is that clear, Alexandria?”

How the hell do I answer that?

I nodded.

“Very well. As I said, your grandfather chose me. I’ve always had Montague’s best interests at heart. As CEO and the majority shareholder in Montague Corporation, I’ve spent the last twenty years seeing to its success.”

I wanted to point out that his shares were really my mother’s and mine, but now didn’t seem like a good time.

“Charles was a smart man. He didn’t believe in leaving anything to chance, not Adelaide’s choice in a husband, nor the next generation.”

The casual jumper I’d worn to class this morning had a long-sleeved top and on my legs were gray tights. The outfit was perfect for the cooler New York weather. In the SUV waiting for Deloris outside Magnolia Woods, it had been too warm. Now, in the depths of Montague Manor, I was once again chilled. As his statement settled over me, goose bumps materialized under the long sleeves and knit tights. “W-what does that mean?”

I jumped as Alton’s palm slapped the shiny surface of the large table, the reverberations echoing as a reminder of my required silence. I pressed my lips together and focused on him. No longer did I care that Suzanna, Bryce, and Chelsea were present. In the depths of my bones I understood that whatever Alton was about to say would have life-changing repercussions.

“As I was saying…” He took another drink of his whiskey. “…even the next generation. As was the case with Charles and Olivia, Adelaide and I won’t live forever. Montague is a family-owned corporation. It always has been. It remains so. The majority of stock must be held by Montagues. Charles’s last will and testament provided that in the case of only female heirs, their husbands would have the voting power over their stock. I’ve had the proxy for your shares, Alexandria; however, that will end when you turn 25. Prior to that time, it’s essential that you marry so that your husband can be proxy of your shares.”

Marry? What the hell?

My mind immediately went to Nox. We weren’t ready for that step. Besides, I doubted that was Alton’s plan. As his decree sank deeper into my soul, I understood that this whole thing was archaic and felt confident that my grandfather couldn’t dictate my future from his grave. No one had that right or privilege. This had to be illegal.

“We…” Alton gestured toward Suzanna. “…had left it up to your mother to inform you of your duties and responsibilities as a Montague. She failed… as she has in so many other things. Currently she’s ill, gravely so. The doctors are working to rid her body of the toxins she’s willingly ingested. They aren’t certain that she’ll ever fully recover, but one thing is certain: without your compliance, she won’t.”

A stunned silence fell over the room. Alton had everyone’s undivided attention.

“Alton, tell her the best part.”

I turned toward Bryce and his self-assured expression. He didn’t look like a concerned friend who’d recently learned of my mother’s infirmity. Instead, he looked like a child about to receive a gift. My skin crawled with trepidation of what, or more accurately, who that gift would be.

I turned back to my stepfather.

“Charles didn’t leave your marriage or the future of Montague to chance any more than he did your mother’s. Heaven knows, the sorts you’ve been hanging around with lately would be the end to a reputable company like Montague. That relationship is over. It’s time you did what is expected—”

My fingers instinctively went to my necklace, rolling the diamond-dusted cage between the tips of my fingers and confirming the connection that Alton claimed was forever severed. Fury and heartache filled my soul. This wasn’t right. The pressure within me built.

Warning be damned.

I needed to move or I’d blow, vomiting right there on the table. Hurriedly, I moved my chair back and stood, shaking my head. “No, this isn’t real. It can’t be happening. There is no way in hell I’m agreeing to any of this.”

I looked around the table. All of them seemed calm, as if they weren’t hearing this news for the first time. Then it hit me. They weren’t. Everyone here knew this—even Chelsea.

“You’re all crazy if you think I’ll go along with this.”

“Alexandria!” Alton stood, but just as quickly Bryce did too.

In one or two steps Bryce was beside me, spinning me toward him and away from Alton. “Your grandfather chose me. I’ve seen the will. Truly until recently, I had no idea. No one told either of us because they wanted it to be real. Alexandria, think back to us… to the us we were when we were younger. It was real. It can be again. We have an advantage that your parents never had. We have a past. We can have a future.”

My knees weakened and the room tilted. Bryce’s grip on my shoulders kept me upright. I peered beyond his shoulder. Still sitting at the table, virtually unmoving, was Chelsea, watching this scene play out before her. How did she fit into this? None of it made sense.

“Alexandria,” Alton’s stern tone came from behind me.

I began to pivot his direction.

“No,” Bryce said, keeping tight his grip and not allowing me to spin, “she’s confused. Give her some time.”

I stared up at Bryce.

What was happening? Why was he standing up to Alton on my behalf? Had anyone ever stood up to Alton?

I couldn’t recall it happening in my presence.

Bryce’s grip slipped to my arms and though it lightened, it stayed steady. “Alexandria, we’ll work this out.” It was the tone of my friend, my childhood playmate, and the person who shared my past. And then, releasing his hold, in one swift move he placed himself between Alton and me. Reaching back, his hand went to mine as his chin raised and he met Alton eye to eye. “That’s enough for today.”

I was too stunned to fight or to remove my hand from his grip. In the short time since I’d entered Alton’s car, my fight had found its hiding place. I wanted to believe it wasn’t gone, rather that I knew when to let it out. Now wasn’t the time.

Crimson seeped from Alton’s collar. “There’s more she needs to understand.”

“Give her time.”

“She doesn’t have time.”

“She doesn’t have weeks or months, but she has hours and days. I’ll take her to Magnolia Woods this afternoon and then tomorrow we can discuss it more.”

Magnolia Woods. I held my breath.

“Adelaide can’t have visitors,” Alton said, “not for the first forty-eight hours.”

Bryce didn’t give up. “She can if you say she can.”

My lips remained sealed as the two went back and forth. I was a voyeur, one who understood that in this world my voice held no power. If I spoke, no one would even hear.

“No,” Alton decreed. “Alexandria can’t leave the manor until we have everything around her secure.”

Bryce turned back to me. “You know what he’s talking about, don’t you?”

I wasn’t sure I knew anything. “I-I’m not sure.”

“Your life has been in danger. It is in danger. We need to be sure you’re protected.”

“I am,” I volunteered. “Clayton won’t allow…” My words faded with the expression on both men’s faces. “That’s it. You’re afraid if I leave the grounds that Lennox’s people…”

“We need to be sure.”

Bryce squeezed the hand he still held. “You see, it’s not us stopping you from seeing your mother. We could go now. You could see her, but we can’t risk your safety. It’s because of him.”

“My safety? Lennox’s people won’t hurt me.”

“They’ve already tried.”

My attention went back to Alton.

“What are you saying?”

“The shooting in Central Park was an attempt to get you out of his life. You’re not wanted there and being with him or seen with him ever again is dangerous and forbidden.”

“No, you can’t do that. Besides,” I protested, “that’s not true. The shooting was a domestic thing. The woman’s husband was taken in for questioning.”

“It was a ruse,” Bryce said. “Alton hired private detectives to dig deeper. The shooter was hired by Demetri.”

My head moved from side to side. “You’re lying. Nox was there. I saw how upset he was. He would never hire anyone to hurt me, and why would he risk his own life?”

I remembered his declaration of love that very morning. I recalled his concern, obsession, and need to know that I was safe. Then I recalled the lies that had been spread over the last few months: the apartment break-in, Bryce’s letter, Chelsea’s attack.

“You’re trying to scare me, just like the letter. It won’t…”

Bryce released my hand and reached for my cheeks. Though I wanted to pull away, he was all that stood between Alton and me.

When my gaze met his, he said, “Listen to us, Alexandria. We have proof. Lennox Demetri didn’t hire the shooter; his father, Oren Demetri, did.”

“N-no…”

“The entire family is dangerous.”

“They’re criminals,” Alton said, his booming voice filling the room.

I pulled away from Bryce and turned back to Alton.

“Lennox is not a criminal.”

“Being associated with the Demetris makes you linked to their connections,” my stepfather said. “The shooting wasn’t a risk. The criminals in bed with those people could take out one man in a crowded stadium. Having you hit while at the same time missing his son wasn’t even a concern for the likes of your so-called boyfriend’s father. The only glitch came with the misstep of some unfortunate woman pushing a stroller.”

“No. I spoke with Oren.”

“What?” Alton’s voice bellowed.

Bryce again faced Alton, his chest growing with each second as his neck and shoulders stiffened. “We’re done for today. Let Alexandria rest. She’s not going anywhere. Once security is set, I’ll take her to her mother.”

“That won’t be for a day or two.”

“Is that your word?” I asked.

Alton’s brow furrowed. “My word?”

“That in a day or two I’ll be able to see her?”

He looked from me to Bryce to Suzanna and back to me. “Once everything is secure.”

“I need my phone. If you want to assure that the Demetris don’t storm this place, you need to let me talk to Lennox.”

He scoffed. “No. No one, especially the likes of him, will storm my home. Montague security, like everything else Montague, is superior to that of those criminals.” He lifted a brow. “No letters will be left for you in here.”

The whirlwind of emotion I’d held back broke free. Tears came to my eyes at the crushing wait of the situation. “It was you. You placed that letter full of lies on my desk.”

Alton shrugged. “It wasn’t me. I wouldn’t enter that den of iniquity.”

“I have to talk to him.”

“There’s nothing to say. Go to your room.”

“I’m not a twelve-year-old.”

Suzanna stood. “Alexandria, get some rest. Tomorrow, photographers are coming. You need to look your best.”

“What?”

“Yes, we need professional engagement pictures. After all, the announcement will be on Monday’s society page.”

Monday? This was Thursday.

I turned toward Alton. “I have class. I need to contact Columbia about the teleconferencing.”

He looked at his watch. “It’s after four in the afternoon. You can contact them tomorrow in my presence. Nothing will interfere with these plans.”

“But… I need to speak to Nox.”

Bryce let go of my hand and took a deep breath. “Don’t mention his name again.”

“What?”

He turned toward Alton. “Done for today?”

“Fine. Take her to her room and come back here.”

“Wait? I can go…”

Bryce again reached for my hand. “Just learn when to keep your mouth shut,” he said, pulling me toward the door.

I looked back in time to see Alton lean toward Suzanna before Bryce opened the door and continued his unwelcomed advice.

“It’ll make this go a lot easier.”

The cool air of the hallway reawakened my spirit, and I pulled my hand away. The members of the Montague staff were no longer lining the walls. The grand entry was empty except for the sound of our shoes on the marble floor.

“I don’t need your advice or your help. I’ve done this before.” I stopped, affirming my stance. “Bryce, you can’t possibly think I’ll go along with this.”

His cheeks rose as he reached again for my hand. Though I tried to pull it away, his grip was stronger. “Don’t fight it, Alexandria. I more than think you’ll go along with this. I know you will. You’ll go along with everything, because if you don’t, there will be repercussions that only you could have stopped.” His lips thinned. “You’d never allow that to happen.”

“Are you now threatening my mother too?”

“No. That’s all Alton. Soon you’ll understand. When you do, you’ll be smiling like the blushing bride-to-be. Now, let me walk you to your room.”

I managed to free my hand. “I’m capable of finding my own way. And you sure as hell aren’t joining me in there.”

Bryce shook his head. “I will accompany you. Alton doesn’t want you finding anyone else or attempting to leave. You know that isn’t possible, don’t you?”

I didn’t answer as the weight of his words held me captive. Silently we climbed the grand stairs. At the top we both turned the corner down the hallway leading to my room. Once we were there, Bryce reached for the handle.

“Don’t leave your room. Alton will let you know when you can. It’s for your own safety,” he added.

I took a step over the threshold but immediately turned toward him. “Do not come in here.”

Bryce smirked. “Always the proper lady, except when you’re spreading your legs for trash like Demetri.”

My palm stung as it contacted his cheek. Just as fast, Bryce seized my wrist. “Hmmm, maybe I should thank him. I didn’t realize you liked it rough.”

“Let go of me.”

“Don’t get too confident,” he said. “I’ll be in this room. Not just in here: I’ll live here. I’ll be your husband. Even before then, you’ll reconsider that invitation, because, Alexandria, I’m all you have here. And as I said before, you don’t want to be responsible for what will happen when you disappoint me.”

“What the hell does that even mean?”

“You’ll see.” And with that, Bryce gestured for me to step back. When I did, he pulled the door shut, leaving me staring at the white wood as the tumblers in the lock turned.