Ryat nods. “Thanks. I’ll be right there.”
Tyson looks at me, and I have a feeling he’s challenging me. This is one of the times when I’m going to have to put my feelings to the side for my husband. Exiting, he shuts the door behind him.
Silence lingers among us, and I look down at my wedding ring when Ryat talks. “Blake, you don’t have to—”
“I’m staying,” I interrupt him, meeting his stare.
His lips thin, but he nods once. “I just need a minute.” He goes back to typing away on his phone.
There’s another knock, and Ryat slams his cell down with a sigh. “What?” he snaps.
The door opens, and my father steps inside, closing it behind him. I stand. “I should go …”
“Wait!” He holds out his hands in surrender.
I stop, dropping my eyes to the floor. I haven’t spoken to him since I was in the hospital. He hasn’t even tried to call or text me. I’m not sure if that’s on his part or if Ryat blocked him from my cell. At this point, I don’t even care to ask. “I’d rather not,” I state and walk past him. But just as I grab the door handle, I pause and turn back around. My husband sits at the desk, his fingers interlocked behind his head, relaxing back in his chair, eyes on mine. My father, however, looks like a wounded puppy, staring at the floor. “I need to know something.”
“Anything.” His eyes meet mine, and he takes a step toward me.
“Matt told me that a Lord can’t choose any woman. That they have to come from a list.”
He swallows nervously but nods his head once and whispers, “That’s true.”
I let out a rough laugh that makes him flinch. “You were whoring me out?” I snap, thinking that Matt had lied to me. But nope. It was the fucking truth! “That’s what a chosen is, Father—a whore!” I didn’t understand it then. Hell, I still don’t a hundred percent, but it’s obvious these parents loan these women out to the Lords to serve them for their devotion. We’re a prize. An offer of servitude. What if I’m having daughters? I will never allow this to happen to them! Or sons? I sure as fuck wouldn’t want our sons to have to take a chosen. Fuck, I don’t even know what all happened to Tyson’s, but I know she wasn’t the first one to die.
“No.” my father shakes his head quickly, taking another step toward me. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?” I demand.
Ryat drops his hands from behind his head and stands. “Blake …”
“No. I got this.” My father lifts his hand to my husband. I cross my arms over my chest and push my hip out, impatiently waiting. “Your mother—Valerie.” He corrects himself. “Signed you up because she wanted you to be with Matt. That was her and Kimberly’s plan. When I found out, we got into an argument. I didn’t want you to be a chosen, but it was too late. I couldn’t stop it. My only other option was to intervene. So, I gave Ryat the assignment that I did, knowing that his loyalty was with the Lords, and he wouldn’t turn it down.” He takes another step toward me, and I match it, my back hitting the door, and his face falls. “I never thought it would go this far. Please, Blakely. You have to believe me. I was just trying to save you from Matt.”
I look at Ryat, who stands behind his desk, hands shoved into the pocket of his jeans. His emerald eyes on mine give nothing away. Does he regret it? That’s my biggest fear. I know we didn’t get here by chance. It was forced. But I still fell in love with him, nonetheless. What if this is just his commitment to the Lords? What if I’m just some game he refuses to lose? A game that he will do whatever it costs.
“Give us a moment,” Ryat tells my father.
He lets out a sigh and drops his shoulders, making his way to the door, and I step out in front of it so he can exit.
Silently, I look down at my wedding ring when Ryat walks up to me and places his hands on my face, gently forcing me to look up at him. “Stop,” he orders.
I go to look away, but his hands prevent it. “I see that look on your face, Blake. I want you to know this … whatever is said out there, or whatever I do—just know that I love you.”
I nod, and tears sting my eyes.
“I mean it.” Pulling me to him, he gives me a tender kiss on my forehead. “You might have started out as an assignment, but you are my life now.” He drops his hands to my baby bump and rubs it gently. “You three are my life. And you guys will always come first. Do you understand me?”