the back of her head. She turned to see her father glaring at her.
“That’s no way to speak to your future husband. I raised you better than that.”
“David, it is quite all right,” Grant said.
Mia hadn’t realized that her father and Grant were on a first-name basis already.
“I love a good challenge, and I’m sure in a short while Amelia will follow all the rules of my household. It’s part of the reason I picked her.”
It felt like the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. Mia was sure this was a nightmare and she would wake up any second. She turned to see Whitney standing behind her at the basement door, looking solemn. Unable to offer any assistance, her friend retreated down the stairs.
The two men continued to talk, but Mia couldn’t focus on what they were saying. All of a sudden, it dawned on her that they were expecting her to speak.
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what the question was. I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment.” Mia tried to catch her breath.
“Overwhelmed with happiness,” David said.
“Her happiness is not my concern,” Grant said. “I’m buying her to make me happy.”
Both men laughed at this, though Mia thought she saw some concern on her father’s face.
“I was hoping we could just have a small ceremony, maybe at the end of the week. As soon as the money clears and the paperwork is taken care of. That way I can get Amelia to her new home and I won’t have to worry about flying back and forth.”
“New home? Flying?” Mia was confused. “I thought there was a waiting period.”
“Darling, as I mentioned during dinner, I have friends in high places. I could get our union approved and paid for this evening if I wanted.” Grant examined his fingernails while he spoke. “And you didn’t think I lived here, did you? My home— your new home—is in the Northeast Area, about fifteen hundred miles from here.”
A map of the country and its five fractions flashed into Mia’s head. There was the Midwest Area, her home; the Northwest Area; the Northeast Area; the Southeast Area; and the Southwest Area. Mia didn’t want to move to the Northeast. She didn’t know anything about that section of the country. She pushed the thought out of her head; she wasn’t moving anywhere with this monster.
“I know her mother wanted to throw a party, but I’m sure we can get something together soon,” her father said. “This is her last wedding to plan, so I can’t deny her the fun.”
This could not be happening. Mia wrapped her arms around herself. She pinched her arms to keep her mind focused. She tuned the two men out as they discussed their plans for her. Her stomach began to ache and heave.
“May I be excused?” Mia said. “I want to go share the news with Whitney.”
“Of course.” Her father kissed her head. “Soon you’re not going to have to ask me for permission. You’ll have to ask Mr. Marsden.”
Chapter 9
All fathers love their daughters. A daughter returns that love by obtaining a high marriage fee. Not only is a high appraisal price a point of pride, it is also repayment for the money and time spent raising her.
—The Registry Guide for Girls
N o way, I am out.” Whitney shook her head. “Your husband is handsome. I’d love to have your life, and you want to run away from it.”
“This doesn’t change anything,” Mia said. “We just need to push up the time. It will be simple.”
She took Whitney by the shoulders, forcing her friend to look into her eyes. “Do you want to spend your life doing whatever they tell you or do you want to make a life of your own?”
“I can’t. It’s suicide.” Whitney wasn’t budging. “There just isn’t enough time. I’m sorry, but we don’t know what we are doing and it’s not worth the risk. We have no clue what’s out there. If we try to do this unprepared, we’ll get killed.”
“Time is the issue?” Mia wasn’t giving up. “What if I tried to talk to my father? Get the
“That’s no way to speak to your future husband. I raised you better than that.”
“David, it is quite all right,” Grant said.
Mia hadn’t realized that her father and Grant were on a first-name basis already.
“I love a good challenge, and I’m sure in a short while Amelia will follow all the rules of my household. It’s part of the reason I picked her.”
It felt like the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. Mia was sure this was a nightmare and she would wake up any second. She turned to see Whitney standing behind her at the basement door, looking solemn. Unable to offer any assistance, her friend retreated down the stairs.
The two men continued to talk, but Mia couldn’t focus on what they were saying. All of a sudden, it dawned on her that they were expecting her to speak.
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what the question was. I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment.” Mia tried to catch her breath.
“Overwhelmed with happiness,” David said.
“Her happiness is not my concern,” Grant said. “I’m buying her to make me happy.”
Both men laughed at this, though Mia thought she saw some concern on her father’s face.
“I was hoping we could just have a small ceremony, maybe at the end of the week. As soon as the money clears and the paperwork is taken care of. That way I can get Amelia to her new home and I won’t have to worry about flying back and forth.”
“New home? Flying?” Mia was confused. “I thought there was a waiting period.”
“Darling, as I mentioned during dinner, I have friends in high places. I could get our union approved and paid for this evening if I wanted.” Grant examined his fingernails while he spoke. “And you didn’t think I lived here, did you? My home— your new home—is in the Northeast Area, about fifteen hundred miles from here.”
A map of the country and its five fractions flashed into Mia’s head. There was the Midwest Area, her home; the Northwest Area; the Northeast Area; the Southeast Area; and the Southwest Area. Mia didn’t want to move to the Northeast. She didn’t know anything about that section of the country. She pushed the thought out of her head; she wasn’t moving anywhere with this monster.
“I know her mother wanted to throw a party, but I’m sure we can get something together soon,” her father said. “This is her last wedding to plan, so I can’t deny her the fun.”
This could not be happening. Mia wrapped her arms around herself. She pinched her arms to keep her mind focused. She tuned the two men out as they discussed their plans for her. Her stomach began to ache and heave.
“May I be excused?” Mia said. “I want to go share the news with Whitney.”
“Of course.” Her father kissed her head. “Soon you’re not going to have to ask me for permission. You’ll have to ask Mr. Marsden.”
Chapter 9
All fathers love their daughters. A daughter returns that love by obtaining a high marriage fee. Not only is a high appraisal price a point of pride, it is also repayment for the money and time spent raising her.
—The Registry Guide for Girls
N o way, I am out.” Whitney shook her head. “Your husband is handsome. I’d love to have your life, and you want to run away from it.”
“This doesn’t change anything,” Mia said. “We just need to push up the time. It will be simple.”
She took Whitney by the shoulders, forcing her friend to look into her eyes. “Do you want to spend your life doing whatever they tell you or do you want to make a life of your own?”
“I can’t. It’s suicide.” Whitney wasn’t budging. “There just isn’t enough time. I’m sorry, but we don’t know what we are doing and it’s not worth the risk. We have no clue what’s out there. If we try to do this unprepared, we’ll get killed.”
“Time is the issue?” Mia wasn’t giving up. “What if I tried to talk to my father? Get the
Similar Books
Whatever the Cost
Lynn Kelling
Serious Men
Manu Joseph
WalkingSin
Lynn LaFleur
Worth the Weight
Mara Jacobs
Nobody's Hero
Liz Lee
Styxx (DH #33)
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Mate of the Alpha
Marie Mason
Mate of Her Heart
R. E. Butler