I see the terror in his eyes. “No. Not both of my daughters.”
“Mr. MacAllister. I can protect Bleu. And Ellison.”
“In exchange for what?” He’s suspicious of my motives, as he should be.
“Bleu’s hand in marriage.”
“Never!”
“I’m pledging my life to your daughter’s safety and happiness. You know who I am so I’m certain you understand that as my wife, no one can harm Bleu. It’s Fellowship code—something none of us dare violate. The grace of safety our marriage will provide also blankets Ellison because she’s Bleu’s family. My uncle will be forced to call off his order to execute Bleu the moment I tell him we’ve married.”
“Are you here to ask for my blessing?”
“Yes, sir. That’s exactly why I’ve come.”
“You’re asking me to be okay with my daughter marrying the leader of a criminal organization. How does a father give his blessing for something like that?” he asks.
“You give it because you love your daughter and want her to be safe and happy.”
“And you believe being married to you will make her happy?”
He’s not convinced so I need to change his mind. “I proposed to Bleu two days ago and she said yes. We spent all day yesterday preparing for our wedding tomorrow.”
He’s hurt. I see it in his eyes. “She’s going to marry you tomorrow without telling me?”
“Yes. But only because she believes you won’t approve. She doesn’t want you to be disappointed with her for marrying me.”
“I will never be all right with her marrying into a family of criminals.”
I must make him understand how things will be for Bleu as my wife. “Bleu will never be tainted by my business or The Fellowship. I swear this to you.”
“She’ll live among you. It’s not possible for her to not be touched by your criminal activities.”
He may need reminding that Bleu isn’t coming into our marriage untainted. She’s no angel. “Bleu came into my life because she had made the decision to commit murder. She came to kill my dad for a crime he didn’t commit.”
“And what has become of that? Your father—the leader of The Fellowship—couldn’t have possibly forgotten her motive for infiltrating your organization. He must be as eager as your uncle to get rid of her.”
He’s wrong. “Not at all. Bleu was mistaken about Dad being her mother’s killer. He loved Amanda Lawrence very much so Bleu holds a dear place in his heart. He wants to protect her. She’s in good standing with my father.”
“She would have Thane’s protection as well?”
“Yes. My parents are quite fond of Bleu, as are the other members of The Fellowship.” With the exception of Abram. “She was initiated into the brotherhood months ago. They welcomed her with open arms. None of the members, not even my uncle, know about her plot to kill my father. I’ve told no one.”
“You would keep that secret from your family and the people you are most loyal to so she would remain safe?”
“Absolutely. I’ll always do what I must to protect her.”
“Do you know who killed Amanda?”
“Not yet. But I promised Bleu I would help her find out.” It’s a promise she’ll hold me to.
“There’s no way it wasn’t one of your people or someone tied to you.”
I don’t like his theory but it holds water. “I agree.”
“She’s a good detective. She isn’t going to stop until she finds out who he is.”
“Aye. You’re right.”
“I know my daughter well. When she figures out which Fellowship member is her mother’s killer, she’ll go after him. She won’t stop until he’s dead. That puts her in danger, regardless of her position as your wife.” Again, he’s right. The Fellowship won’t let the death of one of our own go unpunished.
“They won’t hesitate to kill her.” He stares at me intently. “But they’d never consider killing you—their leader.”
I understand where he’s going with this.
“You’re asking me to approve of your union with my daughter. There’s only one way that’ll happen. Give me your word as a Fellowship member that you’ll be the one to take out the man who killed her mother. I’ll give you my blessing to marry my daughter, that is if marriage is what she wants.”
This is a good move for Harold MacAllister. He sees my marriage to Bleu for what it is—something completely out of his control. It’s going to happen with or without his approval so he’s making the most of it. He’s a dying man preying upon my code of honor to ensure his daughter’s safety. I respect that.
“I swear on my honor that I will be the one to carry out penance against Amanda Lawrence’s killer. Bleu won’t have a part in it.”
“You should expect that to be a fight. She’ll want to be the one to do it.”
“I expect nothing less than a battle out of her, but you have my word.”
“I believe you. But I need to talk to my daughter before I give you my blessing. And judging by the number of times your phone has buzzed, she should be arriving any minute.”
He’s right. It’s been a near constant vibration against my chest since the moment Ellison walked out the door. That means she called Bleu immediately.
I’m imagining her in the car freaking out on the drive here.
I hope she doesn’t have one of her fits. She thinks she lied her way out of it but that was no dream I witnessed in Edinburgh. I know a PTSD attack when I see one. They aren’t pretty. And that’s something we’ll need to get out in the open soon.
“Maybe you should call her to say all is well so she isn’t distracted on the drive here.” He’s her father so naturally he’s concerned for her safety.
“She won’t be behind the wheel. My men will drive her. She’s never out of our sight.”
The door bursts open a few minutes later. Bleu is breathless and pale. She looks back and forth between her father and me. “Someone tell me what’s happening here.”
Harold lifts his hand and motions for Bleu to sit on his bed. “Come here, girlie girl.”
Bleu shoots daggers in my direction as she crosses the floor. If looks could kill, I wouldn’t just drop dead, I’d be six feet under.