Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance

by Snow, Nicole

  “Oh, Christ. Don’t tell me.” Molly cuts them off with a hiss as she sees me. “You’re Drake Larkin?”

  “Have you not met Mr. Larkin before?” Avery asks, a snide smile filling his face. “You’ll find he isn’t much of a talker, I’m afraid, but...a fine fellow. Very skilled at what he does.”

  Keep going, fucknut, and you’ll see skilled.

  I don’t even need to say it to smother the amusement in his eyes. One look does it just fine.

  Nothing new. Our feelings toward each other are mutual, and far from affable, considering his history with Jonah.

  Molly Reed lets out a harsh giggle. A false one. “Of course, we have! I just didn’t recognize him at first, it’s been a few years.”

  Fucking liar.

  My look shifts to her, but apparently, she’s got a bigger backbone than Briar.

  It doesn’t end there. Molly rattles on about Avery’s incredibly generous offer for North Earhart Oil, and his guarantee that all employees will remain with the company, and don’t you know he won’t change a single thing with The Jonah Reed Foundation?

  That’s the only part that disgusts her, the donations Jonah made. She tries to soften her contempt for Bella’s sake, but it’s as obvious as her overdone nose job.

  Then Avery pipes in and hands Bella several sheets of paper. All copies of articles about how Jupiter Oil has brought life to several South Dakota towns.

  Gary doesn’t say a lot. He just rubs his chin and follows the conversation with his eyes.

  Jonah did that, too, but I don’t believe for a second his reasons were the same as his son's.

  This man just looks defeated, exhausted with life. Nothing like the endless energy reserves Jonah Reed had till his dying day.

  Bella doesn’t say a lot, but when she does, it’s friendly. Too diplomatic.

  “Okay, okay, one thing at a time. I promise I’ll look it over,” she tells them several times.

  That makes my spine tingle.

  Is she that different of a person around her parents? I don’t see the bullish confidence she’d had while meeting with Roger.

  “No need, Annabelle,” Molly snaps, this venom cheer in her voice. “We’ve thoroughly reviewed the offer and the early feedback from our own attorneys back home says 'sell, baby!' All you have to do, dear love, is sign.”

  Annabelle.

  It takes me a moment to remember that’s her real name. Jonah always just referred to her as Bella, but Annabelle is what was on the papers she’d signed.

  Maybe that’s who she is under pressure, Annabelle.

  But when her nose wrinkles – especially when Molly coughs up that fake as fuck dear love phrase – I see Bella underneath. Fighting to come out.

  Come on, girl.

  “Oh, give her a little time, honey. She doesn’t need to sign anything today,” her father says slowly, almost meticulously. “We’d do well to take our time. I haven’t even seen the company’s latest valuation reports.”

  “She certainly doesn’t,” Briar says, almost too fast, still wearing a mannequin-like flash of white teeth. “This was just a friendly visit to get to know each other. We can arrange a more formal meeting later this week, if you’d like, whenever its convenient for everyone – including Mr. Larkin.”

  I don’t even look at the scum.

  I know better.

  He wants to needle me, provoke some kind of bearish outburst so maybe I won’t be around when push comes to shove. Not happening.

  “We’ll already be back in California by the weekend,” Molly says, her smile thinning. “Won’t we, Gary?”

  Gary never answers, just gives the slightest bob of his head.

  Then she saunters around the table and does the shit I can barely stand to look at.

  She sits her royal, pampered, greedy ass down in Jonah Reed’s chair.

  Goddamn, it makes her look small. Tiny, arrogant, and wrong.

  I’m sure she’s getting off on it, thinking she’s landed herself a new throne, and with another little push or two, Bella will fall right into line and give away the farm.

  She’s got no idea.

  If she did, she’d know how ridiculous she looks in that seat, and not just because it once belonged to a man who fucking bled goodness. The kind all her filthy money can’t buy. Her in that chair just screams imposter.

  Gary, who looks down at his shoes like they aren’t even his, slouches back in one of the chairs facing the desk. Avery takes the other chair, holding back a smug grin.

  I can practically see the wheels turning, evil hamsters spinning in his skull, already tallying the loot he’ll make off picking Dallas to the bone.

  Bella’s hands tremble when she lays the articles Avery gave her back on the desk.

  Shit.

  I want to tell them all to get out and leave her the fuck alone.

  I have to dig deep to remind myself that’s not my role. Ultimately, I hold my silence, but let my thoughts boil through my face. Especially the death valley glare pointed at Avery Briar.

  The sneaky fuck has been after North Earhart for years, and every last word he showed Bella singing his praises is false.

  Jupiter Oil never left anything but a trail of destruction in its wake. None that can ever be traced back to them, of course, but I know what they did, and it’s bad news.

  “Why don’t I step aside for a family discussion?” Avery asks, rising to his feet. “Mr. Larkin and I will wait outside.”

  My eyes almost bug out.

  I’m not going anywhere. I let my taller, straighter, ready-to-kick-his-ass stance relay that.

  Bella shakes her head. “No need for you to wait outside, Mr. Briar. I won’t be making any big decisions in the next few minutes, or even the next hour. Thank you, though, for stopping by.”

  Finally. She’s obviously telling him to leave, so I step forward, fully prepared to help make it happen.

  “Annabelle!” her mother snaps, her long nails digging into Jonah’s armrest. “Mr. Briar traveled all the way here to meet us and this is hardly any way to treat a–”

  “Mr. Larkin will show you to the door,” Bella says flatly, totally ignoring her.

  There you are, darlin’! There’s the girl I married.

  I’m so glad to see her backbone return, I don’t even think how weird my mind is running.

  “You heard Ms. Reed,” I growl, nodding at Briar and shooting him a replica of the infamous sneer he’s always aiming my way. “Let’s go.”

  “Of course, no trouble,” he says to Bella, and then hands her a card. “Call me the instant you want to talk more. And my condolences again, Jonah Reed was a remarkable man. Truly the beating heart of this little town and–”

  “Briar. Now.” It’s not a request.

  If he doesn’t start moving, I will drag his ass out. Away from Bella and a room he isn’t fit to shine with a toothbrush.

  He nods at her parents one more time before walking toward the door.

  I’m right the hell behind him, resisting the urge to shove him along.

  I follow him to the front porch, wanting to trail him all the way to his Suburban, but I need to know what Bella’s saying, too.

  It isn’t hard to make out Molly behind the door, demanding to know what the hell she thinks she’s doing. Her ma’s little fit is damn near loud enough for Edison to hear, but Bella’s answer is too soft.

  She’s still speaking, but I can’t tell what. Her actual words are impossible to hear.

  Avery knows it, too, and drags his feet walking down the steps. I want to kick him square in the ass.

  But assaulting a prick like this isn’t the way we do things. Even if I’d enjoy busting his teeth out, asking what he knows about certain missing people I cared a whole hell of a lot about.

  He’s finally in his Suburban a minute later.

  Go on, you bastard. Get!

  I take a step back inside the house, keeping one eye on him. As he backs up the SUV, I hear the fucking queen mother
shouting again, something about Drake Larkin is supposed to be an old Army buddy.

  Evidently, Jonah told them all that. I swallow a chuckle.

  It’s less funny that neither of Bella’s folks ever cared enough to find out who the hell I was, living with an old man who was part of their family.

  Once I see the Suburban disappear, turning at the end of the driveway, I shut the door and head for the office.

  “This whole thing is sickening. Nothing but a big game. And look at you – both of you – staring at me like I’m the crazy one. I bet he’s laughing, wherever the hell he is!” Molly’s voice erupts through the door, barely even muffled. “Well, Gary, if you won’t put your foot down, I will. I’m putting an end to this idiocy now, you hear? I’m not letting that reckless old goat walk all over this family when he’s not even here to gloat about it. Annabelle, you’ll – hey! Get. Back. Here.”

  Fuck.

  I start reaching for the door, but before I can grab it, Bella storms out. She stops just short of smacking into me.

  Tears are blazing in her eyes, and the pinch of her face says she’s fighting to hold them in, which cuts like a hot knife. She meets my gaze and shakes her head.

  “No,” she whispers. “Not now, Drake. I just...I want to be alone.”

  My jaw pinches. As much as I hate the fact right now, she’s my boss.

  That’s not something I’ll ever say out loud, but it’s part of my military training. Listening to orders. It also gives me an advantage.

  She walks into the living room and I take charge, stepping into the office doorway. “Ms. Reed would like you to leave now,” I tell her parents, every word like sandpaper.

  “What?” her mother asks, whipping around. “You’re joking?”

  I don’t give her an ounce of respect and look at Gary instead. “This is Bella’s property. Not yours. Or mine. So I’d really appreciate it if you’d save us both some trouble and get the fuck gone.”

  Gary blinks once. Then he stands up slowly.

  Shit. He’s an empty mask. I can’t tell if he’s ready for a fight or he’s folding.

  “Gary? Sit down!” Molly shouts. “We weren’t going anywhere before, and we’re certainly not going anywhere now. Not until this dreadful man apologies.”

  “Oh, you’re going,” I say. “Or else I’ll have the sheriff physically remove you for trespassing.”

  The tired look on Gary’s face returns. It says he fully understands, and even if part of me hates him as much as I hate his shitty wife, he’s clearly the more reasonable one.

  Still, this boy is nothing like his father.

  No wonder Jonah didn’t want him around. If there was ever a fifty-year-old bastard in need of growing some brain cells or some balls...

  “Time to leave, Molly,” he says, holding up his hands in defeat. “I don’t want a scene.”

  For a second, Molly Reed looks like she might just self-combust and blow the whole room apart.

  Then she snatches her purse and storms across the room, making a beeline for me. “The sheriff? The freaking sheriff?! Believe me, Mr. Man, you’ll be hearing from the sheriff, all right. Old Army buddy my ass!”

  I don’t bother following them to the porch.

  The force Molly uses slamming the door shut says they’ll be flying down the driveway in no time.

  Probably whipping past Briar on the highway.

  Now, I have a second to ponder this fucked up change of plans.

  I’d hoped to fill in Bella slowly, one thing at a time, but meeting her parents, knowing they’re already trying to partner up with Briar narrows my options.

  She’s still in the living room, staring up at the picture hanging over the fireplace.

  It’s an aerial photo of the ranch, every acre of the Reed estate. Jonah was so proud he’d talked the man selling them down to fifty bucks. Thought he’d gotten a steal of a deal because the salesman had started negotiations at three hundred.

  It was the only time I saw his business savvy slip. Never had the heart to tell him the salesman didn’t put twenty bucks into that picture, including the frame, and most of the photos get yanked off Google Earth these days.

  “I can’t do this,” she says quietly. “I really thought I could, but...it’s too much.”

  The sadness in her voice, the tremor in her shoulders, makes my entire body go stiff. It’s my worst fear, Bella going to pieces in front of me.

  I finally understand why Jonah went to the ends he did, and agree maybe he had a point.

  “Listen, darlin’, we both knew this wouldn’t be easy. First days are always rough. Tomorrow we’ll sit down and assess again. Figure out how we’ll head them off with a little more time on our hands.”

  “No. No, Drake, I’m telling you, I can’t.” Her palms cover her face and just rub for what seems like forever, smearing wet tears across her cheeks.

  Fuck.

  “Take my hand,” I say, stepping up and offering it. “I want to show you something.”

  She shakes her head. “I don’t—”

  “Have a choice? Damn straight.” I grab her arm and gently pull, then guide her toward the stairs.

  She doesn’t fight me, but I’m still pissed at this whole situation. Hating how she’s just been treated, hating what Jonah would think, hating how I barely catch myself before I’m damn near manhandling her all the way up to my room.

  “What’re you doing?” she asks, staggering forward when I step past and throw open my closet.

  Releasing her, I open the door. “Over here.”

  “Your closet?” she snickers a bit, confused. “I’ve seen every one in this house. There’s nothing new you could – oh. Oh.”

  The second time, it sinks in as she takes a good look.

  I’ve shoved my clothes aside to reveal a six-foot-tall gun safe.

  “That was never there before,” she says.

  “It’s built into the wall between this closet and the one on the other side.” I punch in the code and pull open the door.

  My arsenal fills the safe, including the gun I’d left at the range and drove the ATV to retrieve last night. I pull out a stack of file folders from the top shelf.

  Setting them on the bed, I flip open the top of the thickest one. “Those articles Briar gave you are bullshit. Here’s the truth behind Jupiter Oil. Have a look. Pipelines built to shoddy standards, safety and workers comp lawsuits, crazy turnover, political bribes, payments to the goddamn media.”

  She picks up the top sheet, frowning. It’s a brief report Jonah created that outlines almost everything in the folder.

  “Your grandfather tracked Jupiter for years and years, even before they showed up in the Dakotas.”

  “Jesus. All because they wanted to buy him out?” she asks, her big green eyes shining with wonder.

  “Nah, he wasn’t interested in that.” I point to the folder. “It’s because those clowns were giving the entire industry a bad name.”

  I pause, questioning how much farther I should take this right now. Then I remember her parents. “And it’s worse than Jonah even knew, if you want the whole truth.”

  Snarling, I push aside the top folder and flip open the second, the one with the intel I’ve been gathering.

  The shit goes back years, before I even met Jonah. No one knows the real reason, and I’ll keep it that way.

  She frowns as she looks at the photos. “Who are all these women?”

  “Missing girls from native lands. Reservations are sovereign nations, and tribal law enforcement doesn’t always have the manpower that other agencies do. These cases get ignored too damn often.”

  “Hmm, I think I’ve heard about this before on TV or somewhere...how there are barely any good numbers on missing Native American women.”

  I separate the photos a bit, more photos than I can count. My stomach churns sick, hot anger.

  “Yeah. And every time Jupiter Oil goes on or near a reservation, cases like these multiply. Once upon a time, I though
t it was coincidence, thought I was jumping at ghosts, but fuck. I’m not wrong. It’s all there, clear as day.”

  “Holy hell. Drake, I...I don’t even know what to say. What do we do?”

  I have a few ideas, but before I can tell her, my phone goes off so loud we both nearly jump.

  I pull it out of my pocket. Sheridan.

  “Yeah?” I say, walking to the far side of the room for as much privacy as possible.

  “Hey, Drake, it’s Reynold. I got the paperwork and it’s all been filed.”

  Now’s not the time, dammit.

  “Gotcha,” I tell him, hiding what I really think. “Thanks for the update. I’m a little preoccupied at the moment.”

  “Ah, say no more. I’m assuming Annabelle must be nearby?” Sheridan says.

  I glance at the bed, where she’s flipping through the files, thankfully so engrossed she’s not eavesdropping.

  “Yeah,” I head into the hall to make sure she can’t hear anything he says.

  “Well, I’ll keep this brief then. I got your note. Does it surprise you that Jonah never told her about the prenup or the custody deal? If her parents had known that she knew, they’d have twisted it to turn her against him. I guarantee you they considered it but knew it could backfire. Jonah Reed covered all of his bases legally. I did the paperwork myself. They’d end up with nothing if they ever took Annabelle away from him.”

  I don’t doubt his words. It makes sense, but still hate the fact that Jonah neglected to mention it.

  “I’m sure she was shocked,” he continues. “Jonah knew what he was doing, though. We both know it. Now you just have to convince her, without scaring the poor girl half to death.”

  He pauses, but I don’t comment.

  “Drake? Does she know everything else?” he asks, clearly referring to the marriage.

  “Not yet.”

  His sigh echoes through my phone. “Well, it’s all finalized. You’ve got your copies. Call if you need my help.”

  “Thanks. Take care.” I click off and step into the doorway of my room.

  Then I see what Bella’s holding, and my heart damn near stops.

  Fuck.

  She’s got a red file folder. The same one I’d purposefully left inside the safe. My ’copy’ the lawyer alluded to.