Darlene supplied me with a suit for the final night I would spend with them because I hadn’t brought one with me. My stomach swirled with nerves. I wanted to know what my father had planned by setting me up with someone. However, I also felt like something pinched at my chest as I hadn’t heard from Lan. I’d tried calling him, a few times in fact, but he hadn’t returned my calls. Worry weighed me down.

My phone chimed. I would never admit it if asked, but I dove for it on the bedside table in the hotel. Picking it up, I saw it was a text from Lan.

Shit, lost my phone down the fucking couch at the compound. Battery was flat. I only just got it back and charged it. Stupid me had thrown out your number and couldn’t remember what hotel you stayed at. You still talking to me?

Smiling, I sent back: Depends.

His response was instant: On?

If you call me right now.

My phone started ringing, and I answered, “Hey.”

“Miller’s out of my life.”

“What?” I breathed.

“A friend of a friend found him, brought him to us, and we dealt with it. Somehow, before all that happened, I lost my phone. Sorry, I saw your calls, knew you’d be worried, but everythin’s fine here.”

“Wait, go back. You’ve dealt with the guy who broke into your house, shot and beat you. How?”

“East…” He said my name as if it pained him. “I shouldn’t even have said that. Just know he’ll no longer be an issue.”

Which meant he was dead.

Lan had killed a man.

I expected something like that would happen when Miller was found. He caused a lot of damage, but I had also thought that maybe with time, Lan would have realised death wasn’t the only option.

“East?” Lan whispered.

I didn’t know how it all sat with me.

My hands trembled at the thought of Lan up and killing a person.

Yes, the guy did hurt him… and would have killed him if I hadn’t come along.

Lan would have been dead.

Miller would have killed him, no question about it.

“It’s okay,” I said into the phone.

“East,” Lan whispered. “Are you sure you can live with that knowledge?”

I didn’t pause. “Yes. He would have killed you if he’d had the chance otherwise.” The room phone rang. “Shit, that’s my ride to the party.”

“Dinner. Tomorrow night. My place,” he ordered roughly.

My stomach fluttered.

“I’d like that.”

“Good. Call me if you need me.”

“I will.” I smiled into the phone.

The house buzzed with people, conversation, and music. While surrounded by so many people I didn’t know, it seemed as if they all knew who I was; whoever I walked by either offered a greeting or a smile.

I had no idea how long I’d been at the party. It was at least a couple of hours, but it felt like a hell of a lot more. I hadn’t yet found Darlene and Jewel, though Luis did know they were in attendance somewhere. Who would have thought a house would contain a huge-arse ballroom so big it was hard to spot the only people I went there for.

“Mr Ravel,” Andrew called from the doorway I’d just passed. I walked over to him. “Your father would like to have a word in private please.”

“Sure.” I nodded and then followed him out. I took my phone out ready to text Lan as it was go time for a good laugh, when I noticed I already had ten missed calls from him, which had started a few hours ago. I checked the sound and found I’d somehow turned it down. Just as I upped the volume, it was taken from my hand. “Hey,” I snapped, glancing up at Andrew holding my phone.

“I’m sure whoever it is can wait until after you speak to your father.”

“Okay,” I stretched out. Still, it was rude for Andrew to snatch my phone in the first place. I held out my hand. “I’ll call him later, but I want it back.”

Andrew spun on his feet and walked off. “I’ll pass it back after.”

“I want it now, Andrew.”

“Yes, yes, but your father is waiting in his office.”

Something was wrong.

“What’s going on?”

Andrew didn’t answer. He flew up the steps two at a time. I made haste to follow the long-legged dickhead. My phone started ringing.

“Why can’t I speak to my friend?”

“You can, just later.”

I could punch him in the kidney and take him to the ground for my phone, but I was curious as to why Amit needed a meeting at my farewell party. Unless it was for me to meet whoever he wanted to set me up with. But why would Andrew take my phone?

The whole situation was messed up.

What I wanted would be for Amit to give me my mother’s things, see Darlene and Jewel, even say goodbye to Luis, and get the hell out of there. I started to feel like a flight that night would be good.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my dress pants and followed Andrew down the hall. A door opened, and Luis stepped out holding bottles of wine. He glanced from Andrew, who ignored him as he walked by, to me slowly. “Sir, did you find Miss Jewel?”

Smiling, I shook my head. Stopping in front of him, I said, “Not yet, but after this meeting with Amit, I’ll be down to look for her.”

His brows dipped. He glanced back at Andrew. “Very well.”

I lowered my voice to say, “He took my phone, Luis. Should I be worried?”

Luis’s whole body jerked. “I… I’m uncertain, Easton,” he whispered.

“Mr Ravel, please hurry,” Andrew called. We looked down to find him staring back with a scowl. “I’m sure the wait staff is very busy and has to get back to work or could be fired.”

Jesus, I wanted to give him the middle finger salute.

Luis thinned his lips, but said clearly, “Yes, I must get back to work.” With a nod, he started back down the hall the way we’d just come from.

With a frown, I caught up to Andrew. “Do you know you can be a dick sometimes?”

He huffed but said nothing, probably because we’d come to Amit’s office. He knocked once.

“Enter,” Amit called out.

Andrew opened the door, ushered me in with an arm to my back and stepped in behind me before he closed the door.

Then I heard the lock slip into place.

I glanced back to see Andrew stayed near the door, like some guard. He slipped my phone into his pocket and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Easton,” Amit called, drawing my gaze from Andrew.

It was then I noticed two other people in the room. Amit stood behind his desk while another man stood beside him, and a woman, who could have been in her late teens, stood hunched beside the other man. Her eyes stayed glued to the floor.

“What’s going on?” I asked, moving forward. It was my first time in Amit’s office, and I should have known it would have been over the top. The space was the size of my living, dining, and kitchen combined. His thick, long wooden desk looked like it cost more than my house. Bookcases were positioned behind him, while to the left were floor-to-ceiling windows and to the right a massive fireplace where in front of it sat a couch and two chairs. The room could even be classed as a small apartment. All he needed was a bathroom, which looked like, if I guessed right, was behind the door in the corner of the room.

Amit gestured with his hand beside him. “I would like you to meet Mr Khatri and his daughter, Prisha.”

“You never mentioned your son’s name before Amit.”

Amit sighed. “His Australian mother chose his name.”

Mr Khatri’s eyes widened. “How unfortunate.”

“I agree.” Amit nodded.

“I’m standing right here. Tell me how you really feel,” I said, glaring at both. With a quick glance to Prisha, I saw her lips twitch, but she didn’t raise her head or say anything yet.

Mr Khatri glanced at Amit. “He is willing?”

Amit shook his head. “I feel we will have to take drastic measures.”

“Are you two insane, talking about me like I’m not here? What is all this about?”

Mr Khatri sighed. “Explain it to him, and we’ll see how it will be handled from there.”

Amit came around his desk to stand beside me. “Son, Mr Khatri has many companies in the Middle East. Companies he needs assistance with by my firm. I am in need of his business, so we have come to an arrangement.”

My stomach dropped.

I knew what was coming. I just fucking knew it.

Turning to Mr Khatri, I said, “I’m gay. I won’t marry your daughter.”

“I have heard that from your father, but it matters not.”

“Son, have you even tried to be with a woman?”

Shock caused me to laugh. It was ridiculous.

Shaking my head, I told them, “You’re both out of your minds.”

“We will make it worth your while,” Mr Khatri said. He pushed some pieces of paper my way. “One million dollars.”

“One million to marry your daughter even though I’m gay.”

He nodded. “As your father asked, are you really sure you’re gay?”

I snorted. “Yes, I’m sure. Sorry, Prisha, but women aren’t for me.” I shook my head again. “I can’t believe I even said that in front of you lot. This is stupid.” I turned to Amit. “I want my mother’s things, and then I’m leaving.”

His jaw clenched. “I need you to sign these documents.”

“No,” I clipped. “I’ll not marry a woman to save your business and to get a million.” I threw my hands up in the air. Then stilled. “Why do you need his business, Amit? Your firm is small and popular enough to gain clients. It’s what you’ve always told me. So why?”

“That is none of your business.”

“Is it because you’re sick?”

“You’re sick?” Mr Khatri demanded.

Amit paled. “No. I’m healthy.”

Wait, what?

“What?” I bit out. “You don’t have cancer?”

Amit rolled his eyes. “You rallied around your mother when she was ill. I thought it would get you here for me also. But no, I had to bribe you with your mother’s things.”

With a scowl, I told him darkly, “You know why that was.”

He waved a hand around. “Yes, because I refused to help when she was ill. She left me, Easton. No woman leaves me.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? You held a grudge and didn’t offer help to save her life because she left you? You treated her like shit. Then you disowned me because I’m inked and gay. You’re messed up.” I laughed humourlessly. “There isn’t a chance in hell I would help you and sign that contract.”

“What about your mother’s things?”

Closing my eyes, I shook my head as sadness washed over me. She’d be cursing me more now. I walked right into his trap. She would have told me to forget whatever he had of hers, and I should have, but then I wouldn’t have met Darlene or Jewel.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” It didn’t. I had my time with Jewel. I’d make sure Darlene knew I wanted to stay in their lives forever, but I would never want anything to do with Amit ever again. Turning, I said, “You can keep them.”

Andrew straightened near the door.

“I’m afraid I can’t let you leave until you sign the contract, Easton.”

Laughing, I spun back. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No.”

I thumbed behind me. “Do you seriously think this dickhead could stop me?”

“Yes.” Amit smiled.

I heard a gun being cocked and slowly faced Andrew.

“You won’t kill me because then all this will be for nothing.”

“True. But it doesn’t mean he can’t harm you. Come and take a seat. Let’s all relax by the fire, have a drink and talk.”

Did I believe Andrew would shoot to harm? I didn’t have a clue because no way did I expect anything like this to happen. What was I supposed to do? Make a run for it? Tackle Andrew to the ground and bolt out of the room? But then I had a feeling Amit and Mr fucking Khatri still wouldn’t let me leave. They seemed too smug, like Andrew wasn’t their only plan.

I was stuck.

My chest tightened in fear because I suddenly saw no way out.

No. I’d think of something. I had to.

Nodding, I walked over to a chair near the fire and sat. I needed a plan.