When the alarm went off in the morning, I opened my eyes to see Bones staring at me.

He watched me, his blue eyes focused with their usual intensity. It was obvious he’d been watching me for a while because he was wide awake. He’d probably been waiting for me to wake up so we could do his favorite part of our morning routine.

I was still in the lingerie I wore last night, my crotch unfastened because he fucked me until we both went to sleep. I could still feel his come inside me, could feel the wet spots where it dripped everywhere. Laundry was a daily thing for us. If not, the entire place would smell like sex all the time.

He welcomed himself in between my legs, his muscular arms pinning behind my knees. Without saying a word, he pushed his crown inside me, moving through the come he deposited the night before.

My hand flew to his chest, and I gasped when I felt the pain. “I’m sore…”

He paused before he continued to slide in, this time moving slower. “I’ll be gentle.” He inched until his length was deep inside me. He hovered over me, watching me like he’d been waiting for this very moment for hours.

“You fucked me so hard last night…”

He kissed the corner of my mouth before he planted a soft kiss on my lips. “Don’t wait for an apology. You aren’t getting one.” He slowly moved inside me, being the gentlest he’d ever been. His thrusts were soft, giving my body time to get used to the immense intrusion.

“I know.”

He folded me underneath him and kept his face close to mine, taking me gently like a man taking a woman’s virginity. He made love to me slowly, using the time to feel me and appreciate me. His lips moved with mine, matching the same pace as his thrusts. He sucked my bottom lip then gave me his tongue, making love to my mouth with his masculine intensity.

I loved waking up this way every morning. It was always the same routine, where we opened our eyes as soon as the sun rose, then came together for this kind of lovemaking. It never lasted very long because we both had things to do. But this moment in time, this pause, was what I looked forward to the most.

I wanted these moments every day for the rest of my life.

I knew he did too, even if he never pledged his commitment to me. He never told me he wanted to marry me, but I knew I was the only woman he ever wanted. We hadn’t talked about having a family, but I needed to have children. He would give them to me if I asked. “You always make me come so good…” I could feel it approaching, feel the tightness in my stomach before the big explosion.

“Because I’m a man.” He spoke against my mouth, his beard coarse against my soft skin. “That’s what men do for their women.”

“But you don’t do this for all women…” My fingers moved up the back of his hair, and I watched the love in his eyes grow. “You only do it for me.” He always made sure I was pleased before he released. My pleasure always came first, and I’d been with men who never cared about that. I’d had nights when I touched myself after a guy had left because he couldn’t get me off. I’d never had that problem with Bones. He fucked me so much, made me come so much, that I was sore and spent most of the time.

He brushed his nose against mine, the love in his eyes. “Only you.”

I tapped my knuckles against the slightly open doorway. “Can I come in?”

My father was sitting at his desk in a black t-shirt and jeans. His tanned skin looked darker than usual when he was inside and away from the natural rays of the sun. With strong hands, muscular arms, and the black wedding ring on his left hand, he still had the traces of a man in his youth. He’d aged well because he took care of himself. Sometimes people assumed my parents were very young when they had me, but that wasn’t the case at all. They were older than I am now when they started their family. “Always.”

I approached his desk, watching the way his features softened when he looked at me. That look was never there when Bones was with me. It was reserved for just the two of us, along with my mom. He was a much different man from when Bones was around. He could be himself when it was just us. The man I knew was affectionate, loving, and attentive. He wasn’t the cruel man he turned into when Bones stepped into the room. “How are you?”

“Good. I just got a large order from one of our vendors. I didn’t think we’d be able to fulfill it, but your ox of a boyfriend has been dominating that warehouse…so we have extra wine that’s ready to ship out.”

Bones was always sweaty by the end of the day. His clothes were soaked, and his muscles were thick with blood. Despite his exhaustion, I thought he looked sexy. I’d hopped into the shower with him a few times and happily got on my knees to suck him off. “He’s working very hard to impress you.”

“As much as it benefits me, I don’t care about that. Productivity and efficiency aren’t qualities I look for in my daughter’s boyfriend.” His eyes weren’t aggressive like they usually were, so I knew he wasn’t in a bad mood.

“But I think he’s proven how dedicated he is. You can’t disagree with that.”

After a long pause, he gave a slight nod. “No, I suppose not.”

Bones had told me that my father had a drink with him, tried to have a normal conversation with him. My mother did the same. It wasn’t a huge step, but coming from my stubborn parents, it was a big deal. Before, all they did was tell him off. But now they were actually trying…even if they were struggling in the process. “That’s why I’m here, actually. I wanted to thank you. I know how hard this is for you…for Mama too. But you’re really putting in the effort and trying to get to know him…and it means a lot to me.”

Father’s eyes darted away, like he couldn’t handle the words I’d just said to him. He looked out the window instead, his left hand tightening into a fist. He didn’t seem angry, but my words obviously struck a chord with him.

I waited for a reply, but the longer the silence continued, the less likely I believed one was coming.

“I believe he loves you. But other than that, I fail to see the qualities you find so desirable. I never want you to forget your own worth, Vanessa. Not only are you smart, beautiful, and talented, but you come from a strong family. You could have any man you want. Don’t ever forget that.”

“I’m not settling, if that’s what you think.”

“I’m not sure what I think.” He tapped his knuckles lightly against the table. “It’s hard for me to understand your relationship, especially when it seems so deep. But I remind myself that your mother loves me with all her heart…and I’ve never understood why.”

My father was the greatest man I’d ever known. Silent and strong, he showed his softer qualities only to those who deserved them. “I do.”

His eyes shifted back to me, slightly soft.

“I don’t think it matters who you used to be before Mama came around. All I’ve ever seen is two happy parents who would do anything for each other. I see the way you love her every day, the way you look after her when she’s not watching. I see the way you fall more in love with her as you age. Bones reminds me of you in that regard. He may not have been the best man when we met, but he’s come a long way. He loves me very much…the way you love Mama.”

My father kept staring at me, speechless for one of the first times in his life.

I knew the conversation was over and my point had been made. A seed had been planted, and now I just needed to let it grow. I walked out and entered the hallway. When I reached the end, I came across Sapphire. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

She hugged me, turning her stomach slightly because it was starting to get in the way. “Conway is helping your mom with a few things. We’ve kinda made this trip into a family vacation. He’s finished his new line of lingerie, so he has some free time.”

Knowing my brother designed sex clothes for women was a little awkward, but I never teased him for it. He was talented at what he did, and I was mature enough to accept it. My parents never blinked an eye over his choice of profession. “I’m sure it’ll be great.”

“He’s going in a new direction this time.” Her hand moved across her stomach. “A whole maternity section…”

Now it was really getting awkward. “Let’s have lunch and talk about the baby.”

“The baby?” she asked. “I think we have something bigger to talk about besides the baby…” She grinned at me before we headed to the restaurant.

I knew she was referring to Bones.

We grabbed a seat on the terrace, away from the other tables that had guests. I had an iced tea and she had water, and after we ordered our entrees, the bread was served.

Sapphire kept staring at me, a knowing grin on her face. “So…you wanna start talking? Or do you want me to start asking questions?”

“What did Conway tell you?”

“Everything your father shared with him. That this relationship has been going for a long time…” She gave me an accusatory look. “I was surprised by that part.”

“And I’m sure you understand why I had to keep it a secret…”

Her gaze softened. “Yes, I do. Conway has been pretty upset about it, even after you guys talked.”

“My brother is just as protective of me as my father.” I stirred my drink with my straw. “And more stubborn, on top of that.”

“I know,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ve heard all the reasons why they hate Bones and don’t trust him. But there’s something else I’ve heard too…that they all think this guy really loves you.”

At least they could see the truth of that. “Because he does.”

“And I’ve also heard he’s hot.”

My jaw nearly dropped. “Who told you that?”

“No one said those exact words…but everyone has said he’s got great looks,” she said with a chuckle. “Even Conway said it. So, if Conway, your father, and your mother all mentioned it…then he must be pretty damn fine.”

I dragged my hands down my face, thinking about the way he’d made love to me that morning. “You have no idea…”

“The sex is incredible?”

“Again, you have no idea…”

She tried to hide her smirk, like she was keeping a comment to herself.

“But it’s more than that. I love him. I understand why my family hates him. I don’t judge them for being so hostile about it. But we need to let go of the past and move on. He’s not a threat to anyone, and he just wants to be accepted. I know in time, they’ll even start to like him. They just have to keep an open mind.”

“The fact that he’s still around tells me they’re keeping an open mind. If Conway weren’t, he would have shot him by now.”

“I know…”

“I think they’re worried he might flip and change his mind, that we’re all in danger.”

“He would never hurt anyone. But maybe they’ll believe that in time…”

She dipped her bread in oil and balsamic before she placed it in her mouth. “Honestly, it’s hypocritical for Conway not to give Bones a real chance. I shouldn’t tell you this…but he’s not the most noble man in the world.”

I raised an eyebrow, not sure what Sapphire meant by that.

“But I love him that way. I love everything about him, our entire story. I wouldn’t change any of it for any reason. And from what I can tell, your father and uncle weren’t much different when they were young. So…it’s a pattern with the Barsettis.”

It was hard to imagine my brother doing anything remotely wrong, considering how high-strung he was. “What are you talking about? And leave the gross stuff out of it.” Sapphire was my friend, and if she were seeing someone else, I’d probably want to know all the details. But since this was my brother, the man who lit my dolls on fire when we were kids, I didn’t want to know anything about his personal life that wasn’t relevant.

“Long story short, I left his modeling company and tried to take off on my own. I was grabbed by traffickers and sold at the Underground, a place where men bid on enslaved women. Conway was there, and when he saw me, he bought me for a hundred million dollars so no one else could have me.”

My jaw dropped. “He has that kind of money?”

“Apparently.”

“And what was my brother doing at the Underground in the first place?” I refused to believe my brother would participate in the slave trade so openly.

“He and Carter run a business. Families pay them to rescue their daughters from the Underground. They pay for the women and then deliver them back to the families. He was there buying someone else when he saw me.”

“Oh…that sounds pretty noble.”

“Well…when he took me back to the house, he said he owned me. He said he could do whatever he wanted with me because he paid so much for me…including sleeping with me. I was a virgin, so that made him want me more. For the first few months of our relationship, that’s how it was between us. Master and slave.”

I covered my open mouth. “Seriously?”

She nodded. “I was never his girlfriend. I only told you guys I was so I would have some leverage over him. I said if he didn’t treat me right, I would tell his family the truth, that he was keeping me as a slave.”

“Oh. My. God.”

“Yeah…”

“And you just fell in love?” I asked incredulously. “How do you fall in love with someone like that?”

She narrowed her eyes at me, like she couldn’t tell if I was being serious.

That’s when I realized what I’d just said. “I guess that’s a hypocritical thing for me to say.”

“A little,” she said. “And it just happened. Conway started to show me the good side to him, and the more I saw it, the more I wanted it. We became close, became friends as well as lovers, and I never wanted it to end. I fell in love with him. When I told him, he said he didn’t feel the same way.”

“That’s why you went to New York…”

“Yeah. Until he came after me. The rest is history. My point is, it wasn’t a fairy tale. Conway’s behavior was unacceptable by most standards. But that’s how it happened…and I wouldn’t change anything.”

“Does my father know any of this?”

She nodded. “Conway told him everything.”

My heart started to slam painfully in my chest. It pounded like a steel drum. “And he was just fine with it?”

“Sounds that way.”

“Let me get this straight…” My hands were starting to shake because I was so angry. “Conway forces you to sleep with him because he paid for you, and my father is just fine with that? Because Conway was the man and you were the woman? That’s fucking bullshit. Sexist bullshit.”

“He never forced me,” she corrected. “It’s not like I didn’t want to be with him.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I snapped. “He wasn’t a gentleman. He didn’t take you out to dinner like a normal person. He just went for what he wanted.”

“I guess…”

I threw my napkin on the table. “I understand that raising a son is different than raising a daughter, but my parents never treated us differently. They raised us to be exactly the same. It’s wrong that Conway isn’t held accountable for his actions, that my parents encourage your relationship, but Bones is put on trial.”

“You’re their only daughter, Vanessa.”

“Whatever. It’s wrong.”

“Conway and I fell in love…so I guess that’s why it’s okay.”

“And Bones and I haven’t?” I asked. “It’s a double standard.”

“But you were the prisoner, Vanessa. Conway wasn’t. It’s different.”

“Different, but not right.” I sat back in my chair, feeling the pulse in my neck throb from the rage. “It’s not right at all.”

Sapphire stared at me with a look of sympathy. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you…”

“No, I’m glad you did. You made a good point. Barsettis are all the same. I’m no different. The men in my family are dark and powerful, and that’s why I want a man just like that. Makes perfect sense to me.”

She kept staring at me, her gentle eyes regarding me with concern. “If he’s really the man you want, don’t give up on him. Even if I had a family that told me Conway was no good for me, I wouldn’t have walked away. I know he’s the man I’m supposed to be with.”

Bones was the man I was supposed to be with. “I’m very close with my family, so I always dreamed of having a husband who could be another member of my family. But now I realize my vision of my family isn’t really accurate…they aren’t who they say they are. They ignore their own crimes and judge Bones for his. It’s not right.”

“They’ll come around,” she said. “Just be a little more patient.”

I didn’t think I could be patient any longer.

Bones drove the truck back to the house, and I looked out the window of the passenger seat. I wasn’t really in the moment because I was thinking about my conversation with Sapphire. Things seemed to be going well with my father, so that was why I didn’t confront him about it.

I didn’t want to provoke him.

Bones glanced at me every few minutes, taking his eyes off the road to look at my scowl. “I’m listening…whenever you’re ready.”

“What makes you think I have something to say?”

“I can tell when you’re pissed, baby. You’re practically seething.”

My man knew me so well. He could read my mood like a thermometer could detect a change in heat. “I went to my father’s office this morning and thanked him for trying so hard. I know it’s difficult for him, but he’s really making an effort. I wanted him to know how much I appreciated it.”

“Why would that make you upset?”

“It didn’t,” I said. “But when I spoke to Sapphire later…that made me upset.”

Bones drove with one hand on the wheel, his large size taking up his entire seat. He shaved that morning because his scruff was getting too thick. He seemed to do it on the days he wanted to bury his face between my legs. His coarse beard aggravated my inner thighs sometimes, so it was easier to do it when his face was cleanly shaven.

Whenever he stepped out of the shower with a clean chin, I knew what was coming.

“And what did Sapphire say?” Bones pulled off the road to the dirt pathway that led to the house. He parked the truck on the side and then hopped out, his weight shifting the truck the second he was out of the seat.

I shut my door then came around, reaching his side. “She told me about her relationship with my brother…which wasn’t what it seemed. Basically, most of it was a lie. She was never his girlfriend…just his prisoner.”

We entered the house, and Bones immediately took off his shirt once we were inside. “His prisoner, huh?”

“Basically. He paid a lot of money for her at the Underground so he was entitled to her virginity…and her freedom. He never meant for them to be anything more, but it just happened. He slowly began to change until he fell in love with her the way she fell in love with him.”

“Are you really surprised?” He stepped into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of scotch. “I told you the men in your family aren’t saints. They’re definitely sinners.” He poured himself a glass but didn’t offer me one. “And I say that in a nonjudgmental way.” He smiled with his eyes before he took a drink.

Bones had been right all along. All the men in my family weren’t what they seemed. They had tainted pasts, memories they weren’t proud of. My brother’s actions were excused because he loved Sapphire now. But why didn’t that exception apply to me?

“Does your father know about this?” He pushed the glass across the counter toward me.

I stopped on the other side of the counter, looking at the glass but not taking it. “Yes.”

Bones didn’t seem surprised. He gripped the edge of the counter with both hands, his muscled frame hard from working long hours. His arms were a little thicker from lifting all day, and his thighs bulged a little more. “Your father doesn’t care what Conway did. And that upsets you.”

I nodded. “Since Conway is a man, it’s perfectly fine. But with me…it’s unforgivable. It’s a double standard, and it pisses me off. I would have confronted him about it, but since our last conversation ended so well, I didn’t want to make him angry. He seems to be leaning toward accepting you, and I don’t want to screw that up.” I grabbed the class and took a drink, letting the burn blaze a trail down my throat and into my gut. It wasn’t smooth the way wine was, with a refreshing taste of citrus and oak. It was just liquor, stripped down to its basic form. I pushed the glass back toward him.

Bones stared at me for a long time, more interested in my expression than the booze sitting in front of him. He cocked his head slightly, his intense gaze piercing. The man never smiled, and he had a special way of looking at me that made me feel so small. He was doing it now, staring at me like he could see right through me. “You’re right, it is a double standard. But double standards exist for a reason. You’re held to a higher level because you deserve better. I’m not happy about this situation either, but your father is right to be upset. I wouldn’t have understood his thoughts six months ago, but now that I love a woman, I get it. You’re the queen of my heart, and if some man treated you the way I treated you…” He turned his gaze away, his jaw clenching in anger. “I’d kill him. We fell in love, but that doesn’t justify the way I treated you. Your father only wants the best for you. This situation is frustrating, but you can’t get mad at him for that. You’re very lucky you have a father who cares so much. Not every person is so fortunate.”

My anger slowly faded away, and I stared at this man with a new set of eyes. Not once did he try to turn me against my family so he could keep me. He always put my self-interests first, knowing how much my father meant to me. He really loved me, and I hoped my parents would understand that someday. He sided with my father even when no one could hear him do it. He was pragmatic even when it didn’t serve his best interests. “That’s sweet of you to say.”

“I’m not trying to be sweet. Just honest. I want your parents to accept me, but I understand why they may not be able to do it. And if that’s the case, I’ll walk away. I want to keep you, but I can’t be treated like shit every day for the rest of my life. I need to be in an environment where I’m accepted for the man I am, not criticized every other minute. And you deserve to be with a man your family can welcome with open arms. Hopefully, that’s how this ends…when we both get what want.”

“That is how it’s going to end,” I whispered. “My parents have made it this far. This wouldn’t have happened if they weren’t really trying. And if they keep trying, they’ll finally see you the way I do. I know they will.”

He grabbed the glass and finished it off. “Hope so.”

“I know so.” I told my parents how much this man meant to me, and I wouldn’t feel this way about anyone else. Bones didn’t treat me right in the beginning, but I quickly forgave him for it and fell in love with him…because of his darkness. I liked that he was rough around the edges, dangerous at all times, and so intense it made the air difficult to breathe. I loved his power and strength, the way he owned a room the second he walked into it. My father was a terrifying man, but Bones didn’t hesitate when he faced him. He was a fearless man, so powerful that even bullets couldn’t slow him down.

Instead of pouring another drink, he grabbed the bottle and dragged it toward him. “Get naked. I want to pour this scotch on your tits and suck it off your nipples. I want to drench your pussy and devour every last drop. The two things I love most…booze and my baby. I want to enjoy them both.”

As if our serious conversation didn’t just happen, Bones turned his thoughts to the one thing he loved above all else—sex. He wanted it all the time, several times a day. And even when we were finished, it seemed like he needed more.

This man always needed more—more of me.

At the end of the workday, Bones and I prepared to leave. We didn’t talk much during the day. We didn’t even see each other. He didn’t take breaks, getting as much work done as possible so he could prove himself.

Even though he’d already proven how strong he was.

My father stepped out of the main building and caught my attention. “Tesoro.”

I stopped and turned around, trying not to be angry about what Sapphire told me. Even if I confronted my father about it, he would just repeat himself. He loved me in a different way than he loved Conway, so his expectations were different. “Yeah?”

He glanced at Bones, who stayed by the truck. He always looked at him suspiciously, like Bones would pull a stunt at the most random time. My father’s gun sat on his hip, a loaded pistol.

I hated seeing my entire family arm themselves just because of the man I loved.

“Could you come by the house? Your mother and I want to talk to you.”

“Uh, sure.” I didn’t know why they wouldn’t just do it here. That meant it was something serious. My thoughts turned to Bones, wondering if they’d decided they couldn’t accept him into their lives. “But if you’re going to tell me you don’t approve of Griffin—”

“That’s not what this is about.”

“Oh…okay. Should he stay at the house?”

“He can come. But I want him to wait outside.”

“Father, you’re scaring me.”

He gave me a tight expression. “It won’t be a pleasant conversation, tesoro. But I promise everything will be alright.” He turned around and walked away.

I moved back to Bones.

He must have heard every word because he didn’t ask. He opened the passenger door for me then got behind the wheel. He left the winery and pulled onto the road.

“I’m nervous…”

He stared straight ahead.

“Do you know what this is about?”

“I have a hunch.”

“What?” I asked.

He was quiet for a long time, dismissing me by staring straight ahead. “Not my place to say. But I don’t mind waiting outside until you’re finished.”

I didn’t know what my parents wanted to tell me, but I was a little scared. If it didn’t have something to do with Bones, then I didn’t know what else they wanted to discuss.

Bones arrived at the house, and my parents were already there. He killed the engine and rolled the window down. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

“I don’t understand why you can’t come inside.”

“It’s a family matter. I don’t mind waiting for you here, baby.” He pulled me into his arms and gave me a tight squeeze before he released me. He gave me a kiss on the forehead before he pushed my door open.

I gave him one final look before I left and walked into the house. My parents were in the dining room, so I sat down and looked at the fresh coffee and pastries Lars had set out. I could feel the tension in the room, the approaching misery that was about to descend on us all. They didn’t say hello when I walked inside. They weren’t angry, but something was bothering them.

I stared at them. “You guys are freaking me out.”

My father rested his hand on my mother’s back, right between her shoulder blades. “It’s time for the three of us to have a conversation. It won’t be easy. But when we’re finished, we never have to speak of it again. We can move on.”

The realization began to hit me. I knew exactly what they wanted to talk about. I took a breath, unsure if I was prepared for the gravity of the situation.

My mom looked down for a while, like she was bracing herself for the words she was about to share with me. “The only reason why we’re telling you this is because it has to do with Griffin…how our lives are so intertwined.”

I was right.

“I don’t want to get into the specifics of it because they really don’t matter…” My mom lifted her gaze to meet mine. “I’ve been very happy for a long time, and I don’t associate myself with my past. I’ve been nothing but grateful for the life I’ve lived, and I wouldn’t change the past, not to sacrifice the present.

I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to listen to my mother’s pain.

“When I was your age, a little older than you are now, I was kidnapped and placed in the trafficking business. A cruel man bought me from the Underground. What happened after that doesn’t matter, but that man was Griffin’s father.”

I wanted to force a reaction, but I couldn’t. I already knew this, and listening to her say it made me feel dead inside. My mother hadn’t deserved that. No woman did. I felt my father stare at me, watching every reaction that I made. “I’m so sorry, Mama…” I could hardly speak without my voice cracking. I felt the tears long before they arrived.

“Don’t be sorry,” she said gently. “It was a long time ago. Your father took me to punish Griffin’s father because of what he did to your aunt. He kept me as a prisoner for a while, but we fell in love quickly. He became my savior, my protector. We’ve been in love ever since. My story has a very happy ending. I wouldn’t change the past because it led me to your father. I believe he’s the man I was supposed to be with. Not once did he view me as a victim or damaged goods. He loved me like I’d never suffered a day in my life.”

I took a deep breath, feeling the pain in my chest. I still wanted to cry, still wanted to break down. “You didn’t deserve that. No woman does…” Before I could stop them, tears fell from my eyes.

My father watched me, his eyes softening.

Mama reached her hand across the table and placed it on mine. “Please don’t cry for me, sweetheart. That time in my life has no hold over me anymore. It has no power whatsoever. I defeated my past, have found love and beauty in this world that can never be taken away.”

“I know. But it…it’s just wrong.”

“And I got my justice,” she said. “I killed him myself. I’ve never felt any remorse for it.”

“You shouldn’t…” I knew Bones hated us for taking his father away, but he was a bad man who’d deserved to die. He’d deserved something worse than death. “You should have tortured him and made him beg for death. You should have ripped all his organs out until there was nothing left.”

Mama squeezed my hand. “He’s gone now, so it doesn’t matter. But I hope you understand why accepting Griffin has been so difficult for both of us. We haven’t said his father’s name in almost thirty years…because it was banned from this house. This man wanted to hurt us as well, and only his love for you changed his mind. It’s hard for me to look at him and not think of what his father did to me. It’s even worse for your father, who also lost his sister. You’re asking a lot of us, and I hope our attempt shows how much you mean to us.”

“It does…absolutely.”

She pulled her hand away. “We wanted you to know, to understand the entire situation.”

“I do,” I said. “And I know it must be hard for you. It would be hard for me. Sometimes I have nightmares about Knuckles. If I had to interact with that man again, I’d be sick to my stomach. But the issue with Griffin is…he’s not his father.”

My father wore the same cold look on his face.

My mother sighed quietly. “I know…”

“I’m not being insensitive because I understand just how painful that was for you,” I said gently. “I understand why this man isn’t your first choice. I understand why you wish I’d fallen for someone else. If I didn’t love him as much as I do, I would just throw in the towel and find love elsewhere. But what we have together…it’s stronger than love. I’m so sorry that I’m putting you through this. Truly. But I have to fight for him.”

My mother gave a slight nod. “I understand.”

“And you said Father kept you as a prisoner…what does that mean?” Was that any different from what Bones did to me?

“My relationship with your father is private,” she said, doing her best not to sound harsh. “Don’t compare our relationship to yours, and don’t validate your decisions based on our past. This man has admitted he wanted to hurt us. Your father never had a vendetta against me.”

I felt the sternness in her tone, so I didn’t press it. “I understand.”

My father moved his hand from her back and grabbed her hand on the table. I didn’t fail to see the similarities between them and my relationship with Bones. My father was silent and stern just the way Bones was. They looked nothing alike, but their natures were identical. “I think one of the reasons I’ve fallen for Griffin is because he’s very similar to you. Aggressive, protective, domineering…stubborn as hell. You always wanted me to be with a strong man. You’ve been around him long enough to know he’s the strongest man out there.”

“But I’m afraid he’ll use that strength against you—all of us.” My father finally spoke after a long bout of silence. “I’m also looking for a man that’s loyal. Loyalty is the most important thing in this world.”

“He is loyal,” I said quietly. “Extremely. And he’s honest. He’ll tell you the truth—even if it hurts you to listen to it. He doesn’t care for bullshit, and he won’t change himself for anyone. That’s what I love about him. He’s not afraid to be who he is—all the good and the bad. You know exactly what you’re getting from him, so if he says he’s loyal, then he’s loyal.”

My father gave a slight nod. “I need more time to decide how I feel about him.”

“Me too,” Mama whispered.

It’d been almost six weeks since I’d introduced Bones to them for the first time. It seemed like a lifetime. I wanted to let my guard down, to finally be happy knowing I got to keep the man I loved. This torture never seemed to end. “How much more time?”

Instantly, the rage exploded out of my father. “Are you in a hurry?” my father snapped. “You’re lucky we’re even considering him. Don’t push it, Vanessa.”

“I wasn’t trying to sound pushy. I just want to know if you’ll ever come to a decision. Because it seems like you’re going to distrust him no matter how much time has passed.”

“You’re right,” Father said. “We probably will never really trust him.”

“But we may be able to accept him and give him a chance to earn our trust,” Mama said. “We’ll take it one day at a time. You don’t have to stay here in the process. Griffin has been a tremendous help at the winery, but proving how hard he can work isn’t what’s important to us. You’re what’s important to us.”

“No, we’ll stay a little longer,” I said. “He’s not working hard to prove how strong he is. He’s trying to prove how much he’ll sacrifice for a real chance, for the possibility of sharing a drink with you and having a real conversation. That’s what he’s trying to prove…that he’ll do anything for me.”