Chapter 5 5

She fought the urge to shiver, his lips grazing her earlobe. The last thing she wanted was to give him any indication that he affected her the way he did. In all honesty, she was surprised at just how much that was. No one had captured her attention in this way. From afar, it was easy to push him to the back of her mind, wave him off if he was brought up in conversation. But in person, his pull was one of the strongest things she'd ever felt. It was like he had his field of gravity; the entire room either begging for his attention or trying to flee the sheer power that radiated off him.

The only thing she knew was that she needed to speak with her father.

†††

Mendez's was busy tonight, just as it was most nights. Dim lighting and the sounds of billiard balls smacking against each other carried the atmosphere. India didn't bother stopping at the bar or saying hello to any of the workers. She had a very specific purpose here.

Strutting up to the entrance to the games room, she nodded once to the guard. "Mickey, is my father here?"

"He's in his office, Miss Mendez," Mickey told her.

"Thank you. Feel free to warn him."

A smirk flashed for a second before he went back to his stony expression, lifting a radio to his mouth. He let her in and she weaved in between the tables, ignoring the stares. Some were just interested, while others burned through her skin, lascivious and lusty, just as she had felt all her life. These men were some of the worst in the city, and she'd had to walk these steps since she was a kid, enduring the looks and the comments. Sometimes she was lucky enough to have her older brother with her, but she didn't need that protection anymore.

India had made it quite clear that no one was allowed to touch her without permission when she brought her favorite knife down on the hand of a man who groped her as she passed. Now all she had to deal with were the stares.

There was no need to knock, seeing as the guard at the office door opened it for her to go in. Her father must've been okay with this impromptu meeting, or else she wouldn't have gotten past Mickey out front.

"India." Her father said in greeting, not taking his eyes off the papers on his desk.

"I was hoping we could talk about something."

His eyes glanced up at her for a second, looking uninterested, but he sighed, "Go on."

Sitting down opposite him, India crossed her legs, "I had a very interesting run-in with Jason Glover this evening."

Her father leaned back in his chair. "It's good to know Cedric kept his word."

"Is there something you want to tell me?" She asked, working hard to keep the irritation out of her tone. She may not be a child anymore, but he didn't allow insolence.

"Yes, I was going to tell you during dinner this Sunday." His eyes stared directly into hers, the same dark brown that almost appeared black with just a glance. "Cedric Glover and I have agreed. Our partnership over the years has only strengthened, and we thought it was time to solidify it. You're to be married to Jason Glover by the end of the year." Her heart dropped, yet her face showed nothing. "He'll begin courting you in a month in the public eye - I assume he's already started by introducing himself tonight. You two can work out the logistics as long as it's done by the first of January."

India's mouth was dry. She had thought she had escaped this fate. Once she turned twenty-eight, she had gotten to the age that was less desirable for the men her father would want to align with, most preferring younger women. If she was going to be married off, she figured it would've happened by now.

"By the end of this year?" India clarified, hoping she had a little more time.

"Yes, this is of the utmost importance-"

"Why?"

Her father stared at her hard and said slowly, firmly, "I told you. The Mendez and Glover partnership is ready for the next step-"

"So, you sell me off like some prize-"

"Stop interrupting me." His voice was dangerously low now, and India found herself flinching.

Gathering herself, she looked down at his desk and apologized, "I'm sorry, Father. It won't happen again."

"That attitude of yours will be the death of you. You might want to remember what family you'll be marrying into soon."

She let the words sink in, memories flashing, new ones forming. This was a dangerous position to be in. On one hand, she knew the devil that was her father. The other held a complete unknown. There were rumors and whispers about the Glover family. What if she were walking from one hell to another?

"Sorry." She mumbled out once more, eyes still averted.

A moment of silence passed before he spoke again, "I had half a mind to pick your sister for this. Don't make me regret this choice."

Ice filled her veins. Not Cynthia. "Of course not, Father." Clearing her throat, she asked, "Is there anything else?"

"No," he looked back down at his papers, "I have work to finish here. See yourself out."

There was no need to respond after that. India stood up from the chair and made her way to the door. Her eyes were downcast the entire way out, barely acknowledging Mickey as he bid her goodnight.

Her freedom was gone, just like that. She was so sure she was in the clear, deciding that marriage was the last thing she wanted. It sounded nice, warm, safe, but deep down, she knew that marriage for her would mean condemning another human to this world. A world filled with deals and danger, chaos and consequences. A world not meant for most.

India had been born for it. She adapted quickly. She hated and craved the shadows of Kingstown. And she would never bring someone into this life, not even if they loved her.

Did Glover expect heirs? Would he be a real father to them or a mirror image of the one she had grown up with? Could she even bring a child into this world morally? Condemning it to the same fate as hers.

As reality sunk in, she felt herself go numb. She would be tied to the man forever. A man known for getting around. Her perfectly crafted image would go up in flames the moment his first affair was unearthed. Just the thought of being cheated on - a fake relationship or not - made her stomach turn. After the mistake that was her first boyfriend, she promised herself she would never be the butt of the joke again.

Public shame and India Mendez did not belong in the same sentence.

Her first call would be to her lawyer. If this was going to happen - and it was, considering her choice was taken from her - then there would be rules. Rules she knew Jason Glover would not be happy with.