Chapter 87: NEVER STAYED BURNED

TRISTAN

“We’re getting married, Tristan. What else do you think is going on here?”

I grabbed her wrist without thinking and dragged her to a quiet balcony. “Madison, explain to me why the fuck there are strangers everywhere in my house.”

“They’re here for a little pre-wedding party, of course!” She piped. “I want to celebrate my marriage as much as possible.”

My jaw clenched so hard I feared it would break. “But we never talked about the date of the wedding. Did you decide on your own?”

“Not on my own. My father actually picked the date himself.” She said it with a smile, like it was supposed to make everything better, that her father picked it.

Fuck. I never should have gotten involved with this crazy family. Who the fuck fixes the date of their wedding without informing the groom?

“Come on. We have to go have fun. We tie the knot in the morning.” She attempted to take my hand, and I snatched it free with all the rage boiling inside me. “Get your hands off me!”

She looked hurt, but we both knew she was only faking it. Madison was not in love with me. She was only in love with the fantasy of it.

“You better get in there and drive all those people out of my house,” I snarled in her face. “Then you and I will sit and have a talk about this wedding.”

She twisted her lips. “What’s there to talk about? It’s happening already, tomorrow morn—”

“Just do as I say, Madison!”

She’s scared off by my tone and backed away with a glare. “Fine. But if you wanna have a talk, we’ll do it with my father.”

Before I could protest, she disappeared around the corner and I ran my fingers through my hair, agitation running through my veins in strong waves.

Fuck. I regretted leaving Laura behind. I ached for her already. My body ached for her soft touch, I knew it would calm me more than anything in the world.

In fifteen minutes, the house was cleared of the guests. I wasn’t sure what Madison told them. I couldn’t care less.

After the last guests left, she stumbled to where I was on the balcony, holding a bottle of beer between her hands. “So, shall we?”

“Let’s go to the living room.”

“No.” She blocked me off, a defiant look on her face. “We’re going over to my father’s. And we’re taking my McLaren.”

I glared at her. “You think I’m letting you drive?”

She scoffed, slapping a hand over her face. “Don’t pretend you care about me.”

“I just care about not getting wound up in your mess,” I snapped, pushing past her. “Are we going or what?”

“Fine!”

We took my car instead, and in a short while, we were at the Steele estate, which was just a ten-minute drive from my penthouse.

Mr. Steele was already up and waiting for us, sipping a cup of chai, his round glasses perched on his nostrils.

“I hear you were in Milan for a commercial shoot.”

“And I hear you fixed my wedding date without my knowledge.”

We both glared at each other for a heated moment. Then he ushered Madison and I to the couch opposite him.

I refused to sit.

He carried on anyway. “The wedding is happening tomorrow, whether you like it or not.”

“That can’t happen.”

His jaw ticked, and his eyes flashed. “Why not?”

“Too sudden.” I paused, searching for a more meaningful excuse because I knew he wouldn’t buy this one. “I haven’t informed my family.”

Mr. Steele scoffed. Then he rose to his full height, with his cup of chai. “You see…if you had actually introduced them to us like a normal man would do, then we would have informed them of the development. Too bad we can’t do anything about it. The wedding must happen tomorrow.”

“It’s my wedding, Mr. Steele,” my voice hardened. “Respectfully, you don’t have the right to dictate what happens and does not.”

He observed me for a moment, and a tense silence stretched in the living room. “Really?”

“Dad, don’t listen to—”

“Stay out of it, sweetheart,” he interrupted her, never taking his eyes off me. I was past being afraid of this man…even though he had the power to make my business crumble all over again…in his fucking hands.

If only I could take that power away…things would be a lot easier for me..for Laura.

I can’t imagine how she’d feel if news reached her about the wedding.

“Think about everything you stand to lose if you go against me, son,” Mr. Steele continued, and I wanted to yell that I’m not his son, but I was too busy racking my brain for a way out.

Until my phone rang in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see the name flashed across the screen.

My heart beat three times harder as I read through the name a second time. Why would she be calling me? It had been too long since we were last in touch, and it was deliberate because she was part of a past I wanted to remain buried.

Nevertheless, I decided to take the call not just because I was curious. But also because I needed an excuse to get away from here.

“Excuse me,” I said through clenched teeth as I moved to find privacy. Then I took the call.

“Miss Corleone.”

“Tristan, boy, it’s been a minute.”

Her voice filled every part of me with nostalgia, bringing back memories of childhood that were the dearest to me. “Yes, Miss Corleone. Have you been good?”

“Well, you know the perks of the job.”

I didn’t have to ask to know that she was still working as my father’s consigliere. The woman had sworn to die working for the wicked Don. When I left, I wanted to take her with me. But her loyalty was to Duke Harrigan, not the son who changed his name as soon as he got his freedom.

“What have you been up to?” she asked after a few awkward seconds. I cleared my throat and looked behind me to make sure I was still alone.

“Nothing much, just work.”

“Hmm. Well, I’ve got news for you, boy.”

I went cold, because whenever she said that, I knew to expect the worst. “What is it, Miss Corleone?”

She hesitated over the line, as if she were about to unleash some heavy words. Never knowing what to expect, I held my breath.

“Your father wants to meet with you.”