Read Online Forced: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (The Blackthorn Brothers Book 1) by Cali MacKay - Free Book Online

hand away.
    “I’m not going anywhere with you, Ash. And if I can’t get out of this wedding, then so be it. But that sure as hell doesn’t mean I have to live with you once we’re hitched.” I’d go back to San Francisco, ditch Ash and my wedding ring, and continue living my life while Ash got the help he needed for his family. Problem solved. Don’t know why I’d gotten so worked up about it when the solution was so simple.
    “Yeah…that’s not happening, babe.” The determined look he gave me was all too familiar, and I knew we’d be butting heads yet again. “The agreement is that I marry you and keep you safe. And I can’t do that if we’re not together.”
    “Last I checked, my dad doesn’t have ESP. It’s not like he’d know.” And then it hit me that my dad also wouldn’t be around for much longer. He only had months to live. Maybe less. And though he hadn’t been the perfect father, he’d tried his best in his own way, and once he was gone, I’d be all on my own. My mother was long gone, my stepmother had bailed ages ago, and my stepbrother was dead by my own hand.
    There was no one else .
    And suddenly, I couldn’t help the tears that fell down my cheeks—and leave it to Ash to notice, even though he was driving.
    “Hey…what’s wrong?”
    “If it’s what my dad really wants, I’ll marry you—but once he’s gone, this is over. Am I making myself clear?” I swiped at my tears, hating that they put my vulnerabilities on display for the world to see when I was trying to stay strong.
    Ash shifted his attention between me and the road, reaching over to brush the tears from my cheeks. “I’m so sorry, love. I know he’s all you have left. But you have my word, you’ll never be alone. I’ll be here for you…whatever you need.”
    “Why are you being nice to me?” It was already hard enough to keep him at arm’s length without him chipping away at my anger with him.
    “Because you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, Wren.” He let out a long breath, his gaze focused on the road ahead, as if he hated himself for making such an admission. And yet, at the moment, it was exactly what I’d needed to soothe my broken heart.
    I hated to admit it, but Ash was most certainly the only man I’d ever loved—I just wasn’t sure that going down this road again was a smart idea. It certainly hadn’t ended well the first time, despite our love for each other. And though any sane man would have bailed a hell of a lot sooner than Ash had, it didn’t mean I could forgive him for abandoning me—even if he didn’t know the hell he’d dropped me in by leaving.
    Our late start that morning, and the scenic route Ash had chosen, ended up adding another day to our travels, which suited me just fine, since I was in no rush to deal with my father and his asinine scheming. Yet by the time we stopped for the evening, it felt like the fight had gone out of me. I just didn’t have the energy to keep arguing with Ash, over and over, when nothing was going to change by doing so. And I’d given him my word that I’d marry him—for a short while, anyway—which meant there was no point in rehashing things.
    “We’ll be in Seattle by noon tomorrow, even if we sleep in a bit.” Ash had pulled off the highway and into a cute little town that was nestled in the woods and the mountains, getting us settled at a gorgeous inn.
    Once more he got us a room with just one bed, though at this point, who was I kidding? Luckily, the room was really nice, and even better, there was a deep soaker tub. But first, I needed dinner, before my mood started to sour as my blood sugar dropped. “Don’t suppose we can get something to eat? Maybe just order room service?”
    “Why don’t you go take a bath, while I order for us, and then we can watch a movie or something?” Just like the old days when we’d grab some takeout and watch a movie, snuggled up together.
    “Sounds as good a plan as any.”
    But as I