he was just looking out for me.
Finally, I sighed, realizing that he was right. I couldn’t go from one extreme to the other. I needed to give Marcie space, and give myself space from her.
“What’s the lead?”
A huge grin split his face.
“It’s in D.C.”
“What, really?” Not only did the location have major implications as to who my father really was, but it also meant I would have to spend a significant amount of time away from Marcie.
“Yeah, crazy right? Do you think he’s in government?”
I shrugged.
“It fits, I guess. I’m not going to make any assumptions though until I talk to this lead of yours. When am I supposed to meet them?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Shit,” I groaned, thinking about leaving Marcie all alone.
“What?” Tanner obviously hadn’t made the connection.
“Marcie.”
“Ugh. You need to cut her loose, man.”
A fury-fueled fire burned in my eyes. He held up his hands in an apologetic gesture.
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m sure she’ll be fine here for a day or two, right?”
I nodded, trying to come up with a plan.
“I’m going to take her with me.”
“What? Have you lost your ever-loving mind?”
“No, of course not. What’s wrong with it?”
“For all we know, she could work for him. She could tell him everything you find out.”
“Tanner, if my father wanted me scared off of his trail, why would he hire a girl to save me from a mugger? That seems a little counter-productive…”
He tried to think of a retort, but came up empty.
“Fine, but I still think this is a terrible idea. The whole thing.”
“Your objections have been noted. Now kindly fuck off.”
He rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he left my bedroom. We’d been verbally abusing each other like that for the last twenty years. We were brothers, not by blood, but by a bond stronger than blood. He knew that I valued his opinion; I just couldn’t brush Marcie aside that easily, whether I could explain it or not.
I practically sprinted down the stairs looking for Marcie. I found Francis first, and asked him to make all of the necessary arrangements for our stay in D. C.
“Shall I book one room, or two, sir?” Francis asked slyly.
“The presidential suite has two bedrooms, doesn’t it?”
He nodded a confirmation, already dialing the hotel.
I found Clara next.
“I’m looking for Marcie, have you seen her?”
“She hasn’t left her room all morning, Mr. Dorian. The morning sickness is bothering her and I think she’s embarrassed.”
My brows furrowed at the information. I never wanted Marcie to feel anything other than at home here. My money couldn’t fix morning sickness, but maybe a trip would help take her mind off of things.
I knocked on her door softly.
“Marcie? It’s me… Bryce,” I announced.
After a moment, she opened the door a crack, just enough to peek out.
“Hi, how are you feeling? Clara mentioned you didn’t feel well…”
“I’m okay,” she answered weakly. She looked pale, making the dark bruise covering her face all the more shocking.
“Can I come in?”
She looked down at her feet and stepped back from the door allowing me entrance. I felt perverted for appreciating the generous swell of her breasts under her tight top. She was sick and I was here ogling her.
“Normally this passes after a couple of hours. I just didn’t realize it was morning sickness until today,” her smile took a lot of effort, but I could tell it was genuine.
“Well, I wanted to talk to you about something,” she stiffened, anticipating something heinous, no doubt.
“Nothing bad,” I added hastily. She visibly relaxed and I continued. “I have to go on a business trip to Washington D. C., and I was wondering if you’d like to accompany me. The meeting is tomorrow, but we could fly in tonight, have dinner…?” Saying it out loud, I felt like it sounded more desperate.
“But if you’re not feeling up to it, I understand,” I added quickly,
Finally, I sighed, realizing that he was right. I couldn’t go from one extreme to the other. I needed to give Marcie space, and give myself space from her.
“What’s the lead?”
A huge grin split his face.
“It’s in D.C.”
“What, really?” Not only did the location have major implications as to who my father really was, but it also meant I would have to spend a significant amount of time away from Marcie.
“Yeah, crazy right? Do you think he’s in government?”
I shrugged.
“It fits, I guess. I’m not going to make any assumptions though until I talk to this lead of yours. When am I supposed to meet them?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Shit,” I groaned, thinking about leaving Marcie all alone.
“What?” Tanner obviously hadn’t made the connection.
“Marcie.”
“Ugh. You need to cut her loose, man.”
A fury-fueled fire burned in my eyes. He held up his hands in an apologetic gesture.
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m sure she’ll be fine here for a day or two, right?”
I nodded, trying to come up with a plan.
“I’m going to take her with me.”
“What? Have you lost your ever-loving mind?”
“No, of course not. What’s wrong with it?”
“For all we know, she could work for him. She could tell him everything you find out.”
“Tanner, if my father wanted me scared off of his trail, why would he hire a girl to save me from a mugger? That seems a little counter-productive…”
He tried to think of a retort, but came up empty.
“Fine, but I still think this is a terrible idea. The whole thing.”
“Your objections have been noted. Now kindly fuck off.”
He rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he left my bedroom. We’d been verbally abusing each other like that for the last twenty years. We were brothers, not by blood, but by a bond stronger than blood. He knew that I valued his opinion; I just couldn’t brush Marcie aside that easily, whether I could explain it or not.
I practically sprinted down the stairs looking for Marcie. I found Francis first, and asked him to make all of the necessary arrangements for our stay in D. C.
“Shall I book one room, or two, sir?” Francis asked slyly.
“The presidential suite has two bedrooms, doesn’t it?”
He nodded a confirmation, already dialing the hotel.
I found Clara next.
“I’m looking for Marcie, have you seen her?”
“She hasn’t left her room all morning, Mr. Dorian. The morning sickness is bothering her and I think she’s embarrassed.”
My brows furrowed at the information. I never wanted Marcie to feel anything other than at home here. My money couldn’t fix morning sickness, but maybe a trip would help take her mind off of things.
I knocked on her door softly.
“Marcie? It’s me… Bryce,” I announced.
After a moment, she opened the door a crack, just enough to peek out.
“Hi, how are you feeling? Clara mentioned you didn’t feel well…”
“I’m okay,” she answered weakly. She looked pale, making the dark bruise covering her face all the more shocking.
“Can I come in?”
She looked down at her feet and stepped back from the door allowing me entrance. I felt perverted for appreciating the generous swell of her breasts under her tight top. She was sick and I was here ogling her.
“Normally this passes after a couple of hours. I just didn’t realize it was morning sickness until today,” her smile took a lot of effort, but I could tell it was genuine.
“Well, I wanted to talk to you about something,” she stiffened, anticipating something heinous, no doubt.
“Nothing bad,” I added hastily. She visibly relaxed and I continued. “I have to go on a business trip to Washington D. C., and I was wondering if you’d like to accompany me. The meeting is tomorrow, but we could fly in tonight, have dinner…?” Saying it out loud, I felt like it sounded more desperate.
“But if you’re not feeling up to it, I understand,” I added quickly,
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