My Fiancé Ran, So I Took His Father Instead

low

ell of stale beer, sweat, and leather. It churned in my stomach,

he din of rock music. They weren't laug

his godforsaken club, was supposed to be standing

a lifetime under the glare

g his hair to his forehead, stammered into the microphone. "Uh

me distraction, a small, controllable pain that kept the smile plastered

andmother and the club's matriarch, her face a mask of thundero

as little more than a suggestion, scurried out from the back. She

ent from stormy

split second. It was a look of pity, m

't just sink.

sn't

had

ct announced, his voice cracking. A wave of kno

me, a specimen pinned to a board. Pity. Scorn. Amusem

dust. This alliance was my only escape. A path Colb

ht of returning to my father's house, to my ste

ny pocket of the dress. An

by, had his hands buried in the hair of the same Sweetbutt who had whispered to

below it

. You're out,

. The despair vanished, incinerated by

t be the p

y lungs, and pushed past the stammering Pros

ced the room instantly. Every

cold as ice. "He's just chosen a cheaper form of entertainment

s on her feet, her face a m

rules, a betrayal during an alliance c

bers who had shown interest in me before. "I, Harlow Parker, c

ing cast aside. I had to carve out a new

r of the front row. The one man who ha

k 'Prez'

that did nothing to hide the coiled muscle beneath, the intricate tattoos th

e, watched the chaos unfold

i

It was a mad gamble, a shot in the

," I announced, my voice ringing with a conviction I did

ome. I will choose a new partner f

less, terrifying eyes. I drew in one last

choice