Calloused

23

I walked with H towards my fathers large, dark office doors. I wasn't sure what he was going to say, but I had a feeling he knew something was going on between H and I.

"Ready?" I whispered to H as my fingers gripped the door knob.

H nodded once, not looking at me. He only looked ahead at the doors. I had forgotten how much he changed when he was in the presence of my father. He got quiet, more obedient. He didn't smile or scowl. It was as if all the emotions he had had left him. It often made me feel uneasy.

It was always how business was, formal and uncomfortable.

We entered my father's office. He had his feet up on his desk, a cigar in his hand. A few other guards stood like statues by his desk.

"Leave us." My father snapped at them, swinging his feet off of the desk. He sat upright in his chair as he continued to puff on the cigar.

"Styles." My father smiled as soon as the guards left the room.

"Sir." H nodded, stepping forwards. He stood with his hands crossed in front of him.

"We got a hit on Vincent. He was last seen downtown making a few purchases." My father said as he looked at the cigar in his hand.
"I need you to go there tonight and find out some information. The shop owners there are.. affiliated with our kind of... business."

"Yes, sir." H agreed, not asking any questions.

"Take my daughter with you. I trust you'll make sure she stays safe." My father looked up, finally making eye contact with H.

They didn't say anything else as they had a silent conversation with their eyes.

"I understand." H finally spoke.

"Wait outside. I need a word with my daughter." My father ordered, waiving his hand in dismissal.

My eyes followed after H as he closed the door behind him.

"Father I-"

"No." My father cut me off before I could finish my sentence. He held his hand up to silence me. He took a puff of the cigar before he continued.

"I understand you want to be with him. But you have to realize, as my last living heir.. you have to marry someone of a higher rank." I stayed quiet as he continued.
"The Domigo's son is your age. Merging our bloodline with theirs would make us more powerful. We would have more control over the other families." I felt my stomach clench in disgust.

"At what cost?" I sneared, feeling my temper get out of control.
"We've discussed this year's ago, I will not marry their son. I will not marry for power. I will marry H, and he will run the business by my side." My father watched me closely.

"How do I know you won't run away like a dog with its tail between its legs? How can you guarantee that? How do you expect me to trust your word after you disappeared for years?" He snarled back, snuffing his cigar out.

"Through a blood oath." I glared back at my father in defiance.

"The traditional rules state that a blood oath is absolute. If either party brakes it, they will be put to death." My father clarified, giving me a questioning look of disapproval.

"That is why I said it." I said as I stepped forward, placing the palms of my hands on his desk. "If it is the only way I can choose my own path, then I will do it." I felt my throat tighten slightly, but I remained strong and showed no emotion.

"Then let's settle this once and for all." My father sighed. He opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a document.

He took out his pen and started filling out the paper.
"I, Lorenzo Rivera, agree to this oath. Skyler Rivera will choose her husband, and he will take over the business with her once the time comes. She will remain in this life until the day she has chosen an heir or until the day she dies. She will keep the family business alive at all costs. Failure to do so will result in her death." My father proclaimed. Once he was finished reading, he pulled out a small knife from the same drawer he got the document.

He cut the tip of his finger, then pressed it down onto the paper. He signed his name next to the bloody fingerprint. He turned it around so I could do the same. It stung as I slid the tip of the blade across my bare skin. I squeezed the newly open cut, allowing my blood to coat my finger. I pressed it firmly to the paper. After I had finished signing it, he pulled it away and put it in a different drawer with a lock on it.

"You can go. You have to prepare for tonight." My father said coldly. I knew he wasn't pleased with my decision, but he would eventually have to get over it. I refused to live without H by my side.

"Yes, sir." I nodded, turning to leave.

"One last thing." My father said as I stopped in front of his office doors. My hand rested on the knob as I waited for him to speak again.

"Retrieve all the information you can, by any means necessary. Even if you have to release your demons. Fire must rain down if we are to eliminate this nuisance."

I didn't say anything as I left the room. The other guards were standing outside with H. They stood still with no emotion showing on their faces.

H's attention lingered on me as I walked past them.

"Let's go." I ordered him. He didn't object as I felt him follow me towards my room.

"What happened?" H finally asked me once we were alone.

"Just family business." I shrugged.

"Why is your finger bloody?" He questioned me further. At that moment, I disliked his ability to observe the tiniest of details.

"I made a deal." I sighed as we entered my room. I turned to face him once I closed the door behind him. H's expression shifted in a mixture of disappointment, fear, anger, and sadness once he realized what I did.

"You know what this means." H shook his head.

"I did it so we would be together. He wanted me to marry someone from another family." I growled in disgust.

"Why?" H hissed as the worry spread through his face.

"Because I don't want anyone else by my side when it's my time to take my seat at the table. I've chosen you now, just like I did two years ago. I'm in it forever. There's no escaping it."

"Sky.." H frowned, taking my hands in his large ones. He brought them up to his face, his soft lips brushed my knuckles.

"Without you, my world would end." He whispered. "Without you, there is no purpose, no point. So I will give you my word, Skyler Rivera. I pledge my heart and what is left of my soul to you." H looked into my eyes as his expression became even more serious.

"I am yours, now and until my last breath."