King's Treasure (Oil Kings Book 3) by Marie Johnston (great novels .TXT) 📗

page written because by minute twelve, I was staring out the window to see if he was going to do it again. Then I’d spend another three minutes after he passed stewing about the gilded prison I’d landed myself in with my wedding vows.

I had a cell mate, but she was doing nothing to escape her bindings.

She spent her days working from home, or meeting Chief at his office, which I’d never been to. At first we’d gone for walks, even held hands a few times like shy thirteen-year-olds. She’d been back at work over a week, but she’d ignore me and bury herself in her computer. She’d even taken up working in the dry, boring library that repressed my inspiration just walking by it.

I was bored and going out of my damn mind. Opal didn’t seem to mind having me around, and Chief broke into a grin whenever he saw me—the few hours he was home a week. I couldn’t take eleven more months of this. How did Savvy live it every day?

She thought this was the best course for now, but how would she know if she didn’t try another route?

The front door opened behind me and a swirl of expensive perfume traveled on the cold air. I guessed who it was before I turned.

Em. Where Savvy was a tropical bird swinging in her cage only to be adored by approved onlookers, Em was a bird of prey, swooping down on the weak. After enduring people like Lex, I should be ready, but Em hadn’t been able to corner me alone yet.

She unwound her scarf and gazed down at me, despite being a solid six inches shorter. “So. At last I get a chance to talk to the college dropout that’s using my sister to get a free ride.”

She spoke quietly enough that no one else could hear unless they stood in the same room with us. Maybe she wasn’t so unlike Savvy after all. She, too, was afraid to rock the boat too hard.

“I see you’ve been talking to Lex.”

I must’ve passed some test. Her gaze softened, but only from cast iron to stainless steel. “My husband and Lex gossip like old ladies in the bingo hall.” She shrugged out of her knee-length black coat and looked around like someone was supposed to come and take it from her. When no one did, I took the coat and hung it on a hook. I’d disappointed my dad in a lot of ways, but lacking manners wasn’t one of them.

“It’s been a month and you’re still here,” Em said. “Your family must not share their money either. You’re not holding out hope that ours will, are you?”

What would Em think if she knew it was the reverse and I planned to share? More respect, or less? “I’m not here for the money.”

Wasn’t I? I couldn’t stop the question drifting through my mind. In the last couple weeks, the only time I saw my wife was in bed, where she slept on her side and I slept on mine. She’d heaped all this pressure on herself to make her own money before we were married for a year. She didn’t go out with friends, she didn’t have time to talk to Brady anymore, and she didn’t socialize with her sisters. She’d doubled down on work since we’d looked at pictures on her bed. She was working for the present and I wanted to leave and start living our present.

Em crossed her arms, inspecting me from head to toe. “You’re sticking around for my sister?”

I wanted that to be the case. “We’re married.”

Em cocked a cool brow. “Marrying and living with the ’rents. How’s that going for you?”

I’d never had to answer to anyone like I had in the last month.

Before I could answer, Mrs. Abbot appeared from the library, Savvy trailing after her. Em smiled primly. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Emerald!” Mrs. Abbot’s delighted greeting wiped the scowl from my face. She was letting me live with her, allowing Savvy and I to stay here and eat her food. I wasn’t going to be a pouty child at twenty-nine. Mrs. Abbot directed her grin at me. “I’ve already phoned Davis.”

I held back my sigh. I had plans today to do the work I’d told Savvy and her family that I’d been doing since I left college. I was doing research on rural family farms, corporate farming, and what kind of publications would be interested in an article comparing them to any other country’s. Then I had to write the damn article. Edit my photos. And just . . . work.

I’d grudgingly admit that having a driver would help me do that. But it was stifling. This town was stifling. This house was stifling. The people in it too . . . my wife included. Mrs. Abbot had recruited her to do just that. Would she go for it?

I looked from Mrs. Abbot to my wife. Her shoulders were tight, and stress pinched her eyes. Chief was a harsh taskmaster and even though Savvy worked mostly from home, she put in long hours.

I was whining about roaming the city during the day and working at my own pace. Still, I had to try to regain my freedom. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m taking the bus.”

Savvy chewed on her lip. “I’m sure he’ll be fine, Mom. He’s taken buses all over the world.”

“But this is a big city.”

I focused on Savvy again. She met my gaze and an apologetic smile flickered. Mrs. Abbot thought this was a simple request, asking her to talk me into taking the driver, but it only added more pressure on Savvy. She needed a break. “Would you like to come with?”

Savvy blinked at me. “Aren’t you working?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Abbot chimed in. “Davis can take both of you.”

Dammit. If she was trying to block me from public transportation, she’d probably stroke out if Savvy took it. I’d have to roll with it. “Pack your laptop. We can go together.”

“Chief doesn’t want me using