2 Are You Sure?

Lisa's P.O.V.

"You're fighting today?" I asked Liv, surprised.

I had come to her house, the one Lucas built for them after their honeymoon. He wanted to build an inviting home for them. One to raise Abi and her future siblings in. I was proud of my brother, and the life he was building, considering all the shit he'd been through. The house felt cozy and warm, making me want to visit often as I got lonely in my apartment.

"Yeah, Davis got me back in the ring. I need to shake off some of this stress from my job. We're having a hard time figuring something out and it's driving me insane." She never shared too many details about her job because they didn't allow her to, and frankly, I wouldn't have understood them, anyway. Aerospace engineering was way above my intelligence.

"Can I come watch?" I asked her.

I hadn't seen her fight before. The closest I had gotten was the night I met her, when she laid some large guy on his ass for not leaving her alone when she told him multiple times to get lost. I knew that very night she would be the one to tame Lucas, and that was exactly what she did.

"You want to?" She smiled excitedly. I guess she was afraid I wouldn't like this side of her, but honestly, I admire it the most.

"Of course! I want to see you kick someone's ass." I covered Abi's ears as I said ass, causing her to giggle.

"Okay. I'll let Davis know to let you in and send you the address later. I was going to ask you to watch Abi, but I'll ask your mom instead. They're due for some bonding time."

I frowned, not liking that I'd be missing out on time with Abi girl.

"Okay, but I get to take her out tomorrow afternoon for a little shopping," I said, smiling at Abi. I love buying her clothes.

"Okay, but only two outfits," Liv said sternly, pointing her finger at me. "Her closet was about to burst open from your last shopping trip you took with her."

"Only two?!" I complained.

"Yes, I mean it Lisa."

"Ugh, no fun," I pouted. "But fine, just two outfits."

And a ton of shoes, bows, and bracelets.

"Okay, now stop holding back and tell me how your date went last night." She asked me, scooting closer to me on the couch, excited to hear my gossip.

"It started off kind of rocky, but ended really well. We have great chemistry, Liv. Talking to him was so easy. We were both enjoying each other's company so much that we stayed talking in his car until one in the morning." I smiled as I thought about it.

"That's great, Lisa. Is that all you did, though? Just talk?"

"I mean, there may have been some kissing there at the end." I blushed as I thought about his plush lips against mine.

He kissed me with such deep passion. Surprise filled me as I managed to contain my impulse to jump on his dick last night. I needed to learn to take things slow and get to know someone better before diving in. We may have to marry, but I should make him work to have me in any other way. This marriage would be a sham until we made it real.

"Oh my gosh, look at you blush. You're smitten," she laughed, poking my cheek.

"Shut up, am not."

"What's this beautiful laughter I hear?" Lucas entered the room from his office with a playful smirk.

Dad still has him working for the company to keep tabs on him. Lucas thought Dad was coming to terms with his marriage to Liv. Dad was coming to terms with it, alright, but not in the way Lucas thought. Dad was currently tolerating it as long as I did as he said. I would do everything he said to keep Lucas safe, to keep this life he had made for himself safe. He deserved it and so much more.

It was my turn to take Dad's torment.

"Your wife was poking fun at me."

"Oh, was she? Then it must be for a good reason." He looked at Liv like she was the only one in the room, even though he was talking to me.

We talked for a while longer before Dad called me. I forgot I was supposed to come see him an hour ago.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Hey, Dad. Sorry, I lost track of time. I'm on my way now."

I quickly answered, handing Abi to Lucas, who looked at me worriedly. I shook my head at him, giving him a hug with the phone still pressed to my ear.

"You better learn that my time is precious, Lisa. You missed our meeting with Mr. Darnell. So I agreed to his terms for you," Dad started, telling me in a pretty pissed off tone. I knew this would not be good by the way he sounded pleased with himself. "You will marry Christopher by the end of the year. We will announce the engagement in a couple of months. You may tell no one that this is an arranged marriage. You're to bear a son within a year of being married. If it is not a boy, you will continue to have children until you produce one."

My stomach twisted as I approached my car, listening to the sickening terms. I felt as if I had been sold off to some man. I was no longer a person but a possession to be taken ownership of.

"You're not allowed to divorce Christopher, for any reason, unless he decides otherwise, and only after you have produced a male heir. Failure to comply with these terms will cause them to take half the company, and me making your brother's life, and your own, absolute hell. You'll be in the streets, begging by the time I'm done. Do you understand me?"

I nodded my head like an idiot, forgetting we're on the phone.

"Yes, I understand," my voice betrayed me as I answered, sounding weak and insecure.

"Good. I want to see you spending time with Christopher as much as possible, so head to his apartment soon."

"Right now? We just saw each other last night."

"Are you asking questions? Just get it done, Lisa."

He hung up before I could say anything else. I sat in my car, unsure of what to do exactly. Yes, marrying Chris was the only way to keep Dad from messing with Lucas and his beautiful family, but I don't know that I could really do this. I mean, having a kid by next year seemed insane to me.

Chris was nice, and we had great banter, but I was not ready to have a kid with him. I was not ready to marry him, really. This whole thing was just insane and all I could do was follow along like a good, obedient daughter. If Lucas ever found out, he'd tell me he could handle himself. He'd march into Dad's office and go all out, but he couldn't do that anymore. He should think about his family, not just me.

Since we were kids, Lucas would always draw Dad's attention away from me and towards him. He knew that by doing so, he'd get the blunt end of Dad's fury. Lucas had always been my protector, but this time, I was determined to be his. I was his older sister, and for once I was going to look after him.