I hated to disappoint him, but I just couldn’t do it. “You’ll release my sister when you’re there?”

He nodded.

“And when she’s in Paris…can I see her?”

His look suddenly turned angry. Out of nowhere. Like an asteroid that appeared in the sky with no warning whatsoever. He stepped back, nostrils flaring, eyes closing, hands clenching. “No.”

In shock, all I could do was stare.

A knock sounded on the door, announcing Gilbert’s arrival.

As if the conversation was over, Fender turned away. “Enter.”

Gilbert let himself inside and carried the tray of food to the table.

My eyes never left Fender. “What do you mean, no?”

He turned back to me, surprise in his eyes, like he expected this conversation just to go away.

“You expect me to marry you but never see my sister? Who’s with your brother?”

His voice boomed like someone had cranked up the volume on a stereo. “I’m letting her go. Why isn’t that enough for you?” He turned on me, skin tinted red with rage, his eyes hostile.

Gilbert stilled at the table then quickly arranged the platters, trying to get out of there as quickly as possible.

My eyes narrowed on Fender’s face, all the love in my heart gone. “How do you expect me to be happy when I can’t see the only family I have left—”

“Why am I not enough for you?” He rounded on me, his powerful arms clenched at his sides, staring me down like I was the enemy, not the woman he loved. “I’ve given you everything. I’ve given you every single part of me. Why the fuck is that not enough?”

I stepped back, my eyes shifting back and forth between his, realizing there was something I was missing.

Gilbert hurried out the door and silently shut it behind him.

“What aren’t you telling me?” My voice escaped as a whisper, because when he was irrational, it somehow made me turn calm.

He looked away, his hands moving to his hips.

“Fender.”

He looked out the window for a long time, his thoughts somewhere else.

“Tell me.”

He turned back to me, his look less angry and more restrained.

“Your hatred for her can’t outweigh your love for me. I need her in my life—period. She escaped, burned down your camp, turned your world upside down. But let’s not forget that you took her against her will, and the only reason you despise her is because she’s given you nothing but hell. I’m proud of her. I’m so fucking proud of her for not giving up. So, you’re just going to have to let that go—”

“That’s not why.” His voice turned quiet and calm, which was somehow more intimidating.

“Then why?”