Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
“Enzo, why is Raven Brayshaw standing in the very place I kicked her out of?”
“Because apparently, Bastian Bishop wants to get his ass kicked.”
“He didn’t tell you she was coming?”
“Oh no, he did.” He frowns. “But he left out the part where she was bringing her whole fucking family with her.”
“And what is it that they want?”
He waits for me to look his way before speaking. “Whatever it is, you’re the person they think they can get it from.”
My brows snap together, and I look up again. This time, the girl waves, hopping up and sitting on the edge of the terrace, her legs hanging over like it’s not a sixty-foot or more drop.
I watch as the tall, dark-haired one comes up behind her the minute she does, hauling her off, and smirk when I hear her start to bitch.
“Okay, well. If it’s me they want to talk to, they can wait until I’m ready to talk to them.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“I need to shower and then we can hear what they have to say.”
“You need to shower, and eat, and then we can listen to what they have to say out of respect for Bastian before I tell them to fuck off.”
I can’t help the small laugh that leaves me, and Enzo smiles in response.
He holds a hand out, and I slip mine inside, the two of us heading to our room.
The unwanted guests are made to wait nearly two hours before I step out onto the terrace, dressed in armor in the form of winged liner and blood red lips.
They stop speaking as I approach, and I lower into the chair Enzo pulls out for me without a word, his hands instantly falling to my shoulders.
I nod my thanks when my cappuccino, already fixed to my liking, is instantly set in front of me, the server silently disappearing into the house. I take a small sip then look around from one person to the next, settling my gaze on the one who is clearly in charge here.
Raven herself.
She smirks.
I lift a brow.
“Is that hot chocolate?”
My head yanks toward the tattooed male who breaks the silence with his random-ass question, and just in time to watch the white-haired, clearly pregnant girl smack him in the chest. “Sorry.” She smiles, adjusting her sunglasses.
I’m tempted to tell her to take them off so I can see her face fully, but then one of the Fikile guards catches my attention, bandana slung across his face per usual, and decide she can keep them. For now.
“What do you want?” I say, slowly facing Raven again.
“To catch a snake.”
“Why come to me?”
“Because he’s in your grass.”
I look to Bastian, who nods, his gaze flicking up to Enzo.
“If you know where he is, why do you need me?”
The tattooed one scoffs. “Because it would be more fun.” He might as well add an “obviously” to the end of that statement.
Enzo’s grip tightens on my shoulders. “And you think I would risk my fiancée for your entertainment?”
“No.” Raven edges, humor in her eyes. “I think your fiancée will do it for the simple fact that you think she shouldn’t.” She cocks her head in challenge. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
I look from her to him, holding his gaze for a long moment. He gives nothing away, at least not to the naked eye, but I’m beginning to see through his masks, and she’s right. He doesn’t want me to, he said as much earlier, but even if he hadn’t, I would have known.
Somewhere between his making me feel like a fool and recognizing his intentions were far better than even my own, I’ve come to trust this man. My husband.
He would no sooner put me in harm’s way than he would allow me to walk away, not that I want to anymore. No, this man would burn anything that stood in his way to ash if it meant reaching me on the other side.
A small smile curves my lips, and while Enzo’s expression remains blank, I spot the matching flicker of affection in his hazel eyes before moving mine back to her.
Instantly, Raven’s scowl forms.
“You’re wrong.” I cross my legs, lifting my mug once more. “I know my place, Raven, and I don’t need to go against my man’s wishes to make me feel adequate, especially when the one other men go to for protection is the one who belongs to me. If he disagrees, I disagree. So.” I look to Bastian. “Your job isn’t to convince me. It’s to convince him and I will follow his lead.”
“Even if by not agreeing, he’s leading you into a fire?” Raven glares.
“Especially then.” I smile wide this time, uncrossing and recrossing my legs in the opposite direction. “Look, I don’t know what this is about, or what it is exactly you’re looking for, so I’ll lay down the facts that I’m sure you already know.” I pause, and when Enzo doesn’t interject, continue. “Philip is the son of Gorgio Mitchell, a chemist who worked his way into the drug game. He’s not a supplier; he’s the supplier, sells to all the districts but doesn’t have the approval to cross over himself, so he’s forced to sell his share of profit with each side, being they use their own runners. They’re a powerful family but they’re stuck where they are with no opportunity for growth without ties. Respected, but stuck.” Which is precisely why he wanted to marry me.