Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
It started innocently enough. We knew the judgement that would arise from our families, especially our fathers, so we’ve kept it quiet. They know of our exploits, there’s no hiding that, but what they don’t know is that our sharing is far more intimate than they would like.
I turn the corner and slam into a soft, pliable, feminine body that I reach out and grab before she can tumble to the floor. Glancing down, I take in our pretty new toy’s face. A doll. She reminds me of those porcelain dolls that my mother used to collect. Perfectly created to taunt men like me. And I’ll gladly play a game with her, enjoying the gentle caress of pink on her cheeks and the way her eyes dart back and forth with uncertainty.
“I-I-I’m sorry,” she mumbles, dropping her gaze to the floor.
Her long, dark lashes flutter against the apples of her cheeks. There is a fragility to her, it makes her seem innocent when the gentle pink hue colours her face. So very breakable. There’s no doubt this delicate beauty will shatter between us. And my dick throbs at the idea. It would be my pleasure to see her come apart at the seams, to see her break, only to put her back together again.
She doesn’t realise I saw her last night, watching Kai and me. I thought she’d run off in shock, but instead, she stood at the bedroom door until Judah dragged her away. I heard him, felt him. There is an innate connection between us all, and I was more focused on her and him than on the woman who was trying to pleasure me and my best friend.
Kai will always do it for me. Cristina was just a vessel I could use at the time.
“Where are you going?” I ask, releasing Brielle from my hold.
She’s dressed in a pair of skin-tight jeans and a cropped top that offers a peek of her tanned stomach.
“I have orientation in an hour,” she tells me, and I want to go with her, to keep her safe from everyone who could bring her harm. I need to protect her because she’s not only Judah’s possession. She belongs to all three of us.
However, my schedule is already filled with classes. I’m not a student at the university anymore. I provide the combat training. I show these young boys how to kill. And I fucking love it. As much as I hate the rules we must follow, I was born to do this. To take a life, and to train others to do the same.
I want to ask her if she enjoyed the show last night, but I don’t.
Instead, I say, “I’ll drive you in.”
I offer, wanting to keep her safe. She’s beautiful, exquisite actually, and there’s no denying I can’t wait to have a taste.
She tips her head in frustration, which causes me to smile.
Then she throws back, “I don’t need—”
“There’s no debating this, Brielle. When one of us tells you something is happening, it will happen,” I inform her. The contract is clear—she’s to marry Judah, but that means nothing. It’s merely a business agreement. She belongs to all of us. She’s a possession. Ours to watch over. “And we won’t allow you to leave this house alone.”
“I’ll drive her in,” Emilio says from behind me.
Glancing at her half-brother from over my shoulder, I nod.
“That’s fine. Make sure she’s home right after classes.”
I don’t need to explain to him why. He knows the dangers that lie on the island, and he knows that if something was to happen to her, Judah would lose his mind. There are no feelings involved, but the one thing I know about my best friend is that he doesn’t take kindly to having anything he owns hurt, broken, or stolen.
“I’m not a—”
“Brielle,” Emilio sighs her name. I can read the frustration in his expression as he regards her. “Just listen to us,” he says. “I’m not trying to play happy families with you, but you have to realise this island is full of up and coming soldiers, Capos, and Underbosses. They won’t think twice about making you pay once they learn your name.”
It’s true. Her father is responsible for most of their fathers going to prison. When he defected, he sung like a fucking canary. Everyone knows who he is. We can’t hide who she is from the rest of the students or the faculty, but if they know she’s property of the Princes, they’ll think twice about trying to hurt her.
We’re in charge, we set the rules, and we break them whenever we choose.
“Then why are you still alive?” she throws back, her glare pinned on her brother.
I want to chuckle at her fire. There’s something intoxicating about a woman who can hold her own, and I wonder briefly if she’d be up for training. I doubt Judah would want that, though. None of the female students at the university are allowed to fight or learn the combat techniques we do.