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)
I’m convinced each of these men can read my mind. It’s as if they’re burrowing their way into my psyche, and I know I won’t ever be able to get them out.
“I know,” I say then. “And I can fight as well. I’m just worried about what will happen in the future. I never thought I’d be safe forever, but there’s this niggle in the back of my mind that tells me a war is coming.”
“It is,” Judah confirms with a confident nod. “Once I step into my father’s position on my birthday, there are many families who will try to overthrow me. And, as my wife, that means you’ll be right by my side. Which is why I need you to be ready to take on anyone that may come at you.”
The thought of having to go to war over some family name, over who is in control, makes me anxious. I don’t like the old world mentality. It worked back then, but this is the present day, we’re not living in the nineteen hundreds anymore.
“I will fight alongside you. One thing my father taught me is to never surrender,” I tell them proudly.
I’ve never allowed anyone to take advantage of me, and I have never been a pushover. It’s not in my nature, and I don’t intend to show weakness now. I’ve had to take medication daily to ensure I live a long life. I was given a second chance, and I don’t intend on wasting it. I’m used to fighting. Giving up is not a choice, I want to get through this. I have to.
“Then we won’t have a problem,” Kai says. “I didn’t think you’d sit back and let anything just happen to you.”
There’s pride in his tone. The only other person who’s ever spoken to me like that or made me feel valued is Papa, and now he’s not with me anymore, I’m going to have to tell myself I’m strong.
“I was taught to fight for what I want.”
“And what is it you want now, Brielle?” Judah tests me, his hazel eyes landing on mine, boring a hole right into my soul.
There’s something about the way he looks at me that tells me all those things I would rather have kept hidden are no longer a secret.
“I want to live a happy life,” I tell him. “I want you, Kai, and Valen safe, and I want Emilio and Jordan safe. But I also want my father to live a long and happy existence. And when he finally takes his last breath, I hope it’s not because he was killed.”
It’s the most honesty I’ve offered, other than telling them about my transplant. I received a heart from the girl who, I later learnt, was the daughter of my father’s mistress. The accident that took her life happened at the same time I was on the transplant waiting list. They didn’t have any hope for me. I was admitted into hospital with no prospects of surviving, and then, a miracle happened.
But now I don’t know if I can believe it was merely fate. Serendipity doesn’t occur randomly in our world of violence and vows. There’s never a magical cure for anything.
“You do know that your father may not survive the next few days,” Judah tells me coldly.
“Do you have to be such a bastard?”
“No,” he says with a shake of his head. “I’m being honest. Giving you the truth rather than tiptoeing around the bullshit that everyone else will offer. If you ever want the truth from anyone, the men around this table will be the ones to give it to you.”
He sets down his fork and knife and looks directly at me. There’s an icy chill that races down my spine when he does this. I know there’s more to it than just him being honest. I can tell he’s trying to connect. Previously, he would have just thrown out something hurtful and moved on, but there’s been a bond formed between us now, and I don’t think it’s ever going to be severed.
The door to the dining room opens and four men walk in, all dressed in black. Their focus is on me, but Judah pushes to his feet and they halt all movement.
“What is this about?” he asks, his tone calm, but there’s an underlying threat that seems to linger in every word he utters.
“We need to take the girl,” one of the men tells Judah. “It’s not in our hands anymore. And it’s not in yours.”
“She’s my property,” Judah hisses, his hands slamming down on the table in a loud thud that has me jumping in shock. “She will not leave this fucking property. If anyone comes for her, they’ll be coming for the Veniers, the Erranis, and the Medicis as well.” The three strongest names in the mafia.