Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
By the time we’re in the car, I’m tense wondering why my father has called for me. Maybe I’m in trouble. I do try to keep my head in my books and focus on my studies, but who knows what has Da wanting me back at the house. Unless there’s a new threat against him.
As the leader of a crime firm, there are always hits being taken out on him, and because I’m his daughter, I tend to get them directed at me, too. As much as I try to portray a strong-willed, hard exterior, I’m scared of dying. It’s a fear I’ve had ever since I’ve been old enough to understand who and what my father is.
I walk into the house and find it crowded with my father’s men. They’re all standing around the lounge and foyer with pints in hand. They don’t take note of me walking in. I’m mostly invisible to them.
On entering the dining room, I find my father sitting at the long table, and my feet stop dead in their tracks. With him are two lads I haven’t seen before. They look so similar, and I immediately conclude they’re twins. The only difference between them is that one of them is talking to my father while the other is staring straight at me.
The one watching me is making my heart thud wildly against my chest. He’s sitting with his hands resting on the table in front of him, his fingers entwined, and I note that they’re inked. His full lips are pursed, and those eyes pierce a hole right through me.
He doesn’t look out of place at all. There’s a confidence about him that has his shoulders squared and his face stoic. He looks like he belongs in this world.
The sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows casts colourful patterns on the marble floor, creating a pathway that leads directly to him. I want to smile, but I don’t because my father has turned and is now looking at me.
“Ah, there she is,” he says in his booming tone that I’ve come to love. “Harley Bear, come and meet our two new recruits.”
I cringe at the nickname Da gave me when I was very young. Amongst these dangerous men, it seems so out of place. I take a few steps towards the table, and my father reaches for me, snaking his arm around me and tugging me to his side.
“This is my daughter,” he proudly tells the new men.
Two sets of matching dark eyes look up at me, but it’s the one on the left with the inked hands that has me wanting to fall into his darkest depths.
I’ve never really had a crush on anybody before. Granted, most of the men who work for my father are arseholes, but there’s something different about this new lad.
“This is Hadrian,” Da says, and the inked man I’ve been drooling over nods his head. “And this is Hades.” Da gestures towards the other lad. “They’ll be looking after collections for me.”
“Oh,” I manage to mutter.
Hadrian shifts to face me, and our eyes meet. His dark stare is intense, piercing, and for a second, I feel a jolt of something I can’t quite define. He pushes to his feet, and I note he’s tall with a lean, muscular build, and there’s an air of quiet strength about him.
“Heya,” I say, my voice sounding smaller than I intended. “I’m Harley.”
“Lovely to meet ya, Harley,” he replies, his voice deep and steady.
He extends a hand to me, and I shake it, noticing the firmness of his grip.
“The lads will be staying with us until they get settled. I think it’ll be good if they’re close by, so when I need something done, they can take the lead,” Da continues, clearly not noticing the tension between me and one of his newest recruits. “They’re going to be valuable assets to our team.”
I nod, trying to hide my nervousness. “That’s ace. Good to meet you both.” I look at my father, who’s beaming, and wanting to get myself out of this embarrassing situation, I say, “Da, I have to get my homework done.”
Da claps Hadrian on the shoulder. “Let me show you and Hades around. Harley, I’m sure your studies can be left a bit longer. Why don’t you join us?”
I don’t reply. Instead, I obey my father, like the good little lamb I’ve been raised to be. I fall into step beside the two young men as Da leads us through the house, pointing out various rooms and explaining their purposes.
As we walk, I steal glances at Hadrian, trying to get a sense of who he is. He’s composed, attentive, and asks thoughtful questions. There’s a quiet self-assurance about him that’s both intriguing and a little intimidating.
We end the tour in Da’s study. It’s a large, book-lined room that smells of leather and old paper.