Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
It may now sound strange to you, but that’s how this world works. One day, perhaps, Judah may have to choose a partner for your children. It’s how things work. I do hope though you’ll forgive me for the intrusion on your life.
I brought you to Black Hollow to meet Emilio, to build a relationship with the brother you never knew. I won’t go into detail on how all this will play out, but I’ve seen it for myself, and I know you’ll be good for my son.
Things may not always make sense, but I wish you a beautiful wedding day. May there be no blood spilled, and may your future be bright. Don’t forget where you’ve come from, but also, don’t forget to look forward and move away from the sins of the past. We all have to do it, and those who don’t, will pay.
There are so many more things to learn. Time will tell and it will teach you both. Trust in Jude, he’ll look after you. And all I can do is pray that you’ll care for him too.
I hope that my choice has been a good one.
Blood, honour, and loyalty,
Till Death,
Omertà…
I’m still staring at the words when the masseuse calls me over to the bed. Quickly, I put the letters away, and as I lie down, I wonder what Judah’s letter says.
His father chose me for a reason. All my life I thought I was safe from this life, from this world, but I was being watched. He knew more about my father than I do, and even though he did, he still chose me for his son.
I don’t know if that makes me happy, or sad. I think I am quite sad that I’ll never get to meet him face-to-face. I’m also saddened that he’ll never get to see just how much I truly do love his son.
But for him to have written that before he even met me, must mean he could read me as a young girl.
The knuckles kneading my muscles don’t calm the tension that’s coiling inside me. The idea that Judah has a letter too has me on edge. Even though mine wasn’t bad at all, I wonder what he would say to Jude the night before the wedding.
My eyes flutter as my muscles ease with the pressure the woman working my shoulders adds. At least I’ll be able to sleep tonight. Perhaps I’ll go to Judah’s room and sleep there. Wait for him.
Who knows what the future holds, all I can do is wait until we find my father and speak to him. He needs to explain, and I need the answers to all my questions before I know he will meet his maker.
He’s lived on the run for too long, and he’s tried to mess with the family who helped him time and again. I no longer feel guilt in knowing that soon, my father will die.
And I have to go on.
No matter what.
Omertà.
ANSWERS FROM THE GRAVE
JUDAH
I don’t come home and expect to find Brielle in my bed. I thought she’d be asleep in her room, needing space for the last night of her single life. Even the thought of that makes my stomach twist with both excitement and anxiety.
She looks peaceful as she lies under the covers. Her long hair fanned out over the pillow as she breathes deeply. The room is only lit by the one bedside lamp. I want to wake her, but she’s calm and relaxed, and I know if I did wake her, she’d only ask a million and one questions about where I’ve been.
It was a rather quiet evening. I told Kai and Valen I didn’t want something crazy. Perhaps I am growing up, maturing, like my father wanted me to. Maybe it’s Brielle’s influence.
Knowing that tomorrow I’m going to say I do to her has me wondering what thoughts she had running through her mind tonight. Even though I planned the massage and the spa treatments for her, it couldn’t have been easy to be on her own.
Deep down, guilt twinges in my gut. I should have stayed with her. At the very least, I could have invited one of the girls from the school, the one she’s always talking to, Emilia. But I didn’t think about it until we had arrived at the cliff edge.
By then, I’m pretty sure she was already lost in her massage and relaxing on the bed. One thing about the girl I realised I had fallen in love with, is that she’s happy in her own space. She doesn’t need people around her to feel at peace.
I like that about her. It shows her strength, her calmness to work solo. It’s how I have been for years. Granted, I did have Jordan to stick around and help when I needed it. But for the most part, while I was at school, and as I was learning from our father, I did it on my own.