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)
She blushes as she listens to my confession. “I know that. I didn’t before, but I do know that now. I think for me, I just wasn’t used to the attention. Not from one, or three men. It’s all new ground.”
“It’s new to us too. We’ve never had a long-term woman who we could share ourselves with.” It’s the truth. There may have been previous partners who walked into our lives and spent the night, but none were special enough for us to ask them to stay.
Granted, Judah was given Brielle by his dead father, but she has burrowed her way into our lives, into our hearts. We have given her the trust we couldn’t give to anyone else.
“Do you think that once you’re all stepped up into your roles you’ll be able to come out and tell the world about us?” It’s a question I’ve been pondering for years. It would be much easier to live a normal, open life, but with all the shit that the elders believe, it’s not going to be easy to let anyone in on our lifestyle.
“I really don’t know,” I tell her. “There are so many threats that come with being in the mafia, and to add the interconnected relationship we have, it could be detrimental. When people know you love someone, there could be harsher threats than the one we currently face.”
Brielle ponders this for a moment. “I suppose you’re right.”
We don’t talk any more about it, as the plane descends into Naples, we all get ready to disembark. We’re about to walk into what could be a life-changing situation for Brielle.
I don’t know what’s going to come of it, but I do hope that she receives the answers she gets. As we pile into the waiting car, I say to Judah, “I think Valen and I will go find the hotel and make sure the suites are ready. You should go with Brielle. It’s only going to cause more issues if we all four go in there.”
He looks at me then, “Are you sure? I think perhaps we will need you closer.”
“You’ll handle it, we trust you,” I tell him with a firm nod of approval. The only reason I want to be alone with Val is to plan a little party for all of us once the ceremonies are over, and I want it to be a surprise for them.
We have so much going on at the moment, I think it would be nice to have some time to relax and not think about all the bad shit that’s gone down.
Judah nods. “Sure. We will need about an hour. Wait out here for us and we’ll find you when we’re done.” With that, we wait for them to exit the vehicle. Once they disappear into the enormous mansion, we pull away.
“What was that about?” Val asks, and I turn to him with a smile.
“We have to make a plan.”
And I know that we’re going to come up with something incredible. Because Valen loves a good party.
A FATHER’S SINS
BRIELLE
I don’t know what to expect when I walk into the room, but it’s not to see my father chained up. I don’t blame them, he’s done some shit in his life, and right now, I don’t have any sympathy for him.
When he looks up at me, his eyes widen in shock. “What are you doing here?” His voice is pained, and the guilt dances in his gaze as he regards me. “You shouldn’t be here. I knew that boy would bring you down and force you into a life you should never be in.”
“You’re the one who agreed to the terms and conditions, Papa,” I bite out as I step in front of him and see my father for the person he truly is. The anger that had overtaken me when I first found out about the contract is back, but this time, included in those emotions is the pain I feel when I think about all the lies.
“I wanted you safe.”
“No,” I spit out. “You wanted you safe. Let’s start right at the beginning. Care to tell me about my surgery?” There is a lot to unpack with my father. And I’ll gladly stay here for as long as it takes.
When he looks away from me, I realise whatever we thought he had done, was true. My father hurt another girl, in order for me to live.
“I’m not leaving until you answer all my questions. And I don’t want your sob stories. I need the truth.” I don’t shy away. In the past, I may have cowered if my father looked at me the way he is right now. But I’m no longer the little girl wanting to please her father. I can’t be the daughter he raised, because I’m now a woman, and I have my own family to look after.