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)
“Family is important,” Emilio says with a nod of agreement. “I didn’t know our father very well. I only ever saw him once, and that was just before you both disappeared. I was brought here, and deep down, I figured it was the end of the road for him. I honestly didn’t think he would have survived as long as he has.”
“Now that I know everything, I realise how out of the loop I’ve been with everything around me.” I sip my own coffee, and close my eyes when the warmth of it calms me. When I look at Emilio again, I say, “I hope that we can build a relationship. I don’t want to be someone you avoid for any reason. I know things aren’t always easy, but I am here for you.”
“Hey,” he says while gifting me a smile. “I’m not going to be running off anytime soon. I do want to train with The Agency though. Their work fascinates me, but also, I know that it’s something I need to do to work through the stress of the past few months.”
I understand what he means. There’s been so much emotion, so many fires to put out, I know exactly what it feels like to have your world thrown upside down.
“Well, you’ll always have a home to come to here on Black Hollow. And once I graduate, I’m going to be working alongside Judah. It will give me an opportunity to see things first-hand.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” The concern in Emilio’s eyes makes me smile. He cares about me and my well-being which fills my heart with joy. When we first met, I was convinced I would never accept him as my brother. But times change, things have progressed, and now I can’t imagine him anywhere else.
I ponder his question for a moment. I could do anything I wanted to and I know Jude would accept and support me, but I promised to be by his side, and if I’m honest with myself, I do want to learn about the organisation. I want to know how it runs, I want to train with the rest of the soldiers. Perhaps not in combat, yet, but I am ready for a new challenge.
“I do.” I nod then. “I’ve thought about it, and when I posed the idea to Judah, he said he would support me in anything I’d like to do. And now that I’m able to put my skills to the test, both academic and physical, I want to go all in. I doubt I could work in a place like The Agency, killing isn’t my strong suit, but I do like the undercover work.”
“It will put you in danger.” It’s a warning, one that I know all too well. I didn’t want to be in this life for such a long time, and now I can’t picture myself leading any semblance of what people would think is a normal life.
“I know, there are times I wonder if I’m sane when I consider my decision, but”—I pause as I set the cup down and push to my feet—“I’ll have the biggest and meanest bodyguards watching over me, and when you’re home, you’ll be here too. I won’t ever put myself in any necessary danger. I can promise you that.”
“She definitely won’t,” Jordan says as he walks into the room. “My brother will more than likely lock her in the basement if she even so much as thinks about doing something stupid.”
“And I wouldn’t blame Judah for it either,” Emilio throws out with a chuckle, and I can’t stop myself from lobbing a cushion at his head. Both guys laugh.
“What violence is going on in here?” Judah questions when he saunters into the living room. He makes his way straight to me, and not long after he’s entered, Valen and Kai join us.
We truly are a family. One I’m more than proud to be a part of. I can’t imagine my life without them now.
“Emilio was just saying how he’d help you lock me in the basement if I tried to put myself in any danger.” I look at Judah who’s nodding, offering a wink to me, but he grins at my brother.
“Trust me, mate,” he says then. “She’ll have three of us to contend with. She’s strong, but not that strong. We’ll make sure she’s alive and well.”
“You guys do know I’m standing right here,” I retort as I pout at my husband, and then the rest of the guys who are now laughing loudly.
“We better head off before Brielle locks us all up in the damn basement,” Jordan announces and he looks over to where Emilio is. They’re leaving tonight, and I already feel the pang of heartbreak at seeing my brother leave. We only just got to know each other, and now, he’s heading off. I know it will be good for him, but I’ll miss him, and that’s what’s so difficult to handle.