Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
The Hayes Group hasn’t always been my favorite place in the world. Cormac was obsessed, and Dad was obsessed through Cormac, but I always saw these people as selfish and self-important. They’re a bunch of fancy thugs with a good drug-smuggling business, and they all pretend like they’re blood brothers and family, when really, we’re just a bunch of strangers thrown together to sell coke on the streets.
But at least they pretend like they care about each other. I keep thinking about the ugly disdain Julien’s grandfather showed him and the way Julien stood up for me despite how angry it made the old man. I don’t know why he did it, considering we’re not even really fake married yet, but it was like a point of pride for him or something.
Ronan welcomes me into his office. I sit across from the young leader of the Group and try to get my thoughts together. I’m anxious and nervous, and I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing by coming here.
“How are you holding up, Brianne?” he asks, and I swear he even cares about the answer. If anyone should hate me, it’s Ronan—my brother’s the one that nearly ruined his life and destroyed his organization. And yet he really doesn’t seem to hold a grudge against me, not like the rest of the uncles and cousins.
“I’m alright. Hanging in there.”
“Your dad’s okay?” He asks it casually, but there’s a vague implication behind the question.
“He’s the same as always.” Still drunk and still a piece of shit. “I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”
He laughs and leans back in his chair. “Honestly, I’ve had a fucking parade of complaints this past hour, and so long as you’re not about to ask me for money, you’re probably my best meeting of the morning.”
I grin at him and shrug. “Well, I was thinking, I could use a few million…”
“Couldn’t we all.” He leans forward again with a sigh. “I’m guessing this is really about Julien?”
I nod and glance away. There’s a picture on his desk of his wife, a beautiful Italian woman named Valentina. Apparently, she’s newly pregnant, and all the aunts are going crazy for the future heir to the Group. I wonder if I’ll ever have a relationship like Ronan had with his wife—they seem to genuinely love each other, or at least from what I’ve seen.
“I think I want to move forward with marrying him.”
Ronan doesn’t say anything. He only watches me, and a dozen thoughts drift through my head. I could be making a mistake, or Julien might be as much of a bastard as I think he is, or if I were smart, I’d keep my five grand in cash and run away somewhere and start my life over. This little family doesn’t matter—I don’t have anything to prove to any of them—
And yet I do. And yet I care. Kim’s a Hayes, and I love Kim. I miss the way things were before Cormac went crazy and got himself killed. I wasn’t hugely into the family life, but I liked coming to the big parties, the holiday gatherings and the summer picnics. I felt like, even when things were bad, at least I had a place where I belonged.
I lost that when Cormac died. Maybe I never really had it to begin with.
But marrying Julien is my chance to carve out a space for myself.
“Are you sure about that?” Ronan asks finally. “I’ll be honest, this is what I wanted, but I need to make sure you’re making this decision because it’s what you want.”
“It’s not what I want,” I tell him. “But I think it’s a good idea anyway. I think it’ll get me what I want in the end.”
“Which is what?” he asks softly.
“A life.” I stand up and nod at him. “You can tell Julien if you want or I can give him a call. Whatever’s easier.”
“You should talk to your future husband.” He sits back again, studying me. “For what it’s worth, I think Julien’s a better person than he lets on.” He frowns slightly. “For the most part, anyway.”
I think Julien’s a selfish prick and he only wants to marry me for his own selfish reasons. But that’s fine, because I don’t need him to love me.
I don’t say any of that though. Instead, I move toward the door but pause before leaving. “I have a condition.”
“What’s that?”
“My father can’t be involved in any of this.” I don’t look at Ronan. A spear of shame jabs down into my guts. Maybe I’m just as bad as I think Julien is if I’m willing to cut my own father out of this situation. “This is just between us, okay?”
“If that’s how you want it, that’s fine by me.”
“My dad’s not at my wedding, he’s not part of the deal, and he’s not in my life.” I grip the doorknob. “That’s all I want.”