Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“You’ll lose your precious teaching job. You’ve fought your entire adult life against me to keep that job that pays you pennies. Are you really ready to give up your calling for a child?”
I bristle and level Nathan with a glare. “I’m not a child.” His words curdle, though, still stinking long after he’s spoken them.
Callum says losing his job is fine. He doesn’t care. Still, the guilt is a smack of reality, punishing me.
“I’ll manage,” Callum says, shrugging. “I always do.”
There’s a quiet standoff where neither man speaks. The rest of the family, including myself, wait out the awkwardness while biting our tongues. Finally, Nathan huffs and waves a hand in the air.
“Sit. Jamie’s prepared a delicious meal. We can deal with these matters another time.” Nathan walks over to the head of the massive table and takes a seat. “Hugo, did you ever meet with the city planner?”
Just like that, the awkward conversation is over.
Callum relaxes, which, in turn, makes my muscles loosen. He guides me over to a chair, pulls the seat out, and then pushes me closer to the table once I’ve sat down. Gemma plops down beside me and leans in.
“Told you it’d be awkward as fuck.” She squeezes my thigh. “You’re doing great. I’m glad you’re here.”
Dinner isn’t as bad as I feared. Now that Nathan is essentially ignoring the big elephant in the room, the conversation becomes friendly and everyone sort of talks all at once. I may not like Nathan very much, but I hope eventually the tension between him and Callum can subside.
I’m lost in the chatter when a coldness settles over me. All the hairs on my arms stand on end. I quickly glance at everyone seated at the table, but no one else seems to notice anything amiss. Eyes bore into the back of my head. A shudder passes through me.
What the hell is going on?
I turn my head, looking over my shoulder. Standing, like a statue, in black jeans and black hoodie that covers his head and shadows his face, is a massive man. I thought Callum was big, but this guy is a giant. His shoulders are broad and muscular. With a frame like his, he could probably tackle any dude in the NFL with ease. Who is this guy and why is no one concerned?
“Jude,” Callum murmurs. “He’s…just don’t pay any attention to him. He doesn’t like it.”
The man in question, Jude, stalks forward. I tense up, unable to move. It’s not like he’d hurt me, but the intensity rolling from him is palpable. It’s like an incoming storm—powerful and vengeful, capable of extensive damage. He makes it to the other side of the table where an empty chair sits across from me. Tattooed fingers curl over the back of the chair and he drags it back. I watch in part terror part awe as he settles his huge frame in the chair that’s far too small for him. Still, I can’t see his face due to the hood.
Why aren’t they acknowledging him?
They just keep yapping like nothing is wrong.
Finally, Jude lifts his head and I expect to meet a face that resembles one of the others at the table. Instead, I’m faced with…well, no face.
White latex.
A mask.
What the actual fuck?
I want to ask Callum why his brother is wearing a white mask that covers his entire face aside from his glimmering blue eyes and two small nose holes for breathing. But that would require finding the words to ask the question. All I can do is stare in confusion. Was his face disfigured from the fire?
“Jude,” Callum says, voice unaffected whatsoever by his brother’s strange entrance and appearance. “This is Willa.”
Jude makes a slight grunting sound and gives me a small nod. Okay then. I have a million questions. All of which I’m going to bombard Callum with the second we leave.
“This smells divine,” Jamie chirps as she enters with a casserole dish. “Oh, hey, Jude.”
Jude grunts again.
This family is strange. Really, really strange. But Callum’s a part of it and now I’m a part of him. I don’t exactly have a great point of reference when it comes to good families. As long as I have Callum at my side, everything else will be okay.
As though sensing my inner conversation, Callum leans over and nuzzles his nose in my hair. I smile and bask in his sweet affection.
“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?”
This morning. Over and over while he fucked me in the shower.
My cheeks heat at the memory. I turn to meet his lips with a kiss.
“You could remind me again later.” I grin and a giggle slips out when he growls under his breath.
“Eat quickly, sweetheart.”
“And if I don’t?” I tease, glancing down at the way his cock thickens under his denim.