Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 170885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Forget about being heartbroken. I’m fucking livid right now.
I texted Mia about her brother’s plans and she gave me a code to access the Heathens’ mansion.
That’s where I am right now after driving like a madman.
However, when I arrive at the annexed house where Mia told me to meet her, I’m stopped by three bulky guards. Two of them are built like rocks and look at me as if I’m a cockroach.
They’re standing on either side of the metal door, arms crossed in front of them, but I catch a glimpse of their guns holstered at their waists.
The one who steps forward is a younger blond man who looks no older than me, but his expression is solemn as he orders in a Russian accent, “Step back.”
“I’m here to see Mia,” I say in my firm voice.
“That won’t be possible. Leave the property or we’ll escort you out. The second option will not be pleasant.”
“I won’t move until I see Mia and my brother.”
He steps forward, but I remain rooted in place. I have no doubt that he’ll pummel me to the ground, but I don’t care. At this point, all I want is to take my brother home in one piece.
“Tell Nikolai I’m here,” I say when he reaches for me.
“What?”
“Tell him I want to see him and that he doesn’t want to fucking test me.”
“Why would Nikolai want to see you?” he says with a note of condescension that gets under my skin.
In his eyes, I’m Lan’s identical twin and, therefore, Nikolai would hold the same level of contempt for me. But that’s not true. Even Jeremy and Killian actually like me and have always differentiated me from Lan’s antics.
Nikolai has, too, from the beginning. He calls me lotus flower because of it. But now, he’s being a massive dick.
The guard starts to push me and I fight against him. But before he can punch me in the face, the door creaks open.
My breath hitches when Lan steps out, swaying on unsteady legs. Blood gushes from the corner of his lip and purple bruises decorate his cheeks and neck.
But the part that leaves me paralyzed is the way his left hand lies limp by his side as he holds his forearm.
No, no, no…
I wrench myself from the guard’s grip and run to him. “Lan…are you okay?”
“What the fuck are you doing here, Bran?” he snaps and grabs me by the nape. “Why can’t you just stop being a busybody and stay still?”
“I can’t watch you being hurt and do nothing.” I inspect his arm, my heart thundering loudly when I touch his wrist and he groans. “Is your…wrist okay?”
He waves me away. “Nikolai was jealous and tried to break it, but I think I got away with a sprain.”
“Nikolai did?”
“He said either I leave Mia or he breaks my artist wrist.”
I close my eyes briefly, but it does nothing to disperse the pain flooding through me. “You picked Mia.”
It’s not a question, because I know now how much he’d self-destruct for her. I’ve never seen him dedicated to anyone as much as he is to her.
A pained, bloody grin curls his lips. “Sure as fuck. Would do it again in a heartbeat.”
He coughs and then spits a mouthful of blood on the concrete floor. I grab him by the waist and start dragging him to where I had to leave the car near the entrance.
“Let’s get you to a doctor.”
He grumbles a noise at the back of his throat, but he leans on me and lets me half carry him.
“I’ve got to say, it’s refreshing to see you worried about me.” He ruffles my hair.
“Stop messing around, Lan. You screwed up your wrist and all you can think about is me being worried about you?”
“It’s a very important element.”
“Seriously?”
“Uh-huh. It means you care.”
“I always care. You’re the one who doesn’t.”
“Fuck that. If you weren’t here, I would’ve introduced that bunch of Heathens to my special brand of fucked up.”
“And get yourself killed?”
“Will you cry at my funeral?”
“Lan! Don’t joke about nonsense like that.”
“But I want to know. Will you?”
I sigh as I help him into the passenger seat. “You’re my twin brother.”
“And?” He looks at me expectantly, like a fucking hyena who’s waiting to pounce on its prey. Or maybe it’s just expectation and I’m reading too much into it.
“And that means I wouldn’t be the same without you. Not that you share the sentiment.” I start to close the door, but he shoves his foot against it, keeping it open.
“You know, that’s your problem, Bran. You always assume things about me instead of fucking talking to me. It’s a nasty habit that needs to go.” He holds my gaze with his identical one. “I wouldn’t be the same without you, either, twat. You’re part of me.”
“Ownership again? Classic.”