Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Pushing off the counter, I quickly undress and dip into the bath, sighing when the hot water reduces all the stress from my muscles. I scrub, rest, nap, and then wake when the water is cold. Tugging the plug, I slip straight into my silk robe and brush my teeth. I need sleep since I didn’t get much last night, yet when I slide between my silk sheets, I can’t ignore the way I ache to have him here with me again.
I remember watching Emily Rose and freaking out about the time that she kept waking in the movie. Three a.m., the smell of something burning, and dusted sulfur. Those were the tell-tale signs of demon possession. I couldn’t sleep for days. I had snuck into the cinema in the basement and hid behind the chairs throughout the entire movie. When it finished, The Brothers all found me rocking in the corner with my arms wrapped around my knees, whispering, “It’s not real. They’re lying.” Kyrin got mad because he knew I’d be sleeping in his bed for the next week, Killian laughed at me, King shook his head in disappointment, and Keaton carried me upstairs like I was incapable of walking myself. Which I probably was.
I reach aimlessly for my phone, knocking over my lamp in the process while shoving my eye covers above my head. We’re going to ignore the time on the clock right now for the sake of me being home alone.
Unknown number.
I snicker, my eyes burning against the bright screen. “Figures you crazy bitches call me at the devil’s hour.” I swipe to the side and answer. “Nero.”
“Hello, Cartier.” A voice says smoothly through the other end.
A chill snaps over my spine and I snuggle back beneath the warmth of my sheets, clutching some kind of false sense of security. I stare up at the ceiling even though the room is pitch black. Swallowing, I whisper, “This is she.”
“Do you know who I am, Poppet?” Oh great. Now what.
I pause. “I do. I guess I’m confused as to why you’re calling me?” I ignore the time now; this might be far worse.
“We have a proposition for you. I don’t think you’re going to want to turn it down.” I pause for a few seconds, counting to four. I don’t want to sound desperate, but also suck my ass, Kyrin! Ha!
“I’m listening.” I shuffle up my bed farther, squeezing my phone in my hand. I’m suddenly ten espressos deep inside my mind.
“There’s an opening for you, are you interested?”
I swallow past the excitement that has me in a chokehold. “Yes—” I breathe out, before trauma rolls in. “Wait, I just, I don’t want to be part of the final show.”
“We’re aware of yours and your brothers’ worries. Which is fine, but you won’t be touching each other, and we’ve done it for generations, Cartier.”
“Well.” I try to hide my distaste. I don’t want to ruin this opportunity. Maybe this is why Kyrin left without telling me what my punishment was. He was trumped, and now he’s sulking. Ha! Makes sense. My mind travels back to the conversation at hand. “No offense, but I’m also a lot closer to The Brothers than other sisters have been in previous generations. My brother and I have a typical brother-sister friendship. There’s no…” I stop my words, struggling to find my way around the next ones.
“Incest?” she finishes, and it’s the nonchalant tone that should shock me, but it doesn’t.
“Yes…” My hand lands on my lower belly where it stirs like a whirlwind. Did I eat?
“We can move around that. For now, your first day will be tonight. You will be allocated a driver from now until you have fulfilled your three years. We haven’t had anyone of this generation with us. The last one was Delila, so I have to ask, you understand the commitment?”
“Yes,” I say, and the words float out of my mouth along with any control I have over my life for the next three years.
“I will see you tomorrow at four p.m. Get your rest, oh, and Cartier? This is a secret which will require a blood oath.” Wait. So Kyrin doesn’t know?
“Everyone except The Brothers?” I must have misunderstood.
“No, including The Brothers.” Dammit. I can’t gloat.
“Okay.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I hang up my phone and lay it on my chest, blinking through the conversation. Did I just get everything I’ve ever wanted?
I have twelve hours until I’ll be collected. I need to get food, coffee, and do some serious shopping beforehand. There is no way I’m going into my first day with a head full of anxiety.
I make my way down to the lobby, waving at the doorman before hitting the side streets. I find myself outside Banjos.
It’s a Hampton’s style café that’s situated right on the corner. It has a small American flag beside a Colombian one, side by side. They have the best coffee in New York, and no one can make me think otherwise.