Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
“Of course.” He nods, his brown eyes sliding to mine. “I hear your sister is all settled in now.”
“She is.” I fight a smirk. “The studios in the basement suit her well.”
His brows snap together, and I fight to keep my muscles from tensing.
Shit, she didn’t tell him that little detail. I’m kind of proud of her, but I also want to smack her as now I’m the fool.
His jaw muscles tic and I know what he’s thinking, even if his words are carefully chosen in front of the girls. “Are we sure it’s safe for her there?” He delivers his question calmly when he really wants to growl, are we sure the degenerate boys I told you not to bring here won’t do something I’ll have to kill them for?
“Damiano’s suite is just across from hers. Our weapon supply is in the same area. She’s safer there than anywhere in the house,” I assure him.
“Couldn’t give her her old room back, hmm?”
“I gave it to Saylor.”
“Your maid has an apartment suite?”
“She does.”
My father nods, holding my stare for several silent seconds, and I know this little random visit he’s not entirely unknown for isn’t simply about the paper in my hands, so I stare back.
He will speak when he’s ready.
I swear his lip twitches when he recognizes the stubborn streak he gave me, but it’s gone too fast to say for sure.
“I’m having a drink with Mr. Henshaw and his family tonight. Oliver will be there. Join me?”
I fake a yawn and the creases along his temples deepen. “I’m going to turn in early tonight, actually. Classes were so intense today; I need to go over my reading a few times just to know what was covered.”
Bronx laughs but covers it with a cough, facing the window as if it suddenly became interesting.
“Right, well, we wouldn’t want you to fall behind, now would we?” He pulls in a deep breath, smoothing his suit jacket down when it’s already as smooth as it could possibly be. “Next time,” he warns, letting me know no invitation will be given.
It will be a demand I must obey without a fight.
I smile, and when he holds his arms out, I climb off the bed, ignoring the crinkle of papers beneath me, and go to him.
He wraps his arm around me, whispering into my ear, “Behave, Rocco. Do not give me reason to believe you’re not.”
Releasing me, he steps back.
Before he can escape, I have to ask. “Have you heard anything about Enzo?”
My dad’s stance widens, and I know before he answers that he will be giving me one single word in response.
“No,” he says, and then he walks out the door.
I wait several minutes before poking my head out to make sure it’s clear and turn to my girls.
When I spoke to Sai, all he would say is it’s his job as my guard to be extra cautious, to consider all possibilities, from all angles, at all times, and make sure if those threats come from unlikely sources, that he’s prepared to face what that means—whatever the fuck that means. He wouldn’t say much and I get it. He has to be careful of what he says, as the wrong choice of words could sound a lot like going against the boss’s orders, and that’s not allowed.
Dad would have his head, oldest friend, and the man who swore his allegiance to his daughter aside. Defiance is a sure way to the Revenaw cellar, and I’m not sure anyone’s ever come out of there in one piece. Literally.
I open my mouth to speak, but Jasper appears before I can, giving a small bow.
“There’s a problem in the basement.”
“What time is it?” Bronx takes a sip of her cappuccino cocktail, her attempt to drown out the wine and keep her focus.
“Thirty minutes before schedule,” Delta answers for her, looking to me.
Eight in the evening.
I shrug a shoulder, picking up the pile of papers that, so far, has led us nowhere, and stuff them beneath the pillows. “We improvise.”
Our grins grow in unison, and Jasper’s eyes widen the slightest bit.
The three of us climb to our feet, slide into slippers and wind our way toward the lowest level of Greyson Manor, the basement studios. Though basement is a general term and not a very good one to describe the area. It’s as exquisite as any other area within the manor, if only a little “less than” the upper floors, in the sense that they don’t have the balcony views or staff of their own.
As we reach the end of the stairs, Kylo has Kenex by the throat, his fist coming down on his brother’s jaw, but Kenex only grins, his right hook whipping around just as fast, slamming into Kylo’s nose.
Blood starts pouring instantly and the brothers take each other down, swinging and wrestling, headbutting and choking one another until both nearly put each other to sleep. Only then do they finally let each other go, flopping onto their backs on the marble floor.