Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
I turn my attention to the third man who’s assessing me as if I’m cattle being sold at an auction. He’s a similar height to Judah, but I can see his shoulders are broader and his body is bulkier. The jeans he’s wearing hug his thighs. He hasn’t spoken yet, but his look is intimidating, and the black T-shirt he’s wearing reveals tattoos from his wrists to his shoulders and up his to neck.
My gaze shifts over to the last of the four. He looks like a younger version of Judah, and the deep anger I’ve been holding onto since the meeting in the lawyer’s office laces my question as I enquire again, “Who are you?”
“We’re the Lawless Princes, sweetheart,” the guy wearing the hoodie says before he slips the material off his head and grins. His smile brightens the blue of his eyes, and I take in his chestnut hair that’s buzzed short. He looks like he should be a model or in a boy band—he’s beautiful.
“I’m Jordan,” the one who looks a lot like Judah tells me. “Judah’s younger, but handsomer brother.” He offers me a confident smirk, and I can see he looks even more like his brother with that expression on his face.
“You’re full of shit,” the guy with the hoodie laughs out loud. “I’m Valen, but you can call me Val.” He holds out his hand, and I regard it for a while before accepting it. Heat sizzles through me when he brings my knuckles up to his lips and presses a kiss to them. “The pleasure is definitely all mine.”
“That’s enough,” comes from the young man with golden eyes like mine, but I can’t bring myself to look at him again.
Anger and confusion surge within me as I’m reminded that no matter how well I think I know my father, it’s abundantly clear I don’t. There are secrets he’s been keeping from me, and it seems that the biggest one, my half-sibling, is standing a few feet away from me. I’m not sure what to say, because I feel as if the wind has been knocked from my lungs.
I want my father to explain himself, but I probably won’t get the opportunity to see him again. When he said goodbye to me, there was a finality to it. The only thing I can pray is that he’s still alive after he meets with the heads of the families.
Valen releases me, stepping back to allow my brother to step forward. I finally drag my gaze towards his, and I can’t help but shiver. He looks so much like our father that it’s strange looking into his eyes. There’s no denying he’s a Saviatti. He is my father’s son.
“You’re…” I don’t know what I want to say. I’m not sure there are enough words to express what’s roiling within me, so I stay silent.
“I’m Emilio,” he says, and my stomach drops. This is Papa’s son, but he’s not my brother. I can’t accept that he’s my family. I had no clue he even existed until today. “It’s nice to finally meet you, sister.” He emphasises my new title slowly, the word hanging between us, heavy and pained. “I wish things were different.”
The one who’s tattooed continues to look me over, but he doesn’t say anything. It’s Jordan who introduces him. “This is Malachi, but we call him Kai. He prefers watching to speaking.”
Something tells me there’s more to what Jordan just said than the innocent explanation in my mind. I take Kai in, noticing his tanned skin that’s marked like a beautiful piece of artwork. His arms are pure, lean muscle when he moves.
Valen speaks from behind Emilio. “Let’s go. Judah wants us in a meeting, and we need to make sure she knows where she’s staying.”
He turns and leaves me with my brother. Emilio tips his head to the side, gesturing for me to walk, and I have no choice but to follow him towards the waiting car.
Valen holds the rear passenger door open, waiting for me to slip into the seat. The interior is spotless, the smooth leather of the seats pristine, and when the guys all get in, I’m surrounded by their cologne. Each one different, but they all seem to mingle and fit together.
It’s Emilio who takes the wheel, while Jordan sits beside him in the front passenger seat and Kai and Valen are on either side of me.
The drive is silent, tension hanging in the air, and I wonder if they’re keeping quiet because they’re each assessing me in their own unique way. Emilio turns left onto a road that seems to wind up a steep cliff.
“Where are we going?” I ask, glancing beside me to find Kai watching me.
His eyes penetrate through my defences, and a shiver of apprehension dances down my spine. I didn’t even consider where I would live while on the island. I don’t know these guys, even though one of them is my brother.