Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“That’s all. Finish this good food. Drink as much drink as you like. Tomorrow, the new Brotherhood moves forward.”
I hold out a hand. Lena accepts it and stands by my side. For a moment, I linger with her, letting my family see their future.
They might not like it, but they will obey.
We leave together.
Lena leans against me in the hall. “You did great,” she says, nuzzling into me. “I’m so proud of you.”
“They’re not happy.”
“You knew they wouldn’t be.”
“I’m not sure they’re going to come around.”
“They will. Trust me.” She gets on her toes and kisses me. I pull her tight and want to stay there for a few minutes, but her eyes focus on someone over my shoulder. “Turn around,” she whispers.
I release my wife and look back. Sona’s standing a few feet away. She’s alone and stiff. Her hands brush awkwardly over her bracelets, the gold and diamonds glittering. Lena pats my arm gently and retreats to give us some space.
Aunt Sona approaches. “I didn’t know you were going to do that.”
“You deserve it. Lesser men have been promoted over you for much too long.”
“It was cleverly done too. Drop that juicy bit of gossip then raise your enemy and make her an ally.”
“The war is behind us now.”
“You’re right.” She rubs her hands together and glances away. “It was never about you, you know.”
“I’m not sure how to take that.”
“I wanted to be in your life, but Aram insisted I keep my distance. Especially as you got older. I felt some resentment toward him, and I let that affect the way I treated you. It was never your fault. It was always my own shame.”
I breathe in deep. I know that already, but it’s good to hear her say it.
“We’re on the same side now,” I tell her and hold out a hand. “They won’t like all the changes we make, but I have a feeling we’ll figure out how to keep them in line.”
“I have a feeling you’re right.” She takes my hand. Her fingers are thin and bony. We shake softly. It feels weird, touching her like this. I still remember her as my aunt. But she’s my mother too. Except I doubt we’ll ever have that kind of relationship.
When she’s gone, I find Lena waiting at the end of the hallway. She steps into my arms and buries her face in my chest. “How’d that go?”
“I think it’s going to work out.”
“Yeah? Minimal suffering?”
“We’ll see about that.”
She snorts slightly and tilts her chin up. “Take me home now, please. I’m tired. I want your odd poisoner to make me some pancakes.”
“You really shouldn’t call her that. If she ever hears it, she just might take up her old occupation.”
I’m teasing and Lena knows it, but her face drops anyway. “Seriously? You think so?”
“Of course not. That woman adores you.” I wrap my arm around Lena and steer her toward the elevators. “I adore you too. So will the whole Brotherhood once they get to know you better.”
“What if they don’t?”
“Then I’ll kill them.”
“I can’t tell if you’re kidding.”
I kiss her eyebrow. “I’m not.”
“Crazy bastard,” she says, leaning into me.
Chapter 43
Lena
Six Months Later
I lug my big-ass body up the steps and pause at the top to catch my breath. “No, I’m fine, don’t worry. I’m just a beached whale rumbling around on the floor.”
“You won’t get any sympathy from me. I told you to use the elevator, but you insisted.” Sona leans against the wall, arms crossed as she waits for me to straighten up.
I grunt, one hand on my back, knuckling the knot that won’t seem to loosen up no matter what I do. It’s been like that all freaking day, plus some mild cramping. It’s not a big deal. I had hoped a little minor exercise might help. That’s what Mom said might work, anyway. Ever since she went into remission four months back, she’s been extremely into my pregnancy, which is a mixed blessing. Like, a little bit too involved, if I’m being honest, but I’ll gladly let her obsess and bug me all the time if that means she’s still around when the baby’s born.
The baby’s kicking more than usual today.
He’s due in two weeks.
Which means I’m basically about to burst.
Unfortunately, nothing’s making me feel any better right now.
“Trust me, I know,” I grumble as I waddle after her. We head past a perky secretary toward one of the conference rooms.
“Arsen was enormous, you know. It’s a Sarkissian trait. Big, hairy skulls. That baby’s going to blast your cervix open and it won’t ever be the same.”
I grimace, one hand on my belly. “Can you not?”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you were so soft you couldn’t handle the truth.” Sona’s smiling slightly now. I know she’s only teasing me. The woman comes off like a vicious snake—and that’s exactly what she is.