Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“This was unpleasant but productive.” Julien stands up. “We’re staying at the Moreau mansion, so don’t bother reaching out to my apartment.”
“I heard it’s mostly matchsticks these days.”
“Smithereens,” Julien confirms. “I’ll reach out to coordinate.” He turns to leave and I get up to follow him.
“Brianne,” Valentina says. “Can I have a word with you before you go?”
I hesitate and glance at Julien. Which is strange: why the hell do I need his permission to talk to the wife of my family’s boss? But for some reason, I look to him anyway, and Julien just nods.
“I’ll wait for you outside,” he says and touches my hip. I don’t know when we started these little physical gestures, but for some reason, I like it.
Julien leaves the room. Ronan makes an excuse about checking on his mother in the kitchen, and I’m left alone with Valentina. She comes over and sits in the chair Julien was in a moment ago.
“I want you to be honest with me,” Valentina says, crossing her legs and studying me. “Is he treating you okay?”
“Honestly?” I take a deep breath and blow it out. “He’s been good to me.”
She nods like she expected that. “Julien comes off like a bastard, but I don’t think he’s a bad person at heart.”
“He tried to kill you though? I mean, is that serious?”
“He wanted revenge for a friend.” She waves a hand, smiling to herself. “It’s complicated. Don’t worry about it. But really, I want you to tell me if you ever feel uncomfortable with Julien.”
I shift uncomfortably in my chair. “It’s nice that you’re offering, but honestly, he’s been nothing but good to me.”
“That’s good to hear. You two seem like you’re getting along.” Her eyebrows raise and she grins at me.
“Uh, I don’t know if I’d go that far, but, uh—” I clear my throat and try to smile back. “Yeah, we’re getting along.”
“Here, give me your phone. I’ll give you my personal number.” I hand it over, and she types it in before sending herself a text. “There, now if you need me, you can reach out.”
“Thanks. I mean, this is really nice of you.”
“And, Brianne, I just want to say, I’m so sorry about everything. With your brother, your dad, this family, I just—” She falters, her smile fading away, and she looks down at her hands. “It’s not supposed to be like this.”
I don’t know why, but that hits me hard. It’s not supposed to be like this. She’s right—these families, they’re not supposed to break us.
They’re supposed to be support, warmth, even love. But ever since my brother spiraled deeper into the Hayes Group, I’ve experienced nothing but pain, again and again, getting worse and worse as the years went by.
We hug and I leave before I can start crying my eyes out. I find Julien waiting near his car, glaring at the house like he wants to burn it down. His expression softens when I come out and walk up to him, and he holds out a hand toward me. I take it, not sure why, and let him pull me closer to him.
And all at once, that worry and fear I felt inside, the bad memories and the ugly knot of trauma I’m always carrying around in the back of my head, it all fades. It doesn’t go away—I don’t think it ever will—but it lightens enough that I can smile back at him, even though a minute ago I wanted to sob my eyes out.
“Valentina thinks you’re in love with me,” I tell him, trying not to smile.
His mouth opens, but instead of some snarky retort, he says nothing. And I see so much he wants to keep hidden in that very brief moment of hesitation.
But then he’s back to himself. “I’m in love with parts of you,” he says, his palm gripping my ass.
I yelp in surprise and slap his chest. He grins, grabbing harder, until I wriggle free. “Dickhead,” I mumble, getting into the car, cheeks burning.
But if he does that again, I’m not sure I’d move his hand next time.
Chapter 26
Brianne
I’m not confined to our rooms in the mansion, exactly, but Julien makes it clear that I shouldn’t go wandering around. “Remember the rules,” he says, watching me from the doorway as I sprawl on the couch. I’m still achy from the explosion and I swear I hear this high-pitched whine every time I’m in silence. “Stay away from Grandpère and his men.”
“I know, I know, you’ve made it clear.”
He grunts and turns away, but he doesn’t leave. I know he’s only telling me this stuff to protect me, but I’m still going a little stir crazy. “Just check with me before you go anywhere.”
“What about the hospital to visit Kim?”
His shoulders tense and he shakes his head. “That’s a bad idea right now.”