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’m not a child.”
“I don’t give a shit what you are or what you’re not. I’m telling you to go to your room. We have things to discuss, and I don’t need a little spy running around the house.”
Brielle’s anger is clear as she leans up into Judah’s face. For a moment, I see the flicker of desire between them. It appears she has a crush on him. I don’t blame her—he’s beautiful. But what surprises me is the need in his eyes. He finds her alluring.
“I’m. Not. A. Child.” She annunciates each word slowly. “Don’t ever talk to me like that again.”
When she takes a step backwards, Judah’s hand shoots out quickly to grip her wrist. I know this isn’t going to end well, and I want nothing more than to stop them, but I also know they need to work through their issues. I place a hand on his shoulder, but his frustration is taking hold. He tightens his grip and drags her behind him up the staircase, his long strides causing Brielle to stumble as she struggles to keep up.
“Jude,” I call to him as they reach the top of the stairs.
“Meet me in the office, Val,” is his only response.
I know there’s no arguing with Judah when he’s in this mood, so I watch him and Brielle disappear, but not before she glances my way, and for a moment, I want to run to her. I can’t explain it, but there’s a protective need that courses through me. One I haven’t felt before.
“You know he’s obsessed with her,” Jordan says as he and Kai join me.
The younger Venier brother is a couple of years our junior, but he’s been brought into the family business because his father wanted it. None of us have a choice, but at least our fate isn’t as bad as my sister’s, who will be sent off to marry someone of my father’s choosing.
The inequality angers me, but there’s nothing we can do about it. Not until we take over and can change the rules. Why should women be overlooked and used as pawns. They have strengths and skills that the men in our world could never possess.
“I know he is,” I tell him as I shake my head.
The thing is, Judah won’t accept it until it slaps him in the face. And by then, she may have already made her mind up about him.
“I doubt he’s ever going to trust her,” Kai adds.
I look at him and smile. “There are many times I’ve thought one thing and Judah’s done the exact opposite. For now, I think he wants to suss her out more than anything. She will marry him, and he’s going to have to accept it,” I say. “As time goes by, he’ll come to realise not everyone wants to kill him.”
Kai’s gaze flicks to mine. “What if she is a spy?”
I glance at him for a long moment. “Honestly? I’m not sure. I know that Judah will never stand for it.”
“Do you think he’d actually kill her?” Jordan asks.
I’m not sure how to answer his question. We’ve never had to interrogate a female before. Under our rule, all those who’ve broken the code have been men. But that’s mostly because women aren’t allowed in the organisations.
“I don’t know,” I reply as we make our way to the office.
If we discover Brielle’s betrayed us, I know it won’t be easy for us to bring her into the dungeon for interrogation. She’s a beautiful young woman. We’ve never once hurt a female, and I’m certain we never intend to. Which means that Judah may go after her father as payback for any betrayal.
“Her father could become the target, instead,” Jordan says, voicing my thoughts.
“He could, and it would make life a lot easier,” I respond as the three of us settle into seats around the table. The round, mahogany surface is gleaming, which means the office has been cleaned. “I wonder if it’s been polished,” I think out loud.
“It has,” Jordan confirms. “You know,” he continues, his voice taking on a hushed whisper. “Judah was in the girl’s room earlier, looking for something. I’m not sure he found anything, but perhaps there’s a reason she was sent here, one we haven’t figured out yet.”
I glance at him. “What makes you say that?”
Jordan shrugs, “Dunno. I guess I’m more like Judah than I thought. Trust is earned, and she hasn’t done that yet.”
I lean back as I ponder Jordan’s words. I don’t believe she’s working undercover. There’s far too much innocence in her eyes. I’ve met many traitors in my life, even though I’m only twenty-four. I’ve come across spies who work undercover in all sorts of organisations, and none of them have the glimmer of purity that Brielle has.
Perhaps it’s time we dirtied her up.