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)
“You don’t have to look after me as if I’m a child,” I tell her as anger takes over. From when I was young, my father taught me that showing affection will get you killed. And when I realised my feelings for Kai and Valen had changed, I knew, deep down, Dad was right. My affection for them could so easily get us all killed.
“You spend your life so angry at the world, Judah,” Brielle tells me. “Why not stop for a moment and allow something good to come into your heart.”
I spin around, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.
“I’m angry because that’s what I’ve learnt to be. I run the university, this island, and my father’s organisation. Soon, I’ll be the Boss. I can’t risk allowing my enemies in.”
Her voice is a low whisper of pain when she asks, “Am I your enemy?”
Her question stops me short. I wasn’t expecting it. I’m not sure how to answer her, because I don’t see her as an enemy. She’s just someone I can’t have around me. And I don’t want to delve into that mind fuck of a reason.
“I know you don’t want me here,” she says. “But I’m staying, and I just need to know you’ll come to accept me at some point. I can’t live with a man, a husband, who doesn’t even consider me worth talking to.”
Why is she doing this to me? How the fuck is she doing this to me?
“There’s no rhyme or reason to emotions, princess,” I tell her. “Things can change within a blink of an eye. So, no matter what is going on between us at the moment, it doesn’t mean that weeks, or perhaps months, from now it will be the same.”
Frustration has twisted its roots deep within me, and I’ve no way of dealing with her, other than to show anger. Perhaps it’s because I’m raging at my father for bringing her into my life. Or maybe it’s because, deep down, I want to want her.
I can’t allow myself to get distracted by a pretty face, though. She may be my wife soon, but that doesn’t mean anything, not in this world. I’ve seen men kill their wives when the organisation demanded it. But then again, I’m not like them. I’m not even my father, despite the years I struggled to become like him.
For so long, I only had Val and Kai to give me strength. They burrowed themselves into my heart, and once they were in, there was no way of getting them out. My soul had found its matches, so I had no choice. I thought all I needed was them, but now I have to include Brielle, and I’m not sure how to do it.
“I don’t know what else to think, Judah,” she tells me, dragging me out of my thoughts and into the present moment. “You’ve made sure I’ve been on the outside of whatever you think this is,” she says as she waves a hand between us. “But we’re both in the same boat. We’ve both had our choices taken away from us, and you can’t blame me for that, no matter how much you’d like to.”
“Don’t try to understand me,” I throw back as I once again attempt to fight whatever this is between us. But I know there’s no use in even trying, because she’s been crawling under my skin, under my defences, since I first saw her.
“I do understand you more than you know,” she retorts. “We’re in this together, and if you can’t fucking respect that, then send me back. Let me go.”
I look at her. I really and truly look at her and see the darkness that swirls in her eyes. I’ve always fought the desire to meet those orbs, and now I know why. It’s because I didn’t want to see who she truly is. She’s not the spoiled princess I thought she was. There’s much more to her than the family name she holds.
“Go back to the party,” I tell her, dismissing her before I’m tempted to steal a kiss.
I can’t do it because I won’t be able to stop myself. I need to talk to the guys. I need to sit down and plan what we’re going to do about her. She’s not someone who we chose. She’s been thrust upon us, and we need to decide how to handle her. She has to become part of our dynamic, and we all have to be in agreement as to how that will work.
Brielle smiles as she lowers her gaze and looks down at the ground by our feet. The grassy cliff edge is dark, even though I know it’s a lush green in the daylight.
“I thought for a while you were an angry, cold-hearted arsehole,” Brielle says, causing me to lift my gaze to hers. “But you’re not.”