Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
I knew one day I would have to kill, just as I knew it would likely be sooner rather than later. Death and murder are simply a part of our world. To be a Revenaw, to be a Greyson, is to recognize the value of life isn’t what all understand it to be.
You must value life, but yours above others, with the exception of a few, should you be lucky enough to have any for whom you would throw yourself in front of a knife for.
It’s kill or be killed in the world of organized crime, and I was born into it. Where normal people welcomed their fathers home with dirt on his jeans or grease on his shirt, I ran into my father’s open arms, completely unfazed by the blood I would press my cheek against when squeezing him back. To his credit, he would try to clean up before my sister and I realized he had returned, but it was rare for him to succeed. The minute we heard him coming down the drive, we typically ran out to greet him.
Sai was always the first out the door and the last back through it.
A shuddered breath escapes me and I close my eyes a moment, jumping when a soft thud sounds from outside the room.
My feet move quickly, a heavy sense of anticipation and longing melting down my spine, and then my fingers wrap around the frame, but the moment they do, my feet freeze. All of those sensations begin to twist together, oddly mixing with an equal amount of hesitation and uncertainty. I have no idea what I’m about to walk out on, but I know I feel no fear. Every other emotion I can think of, yes, but not fear.
Everything in my world is fucked up, but knowing he’s right outside the door somehow makes it a little better.
Slowly, I peel it open, peeking with one eye into the living area of what I can now see is a suite. I can’t see him, but I know he’s out there, so I take a single step through the door.
My heart drops to my feet with relief and so much more.
There he is.
Somehow taller than I remember and just as breathtaking as he paces the space back and forth, back and forth, his long tattooed fingers diving into his dark locks and tugging until he’s yanking his own head down, the heels of his hands pressing into his eyes as he shakes his head.
Something’s wrong, I note instantly, but rather than interrupt, I take a moment to just … look at him, his presence alone melting some of the tension from my muscles.
The shoes on his feet are new, as are the jeans stretched perfectly over his thighs, but it’s that same worn leather jacket wrapped around him that I like.
A broken exhale pushes past my lips and I have to catch myself on the frame of the door to keep myself from falling over.
Instantly, his head snaps my way.
The second his eyes lock on mine, my breath is stolen from my lungs, my feet begging to carry me to him, but I hesitate in the doorway.
Bastian’s jaw snaps shut, the thick muscles there pulsing, as he grinds his teeth back and forth, gorgeous eyes red from lack of sleep, the left one black from something else, and laser-focused as they fly across my features, taking me in as I do him.
What he sees, I don’t know. I don’t have the slightest clue what I’m giving away. All I know is I don’t have the energy to mask everything that’s rallying inside me. I’m a mess and I’m sure it shows. Even if it didn’t, he would know.
Slowly, his eyes narrow into harsh, accusing and angry points, but his body betrays his internal battle; the utter relief it shows is a complete contrast to the murky shadows of his gaze.
The stiffness in his shoulders disappears, his fingers no longer clench closed but open and hang loosely at his sides as he subconsciously shifts, his body now facing mine.
A knot forms in my throat, and it seems to braid its way down, down until it’s threading around my organs, squeezing, tugging and pulling. I know exactly where it’s trying to lead me, but I wait. I wait because he won’t let me down.
He holds my stare as the seconds tick by in what feels like slow motion, but I see the moment his control slips. His chin lowers the slightest bit.
“Come.” His chest rumbles with his command.
As if bewitched by the single word from his lips, my bare feet pad across the floor. The second I’m within reach, his long arm shoots out, his fist tangling in my top and yanking me into him.
I gasp but not in fright, my eyes slicing up and fastening to his.