Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
She steps aside, breathing fast, and I let her go. Her eyes are wide, and there’s no sharp retort, no fresh comeback, no denial. Instead, her face burns, and she storms off back to Hattie and collapses into the chair across from our daughter.
I leave them. I don’t want to. I’d rather stay and listen to Hattie explain her space-pony-unicorn-war story or whatever it is she’s building.
But I don’t have time to stand here any longer. I’ve already cut my exercise allotment in half.
How is this happening? Why would I rather talk to a child than administer the empire I’ve fought for so hard?
I remember what it was like, back in the early days. When Devlin and Kellan were so young, especially Devlin. He was a child, barely over ten when our house burned. I didn’t know him that well—we’d basically grown up in different eras of the family—but I was forced to figure out how to take care of him.
It was fucking hard. There were painful days, especially as he got older and the Corvino operation grew, but I sacrificed. I gave everything to my brothers. And in the end, I’m proud of who they’ve become, proud of the men they are.
Like I’ll be proud of Hattie, no matter what she grows into.
And I want to be there. I want to see her become a person.
I’m shaken as I leave the kitchen, not sure what’s happening or how I’ll handle it.
15
RAFE
The air smells like ocean even though we’re not exactly on the coast. I stroll along the wall’s perimeter on the outside of the protective ring. The pines loom, strange and knobby, tightly packed.
Devlin and Kellan walk with me. Devlin somewhat ahead, Kellan at my side. My youngest brothers got in an hour ago, right after I finished my workout.
“Haven’t been here in a while,” Kellan says, tone gruff and low. He’s thick, covered in muscle, littered with scars from dozens of fights. “Not a fan of the country houses.”
“He’s a city boy.” Devlin throws a rock at the pines. It cracks off bark and bounces away. My youngest brother’s lean and fit, his dark hair cropped tight. “Can’t stand all this natural beauty.”
“Give me skyscrapers. And fucking honking horns.” Kellan lets out an annoyed growl. “Not all this—“ He gestures around vaguely.
“Fresh air?” Devlin picks up another stone and arches his brows. “Clean water?” He sends it spinning into the trees.
“Enough,” I say wearily. If I don’t interrupt, they’ll go on trading insults all day. Sometimes they end up beating each other bloody, and that’s preferable. At least that finishes their bickering. “We need to focus.”
“On what? There’s nothing here.” Kellan shoves his hands in his pockets. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”
“We have other issues.” I glance back at the walls and lower my voice. “You both know why I’ve come here.”
“Yeah, you took the wife on a honeymoon.” Devlin laughs at his own joke. “Seriously, where’s she at? I gotta admit, for some random ass girl, she’s good looking.”
“Better be careful,” Kellan warns. “He’s already got that pissed-off look.”
“Uh-oh. Am I enraging the Don?”
“I may be your Don, but I’m also your big brother, and I swear I’ll fucking punch that smirk off your face,” I snap, annoyed with myself for letting Devlin get to me. That’s what he does and he’s good at it.
Devlin barks a laugh, clearly amused, and even Kellan grins and shakes his head. “Someone’s a little protective,” Kellan says, raising his eyebrows. “You got a thing for the new wife, huh?”
“She’s convenient, that’s all. Now would you two fucking focus?” I slam a fist to the wall and stop walking, glaring at them. “The photograph. The one that kicked all this off.”
Kellan seems thoughtful. Devlin’s hunting for another rock.
“There aren’t many people who could’ve plausibly gotten into your office.” Kellan leans beside me, arms crossed over his chest. “Some staff. Silas and Theodora.”
“You think either of them might be involved?”
Kellan dismisses that with a wave. “Not remotely, but I’m being thorough. That leaves staff. I’ve already vetted everyone working that day and I can’t seem to find any who might have a motive. Nothing was picked up on the cameras either. Not that we have many in the main house.”
“It’s bothering me.” I grit my teeth as Devlin hits another tree with a rock. “Whoever left that threat is inside our family.”
That sobers Kellan. He watches the trees with a grim expression. “We’ve been lucky all these years. We haven’t had to deal with traitors.”
“But the business is changing.” I push off the wall and start walking again. “We need to be prepared. The picture was only the beginning.”
“I can handle it.” Devlin cuts in. He meets my dubious stare with a big, vicious grin. “Come on, boss. I’ve been so fucking bored lately.”