Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“I asked.” My dad's tone is defeated. I unclench my hands, fighting a smile that wants to take over. They are miserable over this, and I want to jump up and do one of those victory dances Marks does on the corpses of the people she kills in-game. My parents are acting like this is a nightmare situation for me, but to me it’s my very own fairy tale come true.
"When?" I ask, hoping it’s sooner rather than later.
This is insane. I've found myself transported to a realm where arranged marriages exist, yet it doesn't seem that far-fetched. I remember War's sister once discussing the possibility of having an arranged marriage in the future, similar to how her parents were married.
That wasn't the world I knew, but then again, my whole world has changed since I came to live here. I guess I'm a part of this world too… now, so it seems, more than ever.
Chapter Two
WARREN
“What are you doing here?” I don’t bother glancing up from my computer as my brother enters my office with not even a knock. This is why I often go into one of my offices outside of our family home. That way I can’t be bothered with every small thing.
Except things have been changing, and everyone is always away now, especially our parents. I have been slowly slipping into the role of taking over the family business from my father. The more I take over, the more my father and I bump up against each other, not seeing eye to eye on everything. It’s been rocky, to say the least.
“Dad told me to be here.” I pause, pulling my attention away from the screen and the last numbers or the hit we’re going to take, but some hits are worth the price in the end.
“Did he now?” Interesting. What is the old man up to? There’s never a dull day when it comes to my father. Always has something up his sleeve. Sometimes good and others not so good. It’s a flip of a coin on what today will bring.
"Something about a meeting." Yes, I do have a meeting set with my father, but I'm starting to think it's not going to be a call. "Do you know what it's about? He said I needed to be here and change is happening." My brother Ronan shrugs.
"I suppose we'll be finding out together." I assumed it was a typical check-in. You know what they say about assuming.
Lately, my father has been giving me room to stretch and get a solid footing without him having a remark about everything. We agree on many things but not everything. Especially with the new direction I want to take our family business. It’s time. Things have changed, and my father hasn't been the best at adapting to those changes.
“This couldn't be an email?” My youngest brother Z strolls into my office next. Fucking hell, it must be serious if he also asked Z to be here for this.
“Is Cosima going to show up next?” Our little sister is tucked away at college in Europe. That was part of the reason our parents have been staying in Europe more lately. It was either there or at the condo they bought in the city. Both Zero and Ronan keep a place in the city as well.
"Not today." Zero drops down into one of the chairs in front of my desk. Ronan stays standing.
"Maybe he's fully handing things over. He might as well at this point." Ronan says.
Ronan has no interest in taking over. He doesn't want to be involved in all the ins and outs of business. He's more of a hands-on type.
"Everyone is here," my father says, entering my office. I stand.
"Where is Mom?" I ask.
"She is busy."
"Busy?" I ask, wondering what the hell he is talking about.
"We'll get to that." I sit back down in my chair. Father walks over to the bar, pouring himself a finger of scotch. I bet I'm going to need one myself.
None of us speak. We wait for him to tell us why he’s here and what is going on.
“You want to take over,” Dad finally starts, taking a seat on the couch, stretching his legs out.
“That’s why you’re here?” I’m not one for small talk or to drag things out. There is no need to pussyfoot around this. I have other things I could be doing right now.
“We haven’t been seeing eye to eye on things.”
“That may be so, but if you want me to take over your operation and businesses, then this is how it will be.” Ronan shifts on his feet, and I don’t miss Z sitting up straighter.
“You know I want you to take over, but I think there are a few flaws in your plan of going legit.”
“We’ll never be legit.” He knows that. We all do. Order still has to be kept in the streets. It’s the way of things. If it’s not us, it will be someone else that maintains it.