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)
Neither do I.
Chapter Four
WARREN
Does he know? I eye my father as he stands to leave. “This could have been an email,” Z mutters, annoyed he was pulled away from his own office. He lives and breathes his computer. Our father has no idea the things Z can do, but I might be wrong. He may be paying better attention to what's going on than I thought. Even being over in Europe, he seems to still be in the know.
“It’s good for you to get out.” Father straightens his tie. “Maybe you need a wife next.”
“Fuck that.” Z stands.
“The Sullivans did try and talk me into marrying her to you instead.” I watch the blood drain from Z’s face while I fight my own reaction.
They would rather Tova marry Z than me. I can't say I blame them, but that is never fucking happening. The thought alone has me fisting my hands at my sides. I quickly release them, remembering that my father is more perceptive than I thought.
"I'm not War; I'll bounce the fuck out of here," Z warns.
"We'll see," our father says before strolling from my office. Ronan was smart to keep his mouth firmly shut.
“He’s really doing this shit.” Z shakes his head. “I’m not getting fucking married.” Ronan grunts in agreement. None of us should be getting married. While I’m trying to clean things up, it doesn't mean that we still don’t have enemies. History just doesn’t erase all of the ones we’ve made.
My own father knows this firsthand. He went through it years ago when our mother was taken. I was fifteen at the time, but I’ll never forget those two days. The worry and fear I felt that I would never see her again. They knew where to strike to get my father’s full attention.
It worked too. I always knew my father loved our mother, but I hadn’t understood how deeply. Gone was the greatly feared Dario once she was kidnapped. I didn’t recognize my father for those two days. It changed all of our lives.
It taught me all I needed to know about this lifestyle. Loving someone means you have a weakness. That your enemies have something to use against you. I vowed long ago that I would never be put in that position.
“You need anything?” Ronan asks. I shake my head, not sure how I’m going to handle this. Ronan nods, knocking on my desk twice before turning to leave himself.
“Is there something you need to tell me?” My attention swings to my youngest brother.
“What?” he asks, looking confused by my question. I study his expression. Why had Tova’s parents rather her marry him? Does she have a crush on him?
“Is there something going on with you and fucking Tova?” Z’s brows rise, but he doesn’t answer the damn question. I slam my hand down on my desk. “Answer the question.”
“Holy shit, man.” Z puts his hands up, stepping back. “No, I talk to the girl occasionally. She’s sweet.”
“Knock it off,” I order.
“What?” Z laughs, but it doesn’t come out when he sees how serious I am. “You know that sounds crazy, right? You don’t want me to talk to my soon-to-be sister-in-law.” It does sound crazy, or rather insane, but that is fitting. I have never been all that sane when it came to Tova Sullivan.
“I don’t give a shit how it sounds.”
Z cocks his head. “Right.” A half smirk forms.
“Z,” I warn. Little brother or not, I’ll still cold-cock his ass. In fact, that sounds really nice right now.
“I’m heading out. I know that look in your eyes.” Z pulls his keys out of his pocket. “Like I said, she’s sweet. Try not to destroy her.” Z spins on his heels, leaving.
“Fuck,” I mutter, dropping my head back and taking a deep breath. Try not to destroy her. That’s what I have been doing.
I had only seen my little mouse by chance. Tova’s father has worked for my father for years. He does an assortment of jobs. One night he was working the front door of one of our clubs. His wife happened to swing by to bring him dinner. Tova had waited in the car, but I saw her.
There was an air of innocence that surrounded her. It had wrapped around me in a way I hadn’t understood. For a week, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Then I started digging and couldn’t stop. She took up too many of my thoughts.
It pissed me off. How did a wisp of a girl dominate my life? Why was I obsessing over her? It made no sense at all. But I couldn’t spend my days and nights that way. I couldn’t keep my eyes on her. If I gave out that order, others would want to know why or find out that this small girl had me wrapped up in knots I couldn’t untangle.