Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“My life is in danger every time you give me an order. I’m good at not being seen.”
“I won’t have another son’s life in danger.”
I’d never been spoken of in the same category as Arturo. My father doted on the boy even more than his older brothers.
“You don’t have to pretend I matter like he does.”
“How dare you question my love for you?”
What? When he’d shown me nothing but scorn?
“Stay where you are. And only call me on this number when you know something else. I’m counting on you.”
He hung up before I could say more.
A dangerous mix of emotions swirled in my stomach. Before I could give into that turmoil, I called X and told him what I knew.
When our call ended, I needed Rhys. My father would explode if he thought I’d told anyone he hadn’t personally vetted. Exposing our weaknesses to X was bad enough, but if he found out I’d told Rhys, he’d come up with some heinous punishment for such a betrayal.
Did I care anymore? I’d been wrapped up with Rhys in the most intimate of ways. Intimate and filthy and absolutely wonderful. I’d never let myself get this close to anyone, but how far was I willing to go. How much could I dare to open up to him? He might have relented in how he feels about me, but he still hated what I did, what my family did.
Without making a conscious decision, I started walking toward the barn in search of him. He was the one person who could get me through this.
When I entered the barn, Rhys looked up, and his eyes widened. He set down the pitchfork he’d been using and hurried over to me. “What’s wrong?”
“My father called.”
“Come on.” He led me to the office, and I sank down on a chair, thankful my legs had brought me that far.
Rhys paced in front of me.
“What kind of trouble are you in?”
“It’s not me. It’s my brother Arturo. He’s my stepmother’s youngest child. He’s only thirteen.”
“What happened to him?”
“Franco has him. We don’t have proof of that yet, but he disappeared, and that must be why. My father refused to go along with one of Franco’s insane plans, and this morning, Arturo wasn’t in his room.”
“Oh my God.”
“And my father chose now to try to act like he cares about me. He told me to stay here and use my contacts to find Arturo. Now he trusts me to do something more important than any of the tasks he’s micromanaged me through so far, and I just don’t know what the hell to think about it.” Jesus, I was about to have a complete breakdown in front of Rhys.
“Do you want me to kill him for you?”
“Franco?”
“No, your fucking father.”
I looked up, and my eyes had to be huge as I stared at him. “What?”
“He’s treated you like shit, and now he wants you to be the hero. Fuck that. If it weren’t for Arturo, I’d tell you to make him solve his own problems.”
“But what if he…”
“What if he does care? Maybe he does, but he could have fucking shown it some other time.”
My hands were shaking, and I was falling apart. “I should go. I… need to look for Arturo.”
“No, you need to stay right here. Did you call X?”
“Yes.”
“X will find your brother. You’re in no shape to leave now.”
Tears burned my eyes. I couldn’t do this. I didn’t show weakness.
“What is your father’s problem anyway? What happened between the two of you? Why doesn’t he trust you?”
“I’m not the son he wants. I never have been. He’s never thought I was smart enough to take over the business.”
“How could anyone think that about you?”
I stared at Rhys. “You said you hated me.”
“That’s because you’re an arrogant shit and involved in things I never want to be involved in again. It doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re good at what you do. You’re a crack shot, an excellent tracker, and a fine strategist. You would have been an asset to our force recon team.”
His words stole my breath. Was there a chance this was more to him than just hate fucking? “Do you really want to help me?”
“I’m going to help you and protect you.”
“I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do. We both do. We need to have each other’s backs.”
“I thought you wanted me to stay the hell away from you unless you needed to get off. Are you saying you don’t hate me so much anymore?” I smiled as I said it, trying to make it a joke, but it wasn’t. I desperately wanted him to say yes. I wanted a chance.
24
RHYS
TJ’s words gutted me. I couldn’t keep up my pretense, not when he looked so damn hurt. I took a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair before letting the words explode from me.