Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“She told me how you were bullied.”
My stomach tenses, and I get that sick feeling like I used to when I was in high school and the kids were getting started.
“Sounds pretty shitty what she did to you, honestly.”
I’m confused, and I don’t understand his motives.
“Anyway,” he shakes his head. “Just weird past stuff. Speaking of, Santos and Camilla were supposed to tie the knot at one point.”
“What?” I ask, surprised at that.
“Yeah. Santos and Camilla. An item. Personally, I think she’s a bitch, but she’s not bad looking.” He makes a point of letting his gaze move over me like he’s silently comparing us and I’m coming up way short. “They went pretty hard for a while, but she is a fucking ice queen. I get it why he’d choose you. Girls like you run pretty hot in bed.”
“Girls like me?”
“Yeah, you know, a little off. A little weird.”
“Fuck you.”
He chuckles, turns to pour himself another drink. “Kidding. Seriously though, do you know where he went?” he asks, turning around. “If he went to a bar, I need to go get him.”
“He doesn’t drink.”
He almost spits his whiskey out. “Is that what he told you?”
I find myself wrapping my arms around myself again. Did he lie about that? Would that mean he lied about Camilla? And what does that mean for my future? Does he really intend to get me pregnant? No. He wouldn’t. He can’t.
Caius closes the space between us and it takes all I have to stand my ground. “Where did he go, Madelena?”
“I don’t know, Caius.”
“Did he tell you to tell me that?”
“No.”
“Because it is partially true, I guess, that he doesn’t drink. He tries not to. You don’t want to see him drunk. And you definitely don’t want to be alone with him when he is,” Caius says.
“Why?”
“He loses control.”
“What does that mean?’
“He gets violent. Just watch yourself. Okay? Be careful around him when he drinks. That scar on Thiago’s neck? That was Santos drunk out of his mind.”
My mouth goes dry.
“Between you and me, the Commander was an asshole to him. To them both. They bonded over that, as weird as that sounds, and the Commander needed to teach them obedience. So he did what works best. Turned them against each other.”
“Santos did that to Thiago?” He nods. “How?”
“I don’t know the details. Rope, I guess. Almost killed him, from what I heard. Listen, don’t tell him you know that. It’ll mess with him. I know he’s not proud of what he did those years he lived with that family. They’re no good, the whole lot of them. And them showing up tonight is not a good sign.”
I remember Camilla’s strange comment about being neighborly. What did that mean? I’m struck silent by all of this. It’s information I thought I wanted. But maybe Santos was right. Withholding is a mercy.
The bedroom door opens, and we both turn to find Ana standing there with her hair down and wearing a short baby-doll negligee that must be made of rice paper because I can see right through it.
She catches my eye, making sure I get a good look, before she turns her gaze to Caius and gives him a provocative smile.
“If you keep me waiting much longer, I’ll have to start without you,” she taunts.
Caius swallows his drink, greedy eyes eating her up. She looks good, I have to say.
“That’s not a bad idea. Go get started. Leave the door open. I’ll be right in.”
She blinks her eyes demurely.
Caius turns to me, and I see Ana behind him climbing onto the bed, spreading her legs and slipping her fingers between them. Her eyes hold mine as she begins to caress herself.
Caius is grinning when I turn my gaze to him. “I’d invite you to join, but I have a feeling my brother won’t appreciate it. You can watch if you want, though. No harm in that.”
I have no idea how to respond. Caius must see that because he laughs outright, sets his glass down on the coffee table, and moves toward his bedroom, stripping off his shirt as he goes. I watch his back, no scars there, just skin and muscle rippling beneath. Nothing like his brother. He takes hold of Ana’s ankles, making her yelp when he tugs her to the end of the bed and bends his head between her legs. I turn and run into our bedroom then, but not before hearing Ana’s deep, guttural moan of pleasure before I slam the door shut and lock it.
26
Santos
I sip my club soda and study Thiago. He’s about my age, with just a couple of months between us, but hell if he doesn’t look a decade older. His dark blond hair has grayed at the temples, and along his jaw is a patch of skin where hair doesn’t grow anymore.