Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
“Why doesn’t anyone come say hi to you?” I asked.
“Because they know I don’t want to deal with their bullshit.”
I snorted, earning me a side-glance.
“Most of my brothers and sisters are good at dealing with these people, but I don’t have any patience for it. For them. They don’t ask questions because they care, they ask things for information. They’re bored and have nothing better to do.”
The nausea got a little worse, and I’d swear another drop of sweat rolled down my spine. “Are they family or family friends?” I made myself ask so that I wouldn’t focus on it.
“Both. Some business associates that my mom has known for a long time.” He glanced at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He gave me a fucking look.
I don’t even know why I bothered. “My head hurts a little, and I think I might need to find a seat sooner than later, but I’m okay.”
He didn’t need to say he thought I was full of shit because his face said it all.
“Being here just feels like a bit… much. I’m not used to being around people. Much less, rich people. It’s just like the historical dramas I like to watch, except there aren’t wallflowers and people aren’t waltzing. There’s caviar. I think I’m fancy when I put my Pizza Bites into the oven instead of the microwave. I saw the price tag on the dress and the shoes, by the way. This whole thing feels like a dream, but that might be me feeling off because of your grandma. She made my heart start beating really fast. But I’m fine. No one here knows me or cares to, other than your grandma and Asami.” I pressed my lips together. “And your brother Leon.”
Someone didn’t like that joke.
All right, maybe I shouldn’t mess with him. “So, I keep trying to figure it out… how does no one know who you all are? It’s a well-kept secret, but it isn’t like any of you are hiding. At least you aren’t since you’re here, and neither are your siblings or your mom. How the hell is that possible?”
“We take an oath to never spread the secret. We all understand the responsibility of our heritage. We know why others can’t know—it would destroy all of our lives. It’s one of the first things we’re taught growing up, that you can never tell anyone.
“Our families are small, but second and third cousins would be kidnapped and experimented on. They’d be tortured. Their very normal kids would be hunted down. Extended family members don’t tell their spouses or their kids. The secret dies with them. It’s what happened with your family too, I’m guessing.” Those impressive shoulders rose beneath his beautiful jacket.
“I get that it’s dangerous, but I don’t know how that’s managed to be enough to keep people from talking. Not for so long. I mean, you said that old great-great-great-grammy was one of the first to get here. That’s a long time.”
“It was easier to keep things a secret before technology, but it is an oath.” He was watching me closely. “In each generation, there are family members who take the responsibility of making sure the secret is kept. In ours, it helps that they all get quarterly payments from the family’s businesses.”
A total dummy I was not.
I got what he was implying. I got it well. So I mouthed, Are you the hitman in the family?
Alex smiled and slowly shook his head.
Who was then? Maybe asking that in a room full of people with his same level of exceptional hearing was a bad idea. I’d ask him later. I’d bet it was Athena, or maybe Odysseus. He’d fool people with his looks and then bam! I could totally see that.
I’d worry about it later though.
A quick peek around the room confirmed that yeah, I should leave that for when we were back home. I swallowed hard. “Does the government know?” I whispered.
“The important people do.”
Hmm. My brain went back to what the hell he’d just said. “You’re sure you’re not going to kill me for knowing all these secrets?” I pressed my hand against the multi-tool by my hip. “I haven’t taken an oath.”
Cool fingers pulled my hand off. “Nobody’s going to do anything to you.”
Oh, I felt light-headed now. My knee started shaking too. Glancing toward the side, I spotted the table with a bartender with a lot of delicate glasses sitting on it, thirst punching me straight in the throat.
“I think I need a drink.” I’d never said that before, but the moment felt right. “I’ve never had champagne. Do you want some?”
Alex shook his head, and I gave him a weak smile at the knowledge bomb he’d just dropped on my ass. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. I rubbed my hands together and made my way toward the table with the white tablecloth, my head spinning with thoughts and questions.