Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
“You’re telling me.” He taps the screen of his phone so it lights up, and I can see five notifications from his on-again, off-again situationship, Patrick. He’s also a hunter, but more of a freelance one, if you will, and has used the excuse of “not dating Order members” as a way to jerk Leo around.
“You need to block him,” I press. “He’s using you for validation and I beg you to let me curse him. Maybe then you’ll stop shrinking your plate so the breadcrumbs look like enough.”
Leo bites his bottom lip and shakes his head. “What kind of curse do you have in mind?”
I wrinkle my nose as I think. “Anytime he sees someone he’s even mildly attracted to, he can only speak with a really bad Irish accent.”
Leo laughs. “That’s creative, I’ll give you that.” His phone vibrates with yet another text.
“Do not answer. I swear, if you do, you’ll be the one cursed next.”
“I’m just going to see what he has to say.”
I snatch the phone off the table before Leo can pick it up. “It never ends there. You’ll meet, he’ll give you the run-around about wanting a relationship, and then he’ll ghost you for a week or two before coming back and feeding you the whole bullshit line about how he got scared, and it’s so risky to let someone get close in our line of work…blah, blah, freaking-blah.”
“I know you’re right,” he goes on. “But it doesn’t—”
He cuts off when one of our motion sensors beeps with an alert. We both turn, looking at the screen that’s mounted on the wall behind the table. The compound is armed to the max, with cameras and security measures that would prevent most normal humans from even walking past the front gate.
“Who is that?” I ask when we see a man in dark clothes briskly walking to the front door. Two men are behind him, looking like hired security.
“Someone from the Order?” Leo wonders out loud. “I’ll get Dad.”
“No need,” Marco says as he comes into the kitchen, turning on the lights. Vivian hurries behind him, followed by Aunt Darcy. All three look terrified.
“What’s going on?” Leo asks.
“Florence,” Marco starts, gaze locking with mine. There’s an unreadable expression on his face, and the energy is swirling with negativity. “Make sure Gia stays upstairs.”
I shake my head, looking at Leo, but he’s just as confused as I am. “If there’s a problem I can—”
“Go!” Marco booms, right as the doorbell rings. “Keep Gia quiet.”
I look at Leo one more time and then get my cards and rush up the stairs. Gia is still sound asleep in her room, and I stand in the threshold of the door, listening. Several people have come into the house, and I hear a man’s voice drift up the stairs.
“Is this everyone?” he asks. “The report says you have two daughters.”
“No!” Vivian cuts in. “She’s only eleven!”
“Mom!” Larissa cries. “Don’t do this!”
I make my way silently down the hall, slowing at the top of the stairs, and taking in the sight of a man dressed in all black. I can tell just by looking at him that the suit he’s wearing cost more than everything I own combined. He has an air about him that is intimidating, like he has a sense that he knows he’s better than anyone in this house.
His thick dark hair is casually swept back and he stands with his broad shoulders pushed back slightly. He’s a good looking man, that’s for sure, but there’s something…off…about him. He’s human, and yet everyone else is staring at him with fear in their eyes.
Two armed guards stand behind him, at the ready. They have guns and bulletproof vests and tasers on their hips that could take down a horse.
What the hell is going on? What does this man want with Larissa…or Gia?
“It’s been this way for centuries,” Aunt Darcy says and I see tears run down her face as I edge closer. “It has to be done.”
“Why me?” Larissa sobs.
“You appear to be the best fit,” the man in the black suit says, voice loud.
“Danielle is older!” Larissa counters.
“She’s past her prime,” the man replies in a level tone. I take a few more steps closer to the top of the stairs. Marco is clutching Vivian’s hand, and she looks sullen in shock, standing perfectly still. Leo and Antonio are next to their mother, both with looks of horror on their faces. “The deal specifically states the trade is to be of age but no older than twenty-eight.”
“Wren!” Larissa says with desperation. “Wren is twenty-six!”
“Wren?” the man questions. He takes a step forward and Marco flinches. What the fuck? “Do you have another daughter, Mr. Russo?”
“She’s not my biological daughter,” Marco sputters and looks at Vivian. Her eyes widen and she gives him a look.