Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“I wasn’t expecting what I witnessed with my own eyes. You were right, she was one of your soldiers. She had your back—”
“Was? Had? What are you saying?” I bark out a laugh because he has to be fucking joking. “Stop playing with me.”
He clears his throat. “I’m sorry. She took a bullet for Emilia. She saved your cousin’s life with her own.”
My veins fill with ice. He can’t be saying what I think he is. This shit isn’t happening.
I shake my head because this can’t be real. I don’t believe it. Uncle Emilio stands and stumbles over to me.
Tears are soaking my face, but I don’t care. She didn’t deserve this. Why didn’t I send her back home when I had the chance?
“I’m sorry, nipote. I’m so sorry.”
I shrug my uncle off, not wanting him near me. He’s as guilty as I am. Juliana was here because of him. Oni was nearly raped because of her and I’m pretty sure those motherfuckers ambushed us because of her.
“Don’t touch me. Get away from me. She’s gone because of you. She didn’t deserve this,” I bellow.
“In time, you will see this will only make you stronger.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Get out. Get the fuck out.”
“Rico,” he says firmly.
“What? I’ve done everything you have wanted from me since I was a little boy. For the first time, I had someone who made me happy.
“Something you didn’t have a hand in. Now she’s gone because of your bullshit. What is there left to say?
“I’m happy Emilia is alive, but I just lost everything. Is that what you want to hear from me? You didn’t want me to have a weakness … now I have none.”
“Rico, I want to be here for you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I just died with her. You will have your heartless soldier. Congratulations.”
“This is fresh. Take some time. I will return later.”
“Don’t bother.”
He frowns and leaves the room. When he’s gone, I sink down in the bed and cover my face with my arms as I sob like a baby. I’ve never cried like this in my life.
I can’t believe she’s gone. I wanted so much more for her. This is all my fault.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry. I was supposed to protect you. I’m sorry,” I sob.
CHAPTER 25
Royal Screwup
Mason
“You find Oni yet?” my older brother asks as we sit waiting for my da to arrive for this meeting.
Something big is happening. I can feel it in my bones. Da never calls us in like this, not suddenly out of the blue.
I turn to Lorcan and glare. He wants Oni for himself. I’ve known this for a while.
If only he knew he stands less of a chance than I do. She will never be his. She’s too smart for him.
Besides, she would never put up with his shit—the partying, the other girls, the drugs, the abuse. Oh yeah, I know about the abuse. The girls he beats black and blue for not doing what he wants.
My older brother is a spoiled child. The reason I know I will end up running the family, not him. Oni wouldn’t tolerate his shit for two minutes.
Yet he’s always worried about her whereabouts, like she’s some property of his. I’m sort of glad she’s gone. Maybe she’ll stay away long enough for him to move on and forget about her.
“No, I haven’t found her,” I grumble.
“I might just have to step in and find her myself. Some best friend you are. Just tell the truth, you fucked up, and she ran off because of you, didn’t she?” he taunts.
“Fuck you,” I growl.
I don’t want to tell him I think he’s right. This is all my fault, and I know it deep down inside. Oni is out there somewhere. I don’t know where and it’s all my fault.
However, before I can open my mouth to retort, the door bursts open and my father storms in with a beet-red face. He marches over to Lorcan and knocks his feet from the table where he had them kicked up and crossed at the ankles like he owns the place. In the next breath, Da is roaring at the top of his lungs at Lorcan.
“What kind of moron are you? What don’t you understand about discretion? What the fuck did you just do?”
I sit with my mouth hanging open, not knowing what my brother has done now. For Da to be this angry, he had to do something huge. I swear, if Lorcan wasn’t his son, he probably would have blown his head off by now from the look on his face.
“What are you talking about?” Lorcan says with a frown.
Da hauls back and kicks him in the chest, knocking him out of his chair onto the floor. I take a deep inhale and try to hold in my laughter. This is not the time to draw attention to myself.