Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Guilt niggles at me. As much of a monster as Gareth was, he was still family. I stole him from Dad and Theo and Kaitlyn.
I refuse to think about walking in on him with Romy. After last night, my feelings for her have transformed. I’m not sure I could control myself from flipping the fucking table right now.
This woman is making me lose my mind.
“Everyone else outside of the Crowne family are pawns, Caius,” Dad murmurs. “We are the rulers and controllers of those around us. I taught you and your brothers well.”
I nod as though I agree, but I don’t truly. Though my focus has always been on Calista, I’ve felt the heaviness of being on the wrong side of morality. You’d have to be a robot or a psychopath not to feel for some of the people who’ve crossed paths with us Crownes. I know it impacts Theo. I can see it in his pained eyes.
When I glance over at Dad, he stares back at me, eyes soulless and empty. He’s worked so hard to make us just like him. I’m the best one at emulating his behavior. But inside?
I think back to that girl on Solomon’s yacht. My desperate need to get information on Calista blinded me. I’d sat there watching the girl—LuLu—as the man abused her. She wasn’t but a decade or so older than Kaitlyn.
Before Romy came along, it was easy to hide behind this cold, cruel man I’d created. She’s stripped me raw, though, and exposed me. There’s no turning a blind eye away anymore. I can’t help but see.
Dad is the worst.
Even more so than Gareth.
While he doesn’t have a taste for the innocent, he greatly enjoys the manipulation of minds. It’s his life’s work.
The waitress brings our food and I’m pleased to see a pile of biscuits and gravy. Kaitlyn’s pancake looks like pure sugar. She’s pleased that they made a smiley face with the whipped topping. Everyone’s quiet as we dig in. I make note to bring something back for Romy. I’m sure she’s famished after our nonstop workout last night.
When my family isn’t doing twisted shit, moments like these where we dine and laugh, are memorable and cherished to me. It reminds me of when I was a kid. Mom always made the best breakfast and Dad always ate with such enthusiasm.
“I found a dress shop nearby,” Theo says after polishing off the rest of his food in record speed. “Kaitlyn will need something fancy for the president’s ball. I made an appointment with a stylist there to have some selections ready for her to try on.” Then, to our niece, he says, “You ready to wear a princess dress like your dolls?”
After that question, Kaitlyn abandons her half-eaten pancake to squeal with excitement. Dad smirks and waves them on. Once they leave and we’ve finished eating, I flag the waitress over to clean off our table. After she refills our coffee, I slide onto the other side of the booth across from Dad.
“Are you okay, Son? Something’s going on inside that head of yours this morning.”
There’s no way I’m telling him I’m obsessing over my sweet, sexy captive.
“Yeah. Just wondering what Bastian is saying to Romy. He showed up this morning looking like a kicked puppy.”
“Oh yeah?” He sips his coffee and leans closer. “Do tell.”
I’m wondering exactly how much I do tell. Dad obviously knows she must be upset about it. Her own brother worked with him to obtain Megan through CUP. It must feel like a betrayal to her. It would for me if I were in her shoes.
“Romy is tough. She’s not letting him get away with it.” I lift my mug and inhale the familiar scent.
Dad leans back in his seat, studying me. “She should be docile by now, Son. When you took over on this problem, I expected more results.”
He’s right.
When I stood by her bedside after Theo had taken her, I vowed I’d make it all better. At that time, I had every intention of doing that. Hell, I tried through various means. Unfortunately, like some subjects, Romy doesn’t respond like the usual candidates.
Plus, you’re lenient on her. You like her. You’ve given up on trying to rewire her brain.
He doesn’t need to know that part.
“I’m still working,” I lie.
“You have a tell,” Dad says before taking another sip of coffee. “You have always tried so hard to keep your feelings bottled up, but you have tells. It’s your eyes. They’re incredibly revealing.”
“Dad…”
“No,” he says softly, holding up a hand. “You’ve gotten too involved with the Langston girl and you know it.”
“It’s all an act.” I shrug my shoulders and feign cool indifference. “My priority is our family. This is all a power play.”
Unconvinced by my lies, Dad affixes me with a firm stare. “I think we should send her to the lab. Run the full gamut on her. I’ll even work with her one-on-one.”