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)
My blood pressure rises at the thought of Romy strapped to one of the restraining chairs, forced to watch and endure things meant to break her mind. I realize I’m squeezing the handle of my mug so hard it’s begun to shake, sloshing hot coffee all over the table. With a little too much force, I set it on the tabletop with a loud clank.
Dad’s expression never changes. He’s watching every detail and I’ve given him quite the show.
“Son,” he says with a gentle smile, “I’ll return her back to you. Minus all her defects.”
She is not defected.
She’s perfect the way she is.
Of course my fucking face reveals all of that to him.
“Dad,” I rush out, exasperation in my tone. “Give me time. Please. I don’t ask for anything. Ever.”
Okay, so now I sound like the spoiled kid.
Whatever works.
He doesn’t respond at first. When he does, it’s not an agreement. “When you were a teenager, I wanted so badly to see emotion from you. I knew deep inside, you wanted something. I’d told you I couldn’t give it to you—that you’d have to take what I teach you and do it yourself. All these years later, you still haven’t asked. I’m surprised, is all. What about her?”
Calista.
My sister.
“What about her?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“Do you not care to see her again? I’m not a fool, Caius. If you think I haven’t had my watchful eye on you, watching your every move, you’re mistaken. I know everything you do is to lead you to finding her. Well, that is, until Miss Langston came along. Then, poof, it’s like you have amnesia. Or, worse yet, you’re thinking solely with your cock. From experience, I must say that’s a terrible way to think.”
I’m trying desperately to keep the raging emotions from creeping onto my face. Everything from fear to anger and everything in between fights to breach the iced over surface. Dad, like a lion in wait, is ready to pounce the second I do.
“I’m getting through to Romy,” I say much more calmly. “End of subject. As far as your other question. You know where she is, don’t you?”
Dad chuckles and shrugs. “Perhaps.”
He’s toying with me and it’s infuriating.
“How about this,” Dad states, a wicked grin forming. “You let me take care of the Langston princess and I’ll tell you what you want to know about Calista.”
Hearing her name in his mouth sends ripples of fury racing through me. This is all a big game to him. When I’d told Solomon Dad was getting soft, it was a lie. The old man is far more advanced in playing this game than I am. Hell, he created the programs within it.
“Do you have a CUP Star on Romy?” I ask, changing the subject. “Yesterday, there was a soldier who’d followed her to breakfast with her stepmother. He didn’t stand down as he should have.”
Dad’s eyebrows furl together. It’s one of his tells. Like he’s working out a new piece of information. This can’t be good if we can’t control what we’ve created. He seems to be thinking the same as well, but we’re interrupted before we can discuss it further.
“Grandpa!” Kaitlyn says, bounding into the booth beside Dad. “We got a dress for the ball!”
If not for Theo’s quick reflexes, the dress she yanks out of the bag would have been flung right into Dad’s coffee. He plucks it from her to hold it up for us. It’s pink with lace. She’ll be cute in it.
“Looks like a princess dress,” Dad says to her. “Did you get some shoes to go with it? You have to be fancy to meet the president.”
She nods happily, grinning at both of us. My chest aches that Vivienne, another one of Dad’s secrets, was allowed to hurt this little girl just as she’d once hurt Romy.
I’m not sure where my life is headed, but it’s evident I can’t sit by idly, solely focused on Calista. There are others who need my help. The little girl in front of me and the fiery one I left at the hotel.
Fuck, this isn’t going to be easy.
Romy
Traffic is backed up for miles, but I don’t mind. It means at least another half hour or so of not having to put on my heels that are destined to give me blisters. I’m not exactly looking forward to this event tonight, but having this newer version of Caius by my side makes it a little more palatable.
As if he can hear my thoughts, he squeezes my thigh, not missing a beat in his conversation with his father. Theo, who sat in the passenger seat this time, keeps interrupting to joke around with Kaitlyn, who’s sitting on the middle row.
It’s times like these, I feel welcome in this family. Like I chose to be here. Whatever the feeling is, it’s a far cry from when I first met this family. The journey has been a messy one, but I like where I am at the moment.