Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Then start talking.” I don’t follow. He pours himself a drink and I don’t bother to respond when he offers me one. He sips and his hooded eyes meet mine.
“Arsen came to me. He brought me a job and made it clear that I had no choice but to take it. At the time I thought it wouldn’t matter. I’d be gone by now, right? Except I had no idea what it would mean until I’d gotten through that safe and saw what was hiding inside.”
A nasty, sick feeling slithers down into my toes. I want to throw up. Instead, I face him, hugging myself to hide the way my hands shake. “You really did it. You broke into my house. You stole from my family.”
“I stole because the Patron told me to. Because your cousin ordered it.”
“Why do you think I care about that?!” Outrage flares and I bite back a whole dictionary full of nasty curses. “You always have a choice, right?”
“I had no idea that Sam was the target. I swear to you, I didn’t know what Arsen wanted.”
“And Davit? You nearly killed him.”
“He would’ve raised the alarm and things would have gotten very, very complicated if I had gotten caught. I know it was a risk, but I was careful. I stayed with him to make sure he was going to be okay before leaving.”
“Wow, I feel so much better.”
“What could I have done differently? Arsen ordered it. I did what he asked, thinking it would be a simple job, and I’d be out of here before it mattered.”
“You know what my cousin’s going to do to Sam, don’t you? You realize what all that crap means?” Some of my anger wilts as I think about how stupid Sam’s been. I knew he was into some borderline, edgy schemes, but I had no clue how deep it went.
“That’s why I haven’t given Arsen anything yet.” He finishes his drink in a deep gulp and puts the glass down with a clatter. “All I regret is putting down Davit. If I could go back, I would’ve been more careful. I never would’ve put myself in the position to make that hard choice again. But I don’t regret going in and I don’t regret taking that folder, because if it hadn’t been me, Arsen would’ve sent someone else, and do you think they would’ve held back?”
I shake my head like I’m physically trying to shrug off his words. It makes sense, what he’s telling me. The Patron of the Brotherhood isn’t the kind of man you can turn down, especially not after you married his cousin. And this is probably exactly why Brenden was brought into the family to begin with. Arsen wanted his own pet thief to dredge up blackmail to use against the rest of the organization to make sure they all stayed in line.
Figures he went after my father first. Papa’s always been a loudmouth and he’s never tried to hide his ambitions. Arsen probably thinks Papa is his biggest rival, and he’s right. Papa has a lot of support inside the Brotherhood.
This was likely all a ruse to keep Papa in place.
Arsen used Brenden just like I’ve been used. Just like he’s always been used.
But Davit… the bruising around his neck…
“I have to think.” I back toward the door. “This is too much. I have to tell my dad… my brothers have to know…”
“Talin, stop.” Something in his tone, and the fact that he uses my real name, makes me listen. His gaze is iron as he comes around the island. “You can’t do that. If you go to your father, I promise, you’ll kick off a war you’ll only regret. There will be blood, and some of it will be your family, your brothers and your sisters. You can’t tell your father, and you can’t warn Sam.”
“Why the hell not?!”
“Sam will do something stupid. He’ll panic, and even if he doesn’t, he might tip Arsen off. Once Arsen knows I have what he asked for, it’s finished. I can’t keep it from him forever, but I can delay for a while longer, until maybe we can come up with a solution. But I can’t help anyone if you tell them.”
The anger hits me again mixed with a bitter aftertaste of helplessness. “You want me to, what, pretend like I don’t know anything? My cousin’s trying to hurt my family. He’s powerful, Brenden.”
“I know that. I know, Tallie, and that’s why I told you the truth. You deserve to know, but if you go to them you’ll only make it worse. Please, I know you have no reason to, but trust me.”
“You stole from my family. You choked out my brother.”
“And I kept critical information from your cousin to protect your family. If Arsen realizes what I’ve done, he’ll kill me. That’s how important you are to me, Tallie. If you go to them now, you’ll throw that all away. Give me time to figure out how we can fix this. Please, Tallie.”