Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“You are wrong. I did what you told me to do and left her alone. You cannot ask me to stay away and then expect me to know every nuance of her existence.”
“Well, you should have known that she has gotten involved with the enemy. Maybe then you would have found them a long time ago.”
“Again, you are wrong. We might have known where to find them, but you would not have been ready to take them down. Or have you forgotten we still need the weapons to succeed?”
“Go, I have had enough.”
She turns to leave, but I have a few final words before she disappears. “It is your responsibility to make sure Seraphina doesn’t come to any harm. If she is harmed, so shall you be.”
With that, she vanishes without another word. I pinch the bridge of my nose. I didn’t even get a chance to relieve some of this tension. I’m surrounded by incompetence. No wonder my lord is still imprisoned.
“There isn’t a prayer to spare the lot of them,” I grumble and flop back down into my chair.
No-Show
I’m so nervous my stomach is bubbling. When Lee and Ray said they wanted to meet up in person, I was excited. I’ll finally get to meet my sisters.
However, now, as I’m the first to make it to the bar and none of the other three have arrived, I’m questioning everything. Will they be disappointed? Should we be doing this?
What if there was a reason for our separation? Why did our parents separate us and give three of us up? Will this come back to haunt us?
“Taylor?”
I jump in my seat and turn to the person who just called my name. I know right away this is Lee. There’s something in my soul that tells me this is my sister even though I’ve never seen her before. She’s so pretty. Darker than me and taller. She gives off a badass vibe. I love her already.
I’ve never seen her face before tonight as she’s the only one who hasn’t posted a picture of herself on the site we all connected through. She’s also the only one who doesn’t use a surname on the site. We only know her as Lee.
I jump up and we pull each other into a tight embrace. I hug her as tight as I can, as if she’ll disappear if I let go. This has been an especially tough week at home and school.
I need this hug more than I knew. I fight back the tears that burn to spring forth. I don’t want my sister’s first impression of me to be that I’m a crybaby.
I release her and smile up at her. “Are you the only one here? Have you seen Ray or Billy?” I ask.
“Billy called me. She can’t make it. Something about work and a case or something. I don’t think Ray has arrived yet.”
“Oh, okay. Come sit with me. We can wait here for Ray,” I say as I retake my seat at the bar.
She sits and looks me over. “You’re so much smaller than I was expecting. Um … that’s an interesting preference,” she murmurs the last part and I almost miss it.
“Trust me, I don’t prefer to be this small,” I say into my lap.
She runs a hand over my hair. “Don’t mind me. You’re perfect. You were made exactly how you are supposed to be. Designed perfectly for your purpose.”
I smile. Is this what having a big sister is like? We don’t know our birth order, but Lee just feels like she’s older.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“Still shy, I see,” Lee says. I knit my brow at this comment as well. I didn’t realize I’d come off as shy online to my sisters. “Tell me more about yourself.”
I shake my thoughts off and smile. Lee has no idea how much her interest in me means. I probably tell her way too much.
I don’t know how long I’m rambling when Lee looks down at her watch and worry etches across her face. I clamp my lips shut and fidget in my seat.
“I’m sorry. I’m just so excited to meet you,” I whisper.
“Oh no. It’s not you. I’m starting to get worried about Ray. She should have been here by now. Come, I’ll treat you to dinner. Hopefully she’ll show before we’re done.”
“Oh. Why didn’t I think of that? Do you think her dad found out and kept her from coming?”
“Our dad is an asshole and that’s more than likely what’s happened.”
I nod. I was shocked to learn our father had four children all these years. He kept Ray but shipped the rest of us off. From what I know, only Billy and I landed in foster homes. Lee doesn’t speak much of her upbringing.
She has only recently shared about her unwanted engagement. I get the feeling she has had a better life than Billy and me. It’s as if our father took more care with what would happen with her and Ray.