Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
“Yes,” my brother says, his face cold.
“But you stopped him?” I look at Vasily.
“He’s eighteen and a hothead. I wasn’t going to let him live with that. Your father wasn’t a good man. Rich’s reasons for wanting his father dead are his to tell, not mine.” I turn to face my husband. My eyes are filled with tears. “Princess, baby, please don’t cry.” He pulls my glasses off to swipe the few tears that spill free.
“I can’t help it.” I sniffle. “Thank you,” I whisper. “I could never protect him. No one ever did. Thank you for doing that for him.” I bury my face in Vasily’s chest. He wraps his arms around me tightly, holding me close. He kisses the top of my head.
I push back so that I can turn to face my brother. “I’m sorry you couldn't tell me.”
“Don’t apologize to me, Willa.” My brother runs a hand down his face; I can see he’s fighting his own demons. “I should have been the one to—”
“No,” I cut him off. “You already have enough demons you seem to be fighting.” I walk over to my twin, wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug. "It's time to let everything go. He's gone, and that's all that matters."
"Not that easy." He hugs me back. "I've got a fight I need to get ready for." I drop my arms from around him, knowing he wants to escape. He's not great with emotions. Never has been.
We all watch him go, knowing this isn’t the time to stop him. He’ll fight us on it, and that is the last thing I want right now. It’s important that he knows that we are all on his side.
“We’ll see you guys out there?” Teddy asks, giving me a hug.
“Yeah,” I tell her. To my surprise, West comes over and gives me a hug too.
“Give him time. I’ve been where he is.” I give him a smile and nod. If anyone can relate to my brother, it would be West. When the door closes behind them, I turn to face my husband.
“Any more secrets that I need to know?”
“Need to know?” He lifts a brow.
“Oh, gosh.”
“Nothing for you to worry about, Princess.” My husband lifts me off my feet. “Small things, like plotting to marry you and making sure I give you the thrills you need.”
“You know what? I’m not going to ask.” I shake my head.
“Good, because I give you what you need, and you sure as fuck give me what I need.” I wrap my arms around his.
“You do,” I agree. “But know if I do find out things along the way, I’m not going to run. I trust you’d never do anything that would hurt me.”
“Never,” Vasily says without hesitation. “But I won’t lie. You’re my sweet princess. I want to keep you safe. I have never felt that way before, and I can’t stop it.”
“Then don’t.” I rest my hands on his cheeks. “Your kind of safety is what I need.” I kiss my husband. He’s all I truly need. The thrill I’ll never be able to live without.
Epilogue
VASILY
MANY YEARS LATER
“Never really thought too much about if they got pregnant together; then they wouldn’t be pregnant at the same time,” West mutters from beside me as he takes in the scene in front of him.
He’s got his arms folded over his chest as he stares across one of my clubs. We’re on the upper level, which gives us a clear view of the whole place. I always have eyes on my woman. I picked this club because I knew it had the best layout for me to be able to watch her. She gets to experience a taste of freedom, or what she perceives as freedom, while I manage not to lose my shit like West is about to do.
"They're safe," I tell him. The three men and two women that are on the dance floor with them right now are plants. They blend in with the crowd but stay close to my wife and Teddy so that no other fuckers can get too close.
"Still don't like it."
I shrug. I know my jealousy can rival West's, but I also know what my wife is up to. She seeks excitement, and I participate in that pursuit. I will resist my instinctive desire to drag her home like a savage, ensuring that we ultimately achieve our mutual desire. My wife thoroughly fucked. Her happiness is always the end goal.
Willa needed a night out. Actually, we both needed this. I get off on giving my girl what she needs while keeping her protected. It might be a strange kink to some, but I never did give a shit what others thought of me. My girl's kink is doing things she thinks she shouldn't. To be a bit of a rebel or brat. That is fine with me.