Chapter One
It’s amazing how you can love someone and want to strangle the life out of them at the same time. Right now, that’s how I’m feeling about my brother. My older, overbearing,controlling brother. Who’s about to be taking his last breath if he doesn’t stop with the whole “you need protection” bullshit.
“You know it wasn’t all that long ago that you needed to be saved by a woman, Neo. Remember that? When Angelica had to come in and save your ass from being shot?” I yell at him. It backfires on me, though. Any mention of his now wife only makes my brother smile. “Argh, you’re impossible. The point is: just because I’m a woman, it doesn’t mean I need protection.”
“No, the fact that you’re my sister and you have a psychopath ex-boyfriend stalking you means you’regettingprotection. And it’s not debatable.” Neo leans against the counter and folds his arms over his chest.
“I. Do. Not. Need. A. Babysitter.” I annunciate every word before turning on a heel and storming into the kitchen. I’m done with this conversation. Unlike my brother, I have actual work to do.
This café was my dream.Ismy dream. I opened it several years ago and haven’t looked back since. I love it most days. But then there are others where I wonder if Kye was right. Maybe Iammore invested in this café than in my personal relationships. My ex hated the fact that I worked so much and tried to talk me into letting my staff do more of the day-to-day shit.
It’s one of the many reasons I broke up with him. Honestly, Kye had more than one red flag, though. And not the type you want. He was supposed to be the kind of man I could settle down with. Someone outsidethe life.Someone normal, safe, and unlikely to end up behind bars or shot dead by a rival family.
The thing is, no matter how much I tell myself I want that—and I do want that—there is something missing. There has just never been that spark I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to feel with the guys I’ve dated.
I’ve watched my brother and cousin both fall head over heels for the women they found. I even got to see my baby sisterfall in love. Which I’m all for, considering the awful things she endured. Lola recently returned to us. She was kidnapped as a child and missing for ten years, but that’s not my story to tell. It’s hers.
I want to find a love that’s all-consuming, but the thought of that kind of love also scares the crap out of me. I pride myself on being independent, living my dreams and not answering to any man. Well, any man who isn’t my big brother it seems.
Neo follows me into the kitchen. “Helena, please. Just don’t cause the guys any trouble. I need to do this. Not because I don’t think you can handle yourself, but because I couldn’t live with the thought of losing another sister. Especially if I didn’t do everything in my power to stop it. I need you. Lola needs you,” he says, and I know he means every word.
But also, way to pull out the emotional manipulation, asshole.
His arms wrap around my back and he tugs me against his chest. As the oldest in the family, Neo takes on a lot of responsibility, and my safety has been his number one focus, especially after Lola’s disappearance.
“Okay,” I relent. “But, if they get in my way, I’m getting rid of them.”
“You’ll get rid of them? They’re made men, Helena. They won’t be so easy to get rid of.” He chuckles.
“They will be if I ask Angelica to help me.” I smirk up at him. My brother isn’t scared of anyone except his wife.
“Do not do that. They don’t deserve her kind of crazy for following orders,” he says with a shiver.
I heard Angelica once cut off a man’s dick and then proceeded to shove it down the guy’s throat until he was forced to choke on it. The name brutal princess, which is what people call her, is very fitting. Honestly, I don’t see it. She’s the sweetest to me.
“Tell them not to get in my way then,” I grumble as I shove out of my brother’s hold.
“Fine, but let them do their job. Also, can I get a plate of lasagna?” Neo asks.
“I’ll get a plate. Can’t promise I won’t spit in it, though.” I smile and turn my back on him.
“You love me way too much to spit in my food, Helena,” he says with an inflated confidence.
I lovemy foodtoo much to spit in it. But I don’t tell him that.
I pile Neo up a plate and take it into the office, where he likes to eat whenever he comes in to the café. My brother and cousin hang out here a lot. Sometimes I wonder how they get anything done.
“Here’s your food. Enjoy.” I slam the plate onto the desk and turn to leave, only to pause when I realize Neo isn’t alone.
“Helena, this is Marco. He’s going to be your shadow until this blows over.” My brother introduces the man standing in the doorway. No, this isn’t a man. This is a god. A deathly, dangerous, sexy god.
I swallow, my throat suddenly dry while my heart picks up speed.What is happening to me?
“No,” I manage to get out.
“You just promised you’d let my guys do their job, Helena.” Neo sighs.
“I take it back.” I refocus my glare on my brother. “I don’t need a babysitter,” I tell him before skirting around the tall, dark, sexy babysitter that I absolutely do not want anywhere near me.
