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“These two”—Holden points to the brothers—“have been itching to lay claim to Aria for months.” His gaze, so much like Daddy’s, narrows on his best friends.
“That true, boys?” King asks them point-blank while Mom stands at the top of the steps, a devilish gleam in her eyes. She set this up. Lord, I love my mother.
“You break her heart, and Cas and I will slit you from nut to neck,” Daddy warns, and Uncle Cas grins. Mom and Aunt Talia look pleased with themselves.
“You are in for so much fun,” Hadley whispers to me.
“You can’t be fucking serious!” My brother is irate.
Walking over to him, I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him tightly. “I’m okay now, Holden; you can stop worrying about me.” I understand exactly what his problem is. He’s been my protector my entire life. More than a decade separates us, and I’ve always known he was the example I would hold every other man in my life up to. Seven and Severo are every bit as good as him. Well...in their own ways.
I know most of the younger guys work in the Adair Empire, and Holden has been groomed to take over the business. But none of us girls know how deeply the illegality goes. How corrupt it may be. What we do know, however, is that we live by a code of honor that no one else understands.
Family is sacred.
The innocent remain untouched.
And no one harms the females.
If those rules are ever broken, death becomes a man.
* * *
Seven
I knew we were going to send Holden off the deep end when we showed up with him to claim his sister. Just like I know before the night is over, he’ll be out for our blood. And we’ll gladly bleed for him because then he’ll understand how much we’ll do for Aria.
Our princess.
Since we were children, Severo and I have protected the girl. We’ve been her shields against the world. We never failed her in all her years on this earth untilthatnight. The night Tristan Walker took her, and we thought she wasn’t coming home. I’m not sure what my brother and I would have done if that had come to pass.
Since then, we have stopped two more attempts on her life. Each and every one of them fucks has met a gruesome death. Tristan was our most brutal, though. He may have been young, but he knew exactly what he was doing when he set our Aria ablaze.
It was the first time I’d seen Severo come unhinged. His torture methods would have made Carver proud. It wouldn’t be the last, however.
When our enemies discovered she was going back to school, someone tried to infiltrate the campus as a janitor. We intercepted, and now he’s somewhere in the Gulf.
The last one was intent on blackmailing the Empire. They wanted money more than anything else. The man tried to abduct Aria when she was out with Hadley, Lake, and Scotlyn, shopping for one thing or another. I didn’t pay too much attention to that after catching a glimpse of Aria in some blue silk number. Her stalker, though, was surprised to know both of us had a hard-on for the princess far more than he did. The man is currently in a Mexican prison for drug smuggling.
I don’t remember when we decided that Aria belonged to us, only that it was as natural as breathing. With her by our sides, we know nothing can stop us from conquering the world, should we choose to.
“You need to calm down, Holden.” Severo’s easy-going voice penetrates my thoughts as I observe Aria with an intensity that has her squirming as she watches us.
“The fuck I do!” our friend snaps, pulling Aria behind him like we’re the enemy.
“Really, man? You think we’re gonna do anything other than treat her like a fucking queen?” My barked question pauses him to think.
“I think”—King’s dominant voice speaks over everyone—“should your sister decide this is the type of relationship she wants, the choice is hers.” He smiles fondly at his only daughter. “However, if either of you does anything to hurt her, I’ll have your heads.” The second warning isn’t surprising. If I’m honest, I'm sure there will be more in the future.
Severo and I both nod because we expect nothing less from the man. Aria deserves the world, and we’re going to be the ones to give it to her.
“Fuck,” Holden hisses, and I can’t help my smile. “Fine. If this is what she wants.”
Everyone looks to Aria, and before she can say anything, Hads interrupts. “Look, this is great and all, but we have a ceremony to get to and a party to make an appearance at. I’m dragging Aria along with me. Follow or stay!”
Aria’s face is beet-red, and her shy eyes dash between Severo and me before she follows her friend, and they’re pulling out of the driveway. King and Lil chuckle as they, Cas, and Talia make their way to their own vehicle.
Left standing with Holden in front of the house, knowing the rest of our family is on their way to the school, we wait for Holden to say more.
