AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “Fine but I’m not the person you’re going to have to contend with. Your father’s partly the reason you have so much security in the first place. If he finds out you’re going to that party alone, he’ll have questions.”
My father’s more open minded than most people in our world. Female Dons are extremely uncommon but he’s never made me or my sister feel like less just because we’re women. He always used to say that from the moment I was born, I was his heir. And I did my best to be worthy of that. To be worthy of the title. He passed it on to me, albeit under duress but with a promise that he wouldn’t interfere. He’d let me be the leader he raised me to be.
But it seems I need to remind him of that. I can’t rule if my father is continuously pulling the strings in the background.
CHAPTER 12
Alexander
“I’m coming along,” my brother announces a couple of hours before the masquerade party.
My hands which had been previously chopping some onions, fall to a stop as I look up at him. I still can’t believe he’s still hanging around. But unfortunately, one week later and he hasn’t gone back to D.C. He looks completely at home in sweats and a tank top, siting on one of the elevated stools in front of the countertop as he watches me. I’d been doing well these past few days, ignoring him and his presence.
After a couple of seconds, I resume my chopping, sure he can’t be talking about what I think he is.
“Yo, Xan,” he says, waving a hand in the air in front of me. “Did you not hear me?”
I grit my teeth as my gaze meets his.
“Where do you think I’m going, Graham?”
“The Colton’s are having a masquerade gala later today. I saw your personal shopper bring in a mask yesterday. One plus one, equals two.” he informs me.
“I’m so proud you’re capable of basic math,” I quip. “How hard was it for you to figure that one out?”
He glares at me. “Don’t be an asshole, Xander. I’m trying to help out.”
“You’ve never helped anyone in your life without standing to benefit from it,” I point out.
“True,” he agrees. “But if whatever your plan is somehow successful, then I’d like to bask a little in that glory. Come on, there’s no way in hell you don’t need help.”
I move away from the countertop, turning my back on him as I begin to check through some drawers. I’m looking for a whisk, while also thinking over his suggestion. When I return, he’s staring at me expectantly.
“There won’t be anyone home to watch Nate.”
He shakes his head. “I already called the nanny. And I got my mask delivered earlier.”
I peer at him. “Why do I have a feeling you’ll go there anyway, regardless of what answer I give?”
That makes him smile.
“You know for someone who doesn’t like me much, you sure do know me well,” he drawls.
“Whatever. We leave at 8pm.”
He nods and I start reworking the details of my plan. Despite how much he pisses me off, Graham actually can be useful. Especially in delicate situations like this.
The time comes to leave and we’re heading out of the house and into my range rover parked in the garage. When Graham tries to get in front, I shake my head.
“Get in the back. We’re picking her up,” I state.
His eyebrows climb. “I really don’t appreciate being relegated to the back like a petulant child, big bro. Especially not for a woman that abandoned her son.”
I roll my eyes, before climbing in. “Get in the back,” I repeat. “And don’t say shit like that tonight. I mean it, Graham.”
It’s the last thing we need considering what we’re about to do. I expect him to argue some more but surprisingly he obediently goes to the back. We drive for only a couple of minutes before we arrive at the designated meeting point. A conspicuous hotel. Once I’m parked, I send her a text telling her to come outside.
It only takes about two minutes for her to appear. Once she does, every muscle in my body tenses. My heart stutters to a stop as she walks towards the car. In the back, Graham lets out a whistle.
