AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I gobbled my food as my father and brother chatted about the downfall of the Drakos family and our impending domination. I was key to their plots.I will not fail them.
“Bianca has already called a wedding planner. A Ms. Webber. She’ll be here around eleven to begin preparations,” my father called over to me. Of course, his secretary was already on top of that. She might be a wiry old bat, but she could anticipate my father’s needs sometimes before he did.
“Very good,” I replied. Finishing my breakfast, I excused myself.
My heart beat double time. Instead of going to the home office suites to prepare for the wedding planner, I damn near sprinted to the back garden. This was a reclusive private residence, far away from the main neighborhoods. My father and brother often stayed in the city or went an hour south to Los Angeles, where their main business operations were. This had been my cage for only a year, but at least it had this small spot that grew plants, unlike other residences I’d been bounced to in the name of safety and seclusion.
In the shrub maze, I leaned against a statue of Orion the hunter. There was a modicum of privacy here, and I needed to steal a minute to really let this all sink in. The sun beat down on me, already hot for how early it was. I placed a hand on my chest, trying to calm my beating heart. It was allfinallyhappening. It was so hard to believe. This was what I’d worked for, and now the stars were lining up in my favor.
I ran my hands over my body, feeling the taut lines and firm curves. I was a virgin, pretty and kept, and had never touched a man. But my education was not lacking in pleasure. Oh-ho, no. I’d been taught the erotic arts well, as with everything else. My father had left nothing to chance.
I gripped the pillar behind me and ran my hand down the plane of my stomach, mentally preparing myself. As I brushed my fingers along the crotch of my dress pants, I pictured the butcher’s body against mine. The thought didn’t send revulsion. There was curiosity, and perhaps a touch of eagerness to finally do the one thing I’d never done with another.
I flicked my gaze to the hunter above me. My role as the prey was a disguise. I was the hunter, the butcher the prey. Even if he knew we were enemies and wouldn’t trust me, it mattered little. Because once in his home, I would find my way to his bed. And when his guard was down, well...black always looked good on me.
Seduce the beast. Remove his heart.
Orion and I had much in common.
Chapter 8 – Constantine
Iryna sailed into myoffice space, where Adrian and I were working. My sister had changed from her professional attire to something flirty and sensual. Her pale skin glowed, and her light blonde hair was curled and loose, rather than in her usual tight chignon. A bright gold stud graced her nose, and the playful smile on her lips warmed my heart.
I zeroed in on the garment bags Iryna held. “Tuxedos? For a rehearsal dinner?” I asked, annoyance lacing my voice.
“Yes, approved by the bride’s wedding planner,” Iryna quipped, draping them over a chair. English might be her third language behind Greek and Belarusian, not counting the smattering of Russian, but she was so talented one would ever know it. She picked up languages quickly and never had an accent. It was one of the many skills I adored her for.
“You really should have let me throw you a stag party,” Adrian teased, knowing he was picking on a sore spot.
“No debaucherous parties!” I warned, closing my laptop.
“You don’t have to sleep with the dancers. That’s not what they’re paid for,” my cousin pushed, walking a gray line.
He was asking for it, and the evening wasn’t even started. The cocky bastard knew he was one of the few people I wouldn’t fight over the issue, or at least not kill in a fight. “We don’t have time for this nonsense.”
I organized my papers. Iryna leaned into my desk, reaching for some documents. To the world, she was a young executive administrator, as she did not want to be on the board of directors or hold a c-suite position in the shipping empire. But in my eyes, my sister was my equal. We ran this empire together. Even though she was seven years my junior, there was no hierarchy between us, and I valued her like none other.
