Camilo's Point of ViewI had heard Rafael leave. It was closer to midnight than it was to six in the afternoon. The moon was high. The night sky clear. A perfect night for a run with your mate. If only mine wasn't as stubborn. Or as shy. But nonetheless, I had heard Rafael leave. Which meant Farren was finally alone. Isa must have fallen asleep hours ago. Unless the girl was partying, her bedtime was nine. No later. It was just her biological clock. Plus, a bomb could be released right next to her and she would barely stir. There, she took after our father, even if she didn't know it.Tiptoeing through the halls, I made sure that no one else would hear me. Some of our lower-ranked dealers stayed in the rooms on the bottom floor. For protection, or so I tried to convince myself.The truth of it was that they were homeless and just starting out. I couldn't let my men sleep on the streets. What would that say of their employer? So, they slept in the lower rooms. Bathed in the communal s
Farren's Point of ViewIt was like looking at a million different lights. They were dancing in the air. Had a song all their own. I couldn't help my anger turn into awe. Felt myself giving in to the alluring moment. Yes, he had woken me up. Scared me half to death. But Camilo had shown me a fantasy world. Hadn't brought up a single negative thing since we had left the house.It was refreshing. But my opinion of him would remain the same. For a while, at least.To think, it was so close to my prospective home. Which, of course, I was keeping secret from the man standing beside me. I caught a glimpse of the wonder in his eyes. The way the fireflies danced in front of his face. Sparked in his eyes. His mouth was slightly agape. Lost in his own world. From this angle, he was deathly handsome. Vulnerable. The brick wall that normally surrounded him was nowhere in sight. Got lost somewhere in the forest behind us. It was astonishing to think the all-mighty boss was just like a little boy o
Farren's Point of ViewRafael had kept his word. The moment Isabelle let me know Camilo had left the building, I trotted outside in her clothes. Noticed Rafael standing against what looked to be an old chevy impala. The car was black. Had darkened windows. One white stripe splitting the roof. His eyes lit up when he saw me. But I paled in comparison to him. His suit was freshly pressed. Cut in tight to his waist. Shaped his broad shoulders. Black on black with a crisp white shirt. Matching black shoes and belt. All he needed now was Aviator glasses and I would be his in the blink of an eye.Rafael pushed away from the car when I came closer. Eyed me up and down with a hunger in his eyes. I shied away. Smiled up at the tall beast of a man. "You look gorgeous." He whispered. Leaned in and kissed both of my cheeks. The sparks were short-lived but high-inducing regardless. "I look like the Pauper aspect of the Princess and the Pauper duo, so don't even start with me," I grumbled. Walke
Farren's Point of ViewWe stood in the driveway and watched as the real estate agent pulled out her car. Drove away. My heart was twitching inside my chest. Palms sweaty. Neither came from my anxiety or a looming attack. Oh no. It came from the fact that she had given her number to Rafael. Or tried to.She had assumed that because I was the one buying the place I was just his friend. That he had helped me pick out a place to live. All of this came after I had transferred the money into the business account she provided. It also came when I leaned in to hug Rafael out of joy. Which made my temper spike. I had snapped at her. Hurried her along to do the paperwork for the transfer of ownership. And get out of our fucking hair before she lost hers. Rafael had only smiled at me through the whole ordeal. Until she touched his arm. Pressed her chest against him and tried to convince him that she would make the perfect wife.Rafael had lost it then. Told her how I was his mate. That this hom
Farren's Point of ViewRafael looked at me with a raised brow. Tilted his head to the side as he took in Louisa again. Sighing, I placed my hand on his shoulder. Smiled at him lovingly."It's fine. He most likely wants to hear how my hunt for a nurse had gone." A blatant lie. My first one to Rafael. I hoped and prayed I wouldn't make a habit of it. That one day he would understand why I kept certain parts from him.Benicio couldn't care less about whether or not I found a nurse for my mother. I knew he wanted to know where I had been last night. Why Rafael was here. The two worked together and my brother most likely knew the car. I just wanted Rafael to stay out of the argument that would surely come. He had enough things to worry about in life, adding to them would be an injustice."Want me to come with you?" He asked, pleading in his tone. Had her picked up on the stiffness in my body? The way my voice pitched higher than normal? I shook my head. Kept the smile on my face."I'll be
Farren's Point of ViewSeveral hours of packing left me drained. Sleep pushed me gently into its waiting arms. I couldn't stop it from happening, no matter how much I still had left to go. After two weeks of staying in this house, I had more stuff to pack than when we had feld Makatza.One never truly realizes how much you buy until the day you need to pack it all up. But sleep was a solid comfort I enjoyed. Although, my dreams were riddled with unknown faces. Men telling me that they were my father. Rafael breaking Leon's arm. The terrible escape from the royal palace. So much blood that I was sure I would choke to death on it. It was a dungeon filled with nightmares only my mind could conjure up. But it was a solace nonetheless. A peace I needed after everything that had happened these last few days.Until my throat was burning from being too dry. And my bladder screamed at me to relieve myself. I woke to my room being in total darkness. Even the moon outside was obstructed. Not a
Farren's Point of View I slept with one eye open the entire night. Stirred at the slightest of sounds. Turned the noise this way and that within my mind until I was sure no one was going to come for me. This left me tired in the morning. Drained of all the energy I had had yesterday. But I wasn't going to rely solely on a small lock. Werewolves had a much higher power-to-mass ratio than humans. One lock wasn't going to keep whoever wanted to take me out of this room. So, I had shoved one of my mother's antique dressers in front of the door as well. Waking up was difficult. My bones were tired. Eyes puffy and red. There would surely be black bags beneath my eyes but I wasn't going to stick around long enough to examine them in the mirror. Last night's encounter with whoever had been in my house left me feeling unsure of this place. If Camilo and his men could get in here they could get me anywhere in Lupitum. Except for my home. Once Priamos and his family showed up, I would be
Farren's Point of View I winced away from his sudden proximity. Tried to turn my cheek more to the left so that he couldn't see the slight blooming of a blue mark. But it wasn't enough. Camilo was past enraged. Wandered closer and closer to insanity. The sparks in his eyes were enough to set the world on fire. His lips tugged into a sneer. "Dammit, Farren, let me see your fucking face!" He growled. Launched himself into the car when I opened the door. I yelped. Recoiled. Hooked my leg over the gear lever and tried to get into the passenger side. Out that way and away from this deranged mate of mine. None of it worked. Camilo followed me in. Blocked my other leg from also coming with me. Grabbed my hand on the steering wheel so I couldn't move it. His fingers forcefully laced into mine. Kept me there. I was trapped. But Leon was going to die if I didn't play this right. If I couldn't get away. "Just hold still!" He growled again. Forced his other hand past my ear. Rough fingers