The body stiffened before turning its head and lifting a finger to his lips. Ion was staring back at me in his black hoodie and gray shorts combo. I guess he really did go running. He glared at me like I was interrupting something important and turned back to listen in on our father's conversation. Putting the gun away, I went to the other side, curious as to what Ion was listening to, when I heard something smash inside my father's study.
“Fuck you, you bitch!” His voice yelled before another crash sounded. “You thought you could keep me away, thought I wouldn't find you, then you had to go and die on me! Both of you!”
Both?My body stiffened. Thinking back to the research I’d done on her mother, I couldn't recall anyone who was closely tied to her. Kazia’s mother had seemed like she was a lone wolf, even among her own people.
“Sir, the two heads are on the phone. Should I patch them through?”
A heavy, deep sigh sounded, and a glass cup hitting a desk echoed before his voice settled into the cool, sure-of-himself voice. “Patch them through.”
The phone clicked over, and my father's fake, jovial voice sounded. “Madric, Rasmus, how are you both doing? Business good?”
A stern, deep voice spoke, “Arek. You’re the one that called for a meeting and we wanted to know why before we made the trek up there.”
“Yes. You know how we hate to waste time. Is Nicu there?” That sounded like Madric Zakarian, which meant the other voice was Rasmus Hovsepian. Why did our father call for a meeting of the heads? And why didn't I know about it?
My father's voice barely held back the agitation from his voice, “Oh, the boy is doing a job for me, but that has nothing to do with our meeting.” Excitement practically bubbled out of him, “I wanted to tell you that I have called Shera Boswell to confirm, but I’m enacting clause thirteen of the treaty, and I'm offering you both front-row seats.”
The receiver was quiet for a second until Rasmus called out, “Are you sure, Arek? I know twenty some years ago you tried to put this clause into effect, and it ended up being a dud. We don't want to make a fuss over nothing.”
“Are you calling me a liar?” my father's voice came out threateningly, but I couldn't figure out what it was they were talking about. I never saw any thirteenth clauses when I looked at the treaty. “I wouldn't be paying for that bitch to come all the way from America to confirm it if I didn’t. Once the confirmation goes through, she tells you herself; I expect you to be here in two days for the ceremony.”
“Then, I guess…” Madric’s pause was palpable before he continued like it pained him. “Congratulations are in order.”
Rasmus was silent until his harsh voice bellowed, “Just know that if no offspring are produced within one year, then the ruling will go back to the original agreement.” He grumbled, “Of course, you would find some archaic rule to bend, but I guess none of us really have to worry since a wife of Arek Azadian doesn’t seem to last long.”
Archaic rule to bend? Original agreement? Wife? They were talking about the treaty, but I’ve been through that document forward and backward. I knew every line by heart, and nothing talked about any offspring under the one-year rule. My fingers twitched uncontrollably, thoughts swirling until I heard him again.
My father laughed cruelly, “You're just jealous that you didn't get to it first. And who knows, she's a nice little young idiot; she might last longer than the others.” He sneered out the last part, “I guess the Hovsepian are bitch made in front of some pussy, but it makes sense. Guess that's why you use the cunts way of killing.”
“Arek! I will-”
“Alright, alright. It's a joke. I didn't know you were so sensitive, Ras.” My father laughed before his voice went firm, “You both are expected to be here in two days. No excuses.” He slammed the phone down on the receiver, and his chair creaked.
Voices drifted from down below, and a familiar soft feminine chuckle soothed my mind better than anything else. It was dangerous being so attached to her, but I didn't see a choice anymore. It was what it was.
Moving to the edge, I whistled low and quick, making Cezar look up at me. Putting my finger on my lips, I threw my head in the direction of my office, and he nodded, whispering into her ear. Turning to Ion to let him know too, I was surprised to see him looking over the railing, gazing down at her with a soft smile full of emotion. Cezar could barely keep his hands off her, touching the small of her back, leaning in to sniff at her skin. Then there was Ion, all quiet, a blanket of restrained longing covering him.
Fuck, we had it bad.
Turning away from them, I got to my office first, keeping the door open until all three of them filtered in.
“We just found-,” Ion frantically started, but I shhhh’d him before closing the door and locking it. Taking a few wide steps, I made it to my desk, tapping on an app on my phone, and soft white noise came from a speaker in the room. Nodding to Ion that he could now speak.
He stood straight, fists clenched as he faced Kazia. “Our fucking father is not trying to make you our sister; he’s planning to marry you.”
All the blood drained from Kazia’s face; she staggered to her feet, and Cezar caught her before she fell. “No.” Her shaky hand gripped down on Cezar’s forearm. “I can’t. I’ll never do that.” Her eyes went straight to me, and while her defiance was like nails on a chalkboard, I couldn’t help but also agree. It was never even a choice for her; I just wanted to see how she would react.
Letting go of Cezar as she stepped up to me. Everything about her said she was deathly afraid, but those strong, willful amber eyes I admired drilled into mine. “Don’t make me do this. I know you want your father's approval; you all do.” My teeth clenched at her words, disappointed that she could pick up on our pathetic wants, ones we’ve always known we’d never get. She looked around at each of us before turning back to me. “But I’ll never let that happen. I’ll slit my own wrists before I let that man touch me.”
Taking a step, I moved into her space, arms crossed as I stared down at her trembling raised chin and eye that showed no weakness. Her body might be weak, but this woman's soul was made of iron. There was nothing that could take this woman down… and I liked that. She might be strong enough to survive this.
Curling my hand around the back of her head, I brought her in close, our faces only a breath away from each other. Her sweet scent filled my lungs, muddling my mind like a toxin, one I wanted to give in too. “Who said we were ever going to give you up to him?”
Her eyes went wide, looking at my two brothers in confirmation, but I tightened my grip on her hair, forcing her to stay present with me. Sliding up my other hand to her throat, I felt something inside of me break, like a Rottweiler that had been chained up all its life, finally getting free. Wanting to sink my teeth into her and mark her over and over as mine.
Running my thumb up and down the column of her throat, I envisioned pushing her to her limits, reminding her again that no one can have her but us. Spearing into her too deep, filling her up so full that she couldn't even think about anything like that again. She doesn't need to fear it because it’ll never happen.
Something primal took over my body, and I gripped her throat, whispering along her trembling cheek, “You don't belong to anyone else but us. That’s non-negotiable.” Keeping my sole focus on her, I backed her up slowly, moving her where I wanted.
