"Parker?" Deepa whimpered.
Chapter Five
“What?” Axel snapped, glaring straight at Deepa.
Deepa examined the large man before her.
He looked just like her dead boyfriend. The facial structure, eyes, hair color, and shoulders were the same, but as Deepa looked closer, she realized that certain things were different.
The man before her was clearly older. There were more wrinkles around his eyes, and he didn't have the scar on his cheek that Parker received in a fight years earlier.
"I'm...I'm sorry..." Deepa uttered as her face went red, dropping her gaze to the ground. "You just remind me of someone."
The man curiously raised an eyebrow. "Parker?"
"Just..." Deepa found it difficult to force the words from her throat. "Someone that I used to know."
"Ah, sorry to disappoint," the man replied with a smile. "I'm Ryan. I'm Axel's younger brother."
"Oh… nice to meet you." Deepa tried to ignore the way Axel's grip tightened on her arm.
"Likewise," Ryan grinned. "And you are?"
"Deepa."
"Deepa…” Ryan said softly. “That’s a lovely name."
Axel's growl interrupted their conversation. "We were just leaving."
"So soon," said Ryan. "I was hoping that you could at least stay for breakfast. Axel rarely brings any friends home."
"She's not hungry!" Axel snapped.
"That's too bad," Ryan sighed. "Reese made plenty this morning."
"We're leaving!" Axel started forcefully dragging Deepa away.
Deepa yanked her arm out of his grasp. "Actually I'd like to stay for breakfast."
There was something about Ryan that intrigued her.
Axel's face dropped.
“I think that’s a great idea." Nastya linked her arm through Deepa's and led her back into the house. “Reese makes the most wonderful tomato omelets."
"That sounds amazing." Deepa grinned, enjoying the sight of Axel's distress.
Nastya led Deepa down the hallway and into a spacious dining room, pulling out a seat at a long table.
Ryan and Axel followed, Ryan looking amused while Axel glared at Deepa like she'd betrayed him.
There were several other people already eating breakfast. A couple of young blond men and women chatting and laughing, while a teenage boy quietly picked at his food.
Deepa caught sight of the man who bit Parker, silently scrolling through his phone while chewing on a piece of bacon, but she quickly looked away, trying to suppress the surge of anger that rose up inside her.
She took a seat next to Ryan. Axel sat on the opposite side, glaring at her.
"Take whatever you like." Ryan gestured to the huge selection of food that lay on the table. There were sausages, omelets and fruit, along with a large pile of bacon.
