“Are you ready, angel?”
“Of course.”
My smile is an anxious one and his low whisper soothes, “I’ve got you, angel. You’re always safe with me.”
The door opens and as we step into the light, I take a deep breath of warm air, warmer than London, anyway.
The sun is beating down, a little less heat in it due to the season, but enough.
As we pass through the doors into the reception, I notice the general buzz of conversation quieten as we make quite an entrance.
Rather than head to the check-in desk, we are directed to the elevators and as we step inside, the guards make certain we are alone.
“I could get used to this level of service.”
I attempt to make light of the situation, and Joseph smiles briefly. “It comes as standard, sadly you are aware of the reasons why.”
I say nothing because it makes perfect sense, given what happened the last time he went out without protection. I’m aware he is anxious, not for himself, but for me. It’s only worsened as he grips my hand a little tighter each time.
The elevator comes to a stop and once again there are guards waiting outside and as we head to the huge double doors at the end, the plaque on the door states simply,Penthouse.
We head inside into the huge open space, light, spacious and decadent. However, my attention is not on the décor but the twowomen waiting for me and as I drop Joseph’s hand, I run as fast as I can into their arms.
“Oh my God.”
I never realized until this moment how much I missed my sisters. As time goes, it’s not been so long but feels like an eternity.
“Tiff.”
Alice grips me hard, as Rose sobs, “Thank God you’re okay.”
It’s as if we are the only ones here, back in the room we shared at the convent, and I cling onto them as if they are the life support I need.
Alice whispers, “Are you okay, honey?”
“I am, are you?”
I’m anxious for their replies and Alice chuckles softly. “I’m so happy, Tiff.”
Rose adds, “Me too. I never realized life could be so well, amazing until I met Julius.”
My gaze searches for the man in question and my heart stills when I note the amusement on the faces of the three brothers staring at us with interest.
“Which one is Julius?”
I whisper to Rose, and she points to the one in the center.
“That scary looking guy in the middle.”
We giggle and Alice says in a low voice, “Joseph is gorgeous.”
“He is.”
To be honest, they all are – they are brothers after all and unlike the three of us, they share the same parents.
I catch Joseph’s eyes and he smiles sweetly and a warm sensation curls around my heart. I am exactly where I want to be right now. My family. My fucked-up family that I wouldn’t change for the world.
A deep voice behind us makes us jump and a fourth man heads into the room, his appearance similar to the three brothers.
