“Let’s just say none of us is happy to call the other family.” I hear him pouring himself a drink as the ice in his glass clang against each other. “You walk on the narrow line, and if you aren’t careful enough, you’ll get caught. You can manipulate the law to a certain degree before it traps you in its clutches and sends you behind bars.”
Hopping on my bike, I welcome the wind whooshing all around me, bringing coldness to my heated skin. “I’m on my way to becoming a lawyer, so there is no need to give me lectures on morality.” In fact, I find them hilarious at best and fucking useless at most, coming from him after what he has done. The man is a ruthless, cruel, and brilliant lawyer who strikes terror into his opponents.
There is even a saying.
If you do not want to lose a fight, don’t go against a Wright.
“I covered my tracks well.”
“I’m aware of any situation involving you the minute your name pops up in any police report.” He takes a sip of his drink. I wonder if he’d choke on it if he knew how I’m going to trap his sister in my dungeon and do wicked things to her. “Watch your back.”
“Is this the equivalent of you worrying about me?”
“I give zero fucks about you. Your behavior may upset my woman, and she’s the most important person in this world to me.” Possessiveness and a sense of ownership coat his voice. “Your victim today will go to prison for a few years, so whateverhe claims about you will be found groundless. Consider the incident gone. I’m warning you, though. You ever harm an innocent? You can fuck off and fend for yourself because I won’t be saving your ass indefinitely, family or not. Get your shit together before it burns your humanity.” With this, he hangs up, and I shake my head, placing my phone in my pocket and putting on a helmet.
Run,moy lvenochek, run.
Roaring my motorcycle to life, I let the sound shut up all other voices and focus only on the road ahead.
Rafael is wrong.
My humanity was burned a long time ago.
On that faithful day when I turned six years old.
CHAPTER FIVE
“They say our past defines our future.
I hope it’s not true.
For my past is hideous and can destroy any future.”
Lavender
Lavender
When Gordon parks the car near the library, I open the door and climb outside, grabbing my purse and the muffin bag. At least one good thing came out of this disastrous encounter today. I’ll have something tasty to eat while avoiding my family for hours by pretending to be busy. “Thanks,” I say, and muster up a smile. “You can go. I’ll catch a cab on my way back home.”
“No, Miss Wright. Just give me a call once you’re done.” He winks at me while I just groan inwardly since this man takes his babysitting duties seriously. “I’ll be here right away.”
Sometimes I wonder what my brothers told him about me that makes him hover over me like some kind of mother hen, expecting me to screw up and fall on my face.
“Okay,” I mutter and shut the door, spinning around and marching toward the library’s entrance, where a group of people hangs out already, consisting of three boys and two girls who twirl their hair as they laugh at whatever one of the guys says.
Judging by their backpacks and heavy book stacks on their hands, they must be students since our university is just twenty minutes away from here.
On instinct, my shoulders hunch, and I look at my leather boots, thumping soundly on the asphalt as dark clouds gather and threaten to pour heavy rain on us all.
Soaking under it sounds very appealing at this moment, so they wouldn’t stare at me but would run away to shield themselves from nature’s swinging moods.
All the temperature changes give me whiplash lately.
Speeding up my pace, I intend to quickly walk past them, only to freeze when one of them calls my name. “Lavender!” My gaze shoots to a tall guy, wearing jeans and a leather jacket along with a shirt that fits him like a second skin. His dark hair and green eyes give him a rather dashing look, making all the girls around him fawn and gawk at him in the most awkward of ways. “Haven’t seen you in a while. How are you?” It doesn’t escape my notice that his friends give me a double take. I have to give them credit, though.
They do their best not to stare at my scars, which can’t be missed now since I put my hair up in a ponytail.
He steps forward and extends his hand to me. “I’m Von. We met at Rush and Aileen’s engagement party.”
