When my father told me I would be marrying into the Amante family, I’d known that the less savory parts of their lives would probably affect me at some point. I’d long since come to terms with the fact that I wouldn’t be getting the romantic meet-cute at university with a guy that was too-sweet for words and wouldn’t hurt a fly.
I think, even without getting sick, that my place amongst one of the five crime families in the city was set in stone long before I really knew what or who they were.
Ethan Chandler was always going to need more power for his political ambitions. Me and Romey were just his currency to purchase that power.
“Was that too much?” Edison asked, noticing how my face had paled.
I shrugged, figuring honesty was the best policy as I was pretty sure that Edison Keane could sniff out a lie faster than a bloodhound. “No, just… different. I know you probably do things that are going to make me feel queasy or uncomfortable. But it’s not anything I wasn’t expecting when I agreed to marry you.”
Edison nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful for a moment before he spoke again. “I can’t promise you won’t ever see or hear violence during our lifetime, Perrie. You are going to be my partner in all things, and that will require some level of understanding what goes on in my business—both legitimate and illegal.”
Glancing around at the greenhouse and garden beyond the glass windows, I couldn’t help but wonder about the woman who’d lived here for years, sequestered out of the way of everything that was happening in the mansion. “How much of it did your mother see?”
“Far too much.” A sigh left the man, effectively ending our moment as I realized my curiosity had truly gotten the better of me and he was stepping away. “It’s getting late, you should head up to bed.”
I wanted to argue and push—to ask more about the mysterious woman who had lived in the tower that I was currently the sole resident of—but Edison’s expression had shuttered completely and he looked every inch the head of a family of mobsters again.
Nibbling on my lower lip, I turned to head back down the stone path that led back to the stairs. Putting my foot on the first step, I paused and turned to face him again. “Can I come down and help you take care of the plants again sometime?”
Edison’s eyes softened ever so slightly. “Sure, pet, anytime you want.”
I left him then, climbing the stairs and shutting my door firmly behind me before diving into my nest. It had become more and more sophisticated as the days passed and that was largely thanks to whoever was leaving baskets of nesting materials in front of my door every night. I wondered if it was Edison, though the man seemed to be a much flashier gift-giver, so if it was him he’d have made it known.
But either way, the nest now had an actual canopy that was tied low on the four posters and created a space that was packed full to the brim with soft blankets and lots, and I do mean lots, of pillows.
And now, as I lay under that canopy, I could still smell Edison’s, and by extension Rhodes’, combined scents. Faint chocolate and vanilla hung over me, comforting me and lulling me off into the best sleep I’d gotten since coming to this place.
Nine
She was doing it again.
The sound of splashing greeted me as I stalked through the garden to the little hedged off pool.
The sun hadn’t even come out and Perrie Chandler was swimming laps like she was a fucking Olympic marathon swimmer.
I’d first noticed it the other day when I took over for one of the night security that watched over the east wing of the mansion. She’d snuck out that night around three in the morning and swam until the sun was up in the sky, barely stopping in between laps to breathe.
It shouldn’t have bothered me much. Many of the people here did things to run away from the things that haunted them at night. Whether it be a physical activity like most of the guys in the gym or Edison’s nightly stint as a gardener.
But this was getting a little bit ridiculous at this point.
As we got closer to the wedding, Perrie’s early morning swims had gotten longer and longer, and on top of everything else she was doing, the omega was nearly falling asleep in her food at the dinner table every night.
I wasn’t even sure if Edison was aware of the brutal workouts she was putting herself through every day either. He’d grown increasingly busy as word about his impending nuptials got out and he was busy fielding phone calls left and right.
The heads of the branch families were pissed that he’d gone over their heads and chosen a non-Keane woman that they didn’t get any approval over. They’d made their opinion very known earlier this week when they decided to storm Edison’s office and demand an explanation.
It had been a while since Edison had checked any of the branch families, but I had a feeling he would be doing it soon if his thunderous expression during their blustering was any indication.
But even if Edison hadn’t noticed Perrie’s spiraling anxiety, I had. I hadn’t asked her about it because I figured it wasn’t my place—I was just her future husband’s employee—but I was regretting not saying anything now.
The splashing stopped as soon as I put my hand on the gate, and when I looked up, what I saw nearly made my knees buckle.
Perrie was face down in the middle of the glowing pool, her red hair fanning out around her as she lay motionless.
Cursing under my breath, I shoved the gate open and took two long steps so that I could dive into the pool.
The water was a cold shock to my system as I waded over to the omega, yanking her up out of the water in one smooth motion.
Perrie began to thrash against me, her hand coming up to grab at my face.
“Hey!” I barked as one of her nails slashed my cheek.
Perrie’s body went stiff as she turned, her gray eyes wild for a moment before they filled with recognition.
“Rhodes?” she gasped, coughing as she rotated her body enough so that she could stand in the pool, her gaze dropping to my now sopping wet clothing. “What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? What the fuck were you doing?”
When I saw her lying face down in the water every single nerve ending that I possessed came to life with a rush of fear. She’d looked dead.
“I was meditating!” Perrie pushed against my chest, trying to get away from me but I kept my grip on her shoulders.
“Face down in the water?” Perrie hadn’t seemed crazy when we first brought her here almost three weeks ago, but maybe the maids were right and the tower was cursed to drive whoever lived in it insane. “Who the hell meditates face down in the water?”
“I was going to come back up,” she grumbled, pushing her wet hair out of her eyes. “It’s quiet and peaceful, and I’ll have you know that I can hold my breath for almost three minutes.”
