Page 82 of Forbidden Deception

I feel like I am enough.

I feel happy, even if I misjudge a deal every now and then.

I don’t feel like a burden to everyone around me.

And I never anticipated that having Venezia by my side all these months would result in me travelling all the way across the country just to kill off her nightmares.

This burning anger bubbling inside of me has my hands shaking, ready to end the life of the person who has been haunting Venezia, who has managed to put tears in her eyes. Just how long till I truly eliminate every threat until I am satisfied that she will be safe?

How long till I lose my sanity for my love?

I have dived deep into this, into whatever we have, and I cannot come back from it. I couldn’t change my feelings and my devotion to her even if I wanted to.

Every night I think about her, every waking hour, every minute and second of the day, counting down till I see her again, and only then do I breathe. Only when I reach out and touch her do I know that this woman is mine and mine alone.

I have someone who believes in me.

Someone standing by my side.

And my family is realising this, too.

“You sure know how to get things done. Khyros will do an amazing job,” Mikko mutters as we walk down the steps of our jet. London’s airport is as busy as ever.

“Welcome back, sir.” My driver nods at me, opening the door to my car while another employee holds an umbrella over me and my brothers.

“Thank you, Carlos.” I nod back at him and slide into the seat with my brothers.

I cannot believe they all decided to come after bombarding me with questions about my leave.

“God knows how frustrated I am currently. How dare these fuckers try to blackmail Venezia? What game are they playing?” Eiran mutters, hands balled at his sides while he glares out the window as if angry at the world on Venezia’s behalf.

Khyros sits silently to the left of him, eyes on his phone.

“I thought you had a fight tonight,” I say.

“Cancelled.” He sighs.

Khyros never misses his fights. He has two priorities in his life: His family and his boxing career, and absolutely nothing will get in his way. He’s spent his life in silence, not giving much of himself to anyone. When he said he was coming with us today, it was a big surprise.

I glance at Mikko. There’s a knowing smirk on his face as he watches Khyros.

“Was it cancelled, or did you cancel it?” Eiran side eyes him.

“Are you sure it’s got nothing to do with the woman Rafael is a little obsessed with?” Mikko teases him.

I lift a brow when he turns to me.

“What? I’m only stating facts. Why else would you be here in London if not to keep her safe? It’s okay to admit it,” he says.

“I’m not denying it. I’m just confused about how you all suddenly don’t have plans and commitments when you are usually so busy all the time.”

They all shrug in sync, and if I wasn’t used to them doing that, I would have been suspicious of their reaction.

“We protect our own, keep them safe and well.” Eiran turns to me and smiles warmly.

Moments like these make me truly believe that my step-mother’s actions have no effect or strength behind them. These men, my brothers, are willing to drop everything for me, willing to go to extreme lengths just to help me keep my love safe.

When we reach our destination and the car comes to a halt, we all get out and approach the gates of the large estate. The guard nods at us, then takes out his walkie talkie, alerting the in-house security of our arrival. The mansion stretches over a vast land, tall red bricked building. The Ricco family is quite wealthy, apparently.

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