Page 42 of Royally Embraced: RBMC

She almost felt bad for making Jeter go with her as she got checked out.

Half an hour later, the three of them walked out of the study to find Kendrick standing by a bank of windows. His suit jacket hung over the back of a chair, so you’d think he looked easier to approach. He didn’t.

“What’s going on?”

“How are they, Doc?” he asked.

Dr. Talbert looked at Tori and Jeter. He cleared his throat and gave a jerky nod. “We’re good. Tori has a slight concussion and obvious cuts and abrasions. I’m a little banged up, but nothing major.”

Again, Kendrick nodded. “Thanks, Doc. Andre will see you out.”

Silence filled the air, suffocating while they waited for the doctor to leave.

She looked at the door and made her way to one of the comfortable chairs that was empty to take a seat. Jeter sighed audibly, shaking his head, and lifted her into his arms before sitting back down with her on his lap.

“I like you here much better,” he said.

Tori glanced up at him, enjoying the possessive gleam reflecting at her. “Would you like me to start from when Masseria adopted me after he married my mother? I was three at the time,” she said.

“That will work for a start,” he agreed. Jeter’s warm embrace gave her the courage to speak.

“Would you like to hear about the time after he decided the only thing I was good for was to marry me off at seventeen to another Family? By the way, the man he chose for me was at least twenty years my senior. My loving stepfather didn’t give a shit that I was a virgin. I think that was a bonus to him and Alberto Rizzo,” she spat. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t auctioned off my virginity, honestly.”

Her hands gripped Jeter’s, taking the strength he offered without shame.

“I’m sorry you went through that. A father should love and protect his children, especially his daughter,” Kendrick bit out.

She watched Jeter’s older brother, noticing the muscle in his jaw twitch as he spoke. He, like Jeter, was angry on her behalf. Her eyes trailed down to his hands, seeing how he flipped a coinover and over between the fingers of his left hand while the other he kept in his pocket. Besides the clenching of his jaw, one would think he was absolutely calm.

“From what my mother told me, my real father loved me and her with all his heart. If he hadn’t died, I’m sure I would’ve been a spoiled brat neither of you would’ve wanted to meet,” she said, trying to ease the tension in the room.

Kendrick’s eyes softened. “He sounds like he was an amazing man. I think everyone probably wishes they had known what they know now at twenty. Fuck, the shit I screwed up would need several books to write it all down in. With age comes clarity and wisdom that I wouldn’t have known what to do with back then. Now, I get to participate in life with substance and meaning instead of rushing through the tough shit to get to the fun stuff. Not that the other shit wasn’t fun, but...being happy within yourself makes things different. That’s where you get your true power, your true worth. Without past mistakes, we wouldn’t be the people we are today. The journey to get to where we are is amazing. Of course, the bumps, the bruises, and even the heartaches have shaped us into who we are. Each of our journeys begins and ends with ourselves. We can turn pain into meaning. Or we can wallow in pity and become a shell of ourselves. You, you’re a warrior who would make any father proud.”

As Kendrick spoke, he moved closer, placing his hand on Tori’s head. “Welcome to the family, sorellina.”

Her eyes watered hearing him call her little sister again, knowing it wasn’t a throwaway comment. “Grazi, Fratello. Your words...they mean the world to me.”

Jeter stood, taking her with him. The three embraced, and she felt like the brothers hadn’t truly hugged in a long time. For the first time in years, being part of a family didn’t scare the living daylights out of her.

Chapter Twenty One

The next day, she woke up in bed alone. The pillow beside her was cold. She arched her back. Her body ached in several places from yesterday, but the loving Jeter had shown her once they’d said goodnight to Kendrick made her forget everything else.

A small yellow note on the bed caught her attention. Rolling over, she reached for the piece of sticky note. In a very masculine scrawl, she read what Jeter left her. The man continued to surprise her in the best of ways.

Amore mio, on the table next to you, I left a couple of ibuprofen for you to take. The doctor said you should take them even if you don’t think you should, so please do this for me. There’s also a bottle of orange juice next to it. Hopefully, it’ll still be cold when you wake up. If not, come down to the kitchen and grab one out of the largest monstrosities I’ve ever seen in a bachelor pad. And in case I haven’t told you lately, you’re the best thing that’s happened to me. Love, Jeter.

She pressed the note to her chest. They hadn’t said the words, but in her heart, she knew she was in love with Jeter. They’d danced around the words. There had been some veiled mentions but no outright declarations. Did she need to hear the words? The question wasn’t cut and dried. Yes, she wanted them, but needing to hear wasn’t the same if she knew the man she loved felt them. “I have time.” She rolled to the side of the bed to find where he'd put the medicine. The orange juice felt cool, so she got two ibuprofen out and swallowed them with a healthy swig of juice.

Her stomach gave a rumble—the much-needed reminder she hadn’t eaten anything since the breakfast burritos yesterday.

She looked around the room for something other than the bloody shirt and leggings she’d worn yesterday. Her eyes located both their luggage inside the open closet, nearly making her do a little jig. If she didn’t fear it would make her head pound, she’d have jumped for joy.

Walking around the large four-poster bed and into the equally big closet, Tori ran her hand along the beautiful wood. Their New York home had been similar but not as authentic and old. Kendrick’s Chicago mansion had to be worth millions. The woman who left him at the altar had been an idiot. The man was gorgeous, kind, and loaded. Not that she saw him as anything other than an older brother, unlike Jeter. God, she never imagined the feelings that man invoked in her.

There were clothes hung in the closet already, making her curious. She shuffled through some tops, stopping as she realized they looked like things Jeter would wear. There were black T-shirts and a lot of denim jeans. His suits were nice but not what she’d seen on his brother. No, Kendrick, she’d imagine, would be very picky and specific about his cut and tailoring, while Jeter, she’d bet, wouldn’t be.

Grabbing one of the black shirts, she pulled it to her nose. The familiar scent made her smile.

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