Page 17 of No Longer Safe

Nooooooooo.

Brian

I really wish you would be more responsible. You’re in a strange city with strange people. Anything could happen, you need to take care of yourself better and be on your guard. You could get hurt.

He had a point.But there was no way I was going to even acknowledge it. I hadn’t the night before and I wasn’t about to now either. He could have been here with me. He could have taken off the work and been here to have fun with me but in Brian’s eyes, this wasn’t fun. He didn’t see the point in all the parties or all the alcohol. Brian’s idea of a wedding was something quaint, which was fine. Something inexpensive and not lavish or over the top. When we talked about marriage, the few times, I went along with whatever he said. I’d never thought of myself as thewifetype before him. A dream wedding wasn’t something that crossed my mind. When I thought of my future, it didn’t really come with a white dress and a little white church. Before Brian, there was just me. There was just what I planned to do next. But after Brian, it seemed like my future was full of things he’d scribbled down.

My phone dinged and I blinked my eyes at the new message coming in.

Brian

Are you feeling better this morning?

My head is pounding, so I’m not sure that means it’s better.

Brian

I miss you.

My heart skipped a beat. Since when did he send messages like this?

Brian

I can’t wait to have you in my arms again

Was I still drunk? Had someone drugged me the night before? Who was this man? Was this really Brian?

Just a few more days and I’ll be in your arms again.

Brian

I can’t wait to rock your world.

Finally!!! Whatever hangover I was expecting to have was gone. His words had cured whatever ailment I could have. I rolled onto my back and clutched my phone to my chest. Things would look up, things would get better!

Wanna give me a hint of what that means?

Brian

I rolled my eyes and let out a giddy giggle. This was so unlike Brian. I could hardly believe we were having a conversation likethis. Maybe my mom was right. All some couples needed was some distance.

Chapter Fourteen

Alexei

Anytime I was forcedto deal with my family I wondered why I didn’t bring a flask of alcohol with me. Breakfast meant alcohol wasn’t allowed, per my mother’s rules, and my father was already on a tangent about me looking for a wife soon.

My mother ignored his ranting and patted my hand under the table. When my father was done talking about how I needed to secure my line, my mother spoke. “Would you like me to set up a date with one of my friends’ daughters? I know many women with eligible daughters in our circles.”

I would rather light my body on fire.

I pinched my lips together and shook my head, no longer hungry. The entire spread of baked goods, roasted meats, and fruit looked incredible but there was no way I could stomach it now. I considered pushing away from the table and all of my brothers staring down at their own plates, probably thankful they weren’t getting the lecture about marriage. Ace, Carina, and Audrey weren’t in attendance. They weren’t expected to be. I honestly didn’t know if I could handle seeing Audrey after last night. Not so soon at least.

She was a temptation I no longer wanted to toy with. I realized it after she threw her arms around me the night beforewhen she stumbled up the steps to her room. I could still smell her intoxicating smokey scent on my skin. I’d tried my hardest to remove it from my body but it did nothing. It was like it was stamped inside my brain.

Fucking Audrey.

“Did you hear anything we said?” my father barked just as the bane of my existence entered the room behind him. All of the blood in my head rushed right down to my cock and I felt sick.

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