ROMAIN
Inever tell anyone about my twin because she’s fucking insane. But I want Bella to know everything about my fucked up family. I also want Grandfather to give me permission to date her. As long as I have that, I don’t give a flying fuck what my father thinks or what Reynard will do to us when they find out. Grandfather, the vicious bastard, has a knack for making things go away.
I pick Bella up after school, in the same place I picked her up the night of the masked ball. The dress I sent her earlier was an Oscar De La Renta—an illusion gown covered with gold leaves and not much else. I’m rewarded with a fucking sight to behold as she climbs into the back of the car with me, and I get a cheeky flash of her boob.
“You might want some tit tape with that,” I say casually.
“Because I have tit tape spare for all the see-through, about to fall off, dresses I wear.”
I smirk, pulling her to me to tongue that sweet mouth. “We’ll stop on the way and get you some. Or Emerald or Odette will probably have some.”
She glances at me, chewing the inside of her lip. “So what’s she like, your twin? Do you think we’ll get on?”
I cock a brow at her.
“You dodged the question the other day,” she adds when I don’t respond.
“No, you’ll probably hate her. She’s a right bitch,” I say honestly. If Odette doesn’t do anything to humiliate Bella tonight, I’d be pleasantly surprised. If Bella can handle her, I’ll also be fucking shocked. Most girls can’t.
Bella’s eyes widen when we get to a private airfield.
“Wait. Where are we going?”
“Courchevel. The middle of fucking nowhere. Why do you think I told you no one would find out about us?”
“In France? I didn’t bring my passport.”
I laugh at her. “You’re with me. You don’t fucking need a passport.”
I usher her onto a small four-seater private plane, seating her upfront with me so I can show off my piloting skills.
She grabs my arm tight when she realizes. “You’re flying us?”
I nod at her. “Gained my pilot’s license last year. Put these on.” I hand her an over-the-ear headset.
Wide-eyed, she does as she’s told. It’s not lost on me that she’s trusting me with her life as we take to the air. It makes me want to grin like a bastard all the fucking time. It also makes me want to hurt any fucker who so much as looks at her. Zane needs to be punished for what he did. I haven’t forgotten. I’m just biding my time like I always do, waiting for the right moment.
The family homeis lit up with blue lights all over the place when we finally arrive in a car from the airport. You’d think it was Christmas already. It’s nearly November. Cold as fuck, so I know I chose the right dress for Bella when she gets out and her nipples tent the front of her dress beautifully.
“I really do need that tit tape,” she mutters, shivering, sticking her shawl over to hide them away. I don’t make her uncover them. She’s cold. And the last thing I need is my cousin, Royce, getting a stiffy every fucking five minutes.
If Bella is overwhelmed with the number of aunts and cousins I have, she doesn’t show it. I introduce her to all of them.
“Which one is your mother again?” Bella asks, clutching onto me.
“The skinny brunette bristling next to my father is my mother, Nadia,” I say. My mother looks like she wants to be here as much as I do. It makes me sick to see Hayden still clinging to her like a leech.
Bella’s face furrows, still trying to take my entire family history in. “And she’s a twin?”
“Was a twin. Nathan died at birth.” I shrug.
“And Nicole and Natalie, are your other aunts?”
I give a nod.
“Why do they all have names beginning with N?” “It’s a family thing. Each generation is named starting with the next letter of the alphabet.
She nods. “Marcel’s sister is Marie.”