PURPLE HEART - Soliders Of Fortune [BOOK TWO]

Chapter NINE

Sunday Santos

"This is the girl you're marrying?" Verity glares daggers at me as we stand in the living room, locked in the strangest Mexican standoff.. My anxious grip tightening around Max's knuckles as the intensity of her stare cuts through to my core.. "Well, I hope you're planning on making her sign a prenup.. I know a gold digger when I see one.."

"Watch it.." Max hums a low warning that his sister ignores.. Seeming to sense my rising anxiety, The Loan Shark places his warm paw over our entwined hands in an effort to offer support.. The gesture, while subtle, moves something in me.. He has become something of a life raft in this chaotic storm, and I can't help but cling to what feels like my only hope..

Verity scrunches up her button nose at me in disapproval.. "You know as well as I do that Sasha will never approve.. You're really going to put this poor girl through all that?"

"I don't give a ff-fuck about Sasha.." Max grumbles as he draws his strapping shoulders back to stand just a little taller.. "I don't need his permission.."

"Tsk- We both know that's not true.." Verity scoffs with the dismissive click of her tongue.. "Is that the real reason you're doing this? Are you trying to start a war over some trashy little piece of ass?"

I struggle to swallow my annoyance at the constant barrage of slicing insults that seem to come all too easily to Verity.. She is unapologetic and coarse, all the things I had been punished for in my life.. I can't help but feel a little insecure in her presence, and also jealous of her ability to say whatever the hell she wants with little to no care for the ramifications..

"Enough, Verity.." Max growls..

Verity shrugs without remorse as she tosses her glossy strawberry locks over her shoulder.. Fixing her brother with a cold stare, she lowers her voice to a conspiratorial warning.. "If you think I'm nasty, wait until you hear what Sasha has to say, he's going to eat this bitch alive.."

The threat of being eaten is more than concerning and I am forced to speak, driven by curiosity and fear.. "Who is Sasha?" I query quietly, feeling my pulse quicken when both of them turn to me as if they'd forgotten I was even in the room.. Suddenly I regret ever opening my mouth..

"Seriously?" Verity blinks at me as if I were a moron before rounding on her brother with a bitter humour.. "You haven't even told her about our father?"

"I was getting to it.." Max grumbles, pinching at the bridge of his nose in a way that signals his distain for his sister's incessant probing..

"Oh really?" Verity cocks her head to one side.. "Because I think you weren't planning on telling her at all.. I think this whole thing is-"

"Bullshit." Max cuts in as he gently draws his hand from mine, severing our connection and snapping me back to reality.. That odd sense of comfort I had felt only moments ago, evaporates quickly, and immediately I am returned to that uncomfortable state of questioning..