chapter NINE

Grace

Nix’s soft whisper wakes me. “We’re here, Grace.”

I bolt upright. My eyes immediately scan my surroundings. Holy smokes! A few hours out of the convent, and I turn into a paranoid mini version of Nix.

“Relax, you’re fine.”

My eyes land on a huge stain right smack at the center of his chest. “Oh no. I drooled all over you.”

He looks down, smirks, and nods. “Yep. Remind me to buy you a bib. Come on, my brothers are waiting for us.”

Nix’s demeanor changes instantly once we are out of the confines of the plane. Gone is the calm Nix, and before me is the super-intense version. He grips my luggage tighter, adjusts his backpack on his shoulder, and smiles at me. Then, we walk out of the airport and into the welcoming smiles of his brothers.

The two guys are standing next to a shiny black truck. The shorter one has the same build as Nix. While Nix’s hair is a darker shade of brown, this particular brother has a lighter shade crowning his head. His hair is exactly like Nix’s, cut close to the scalp. He has a welcoming smile paired with coffee-bean-colored eyes. The other stares at me with an inquisitive glare. His black glasses cannot hide his penetrating grays. The angular structure of his face, well-combed hair, and clean-shaven face are a clashing contrast with the tattoos covering every inch of his arms. The tattoos make him more intimidating than Nix. The smiling one is about to open the door when Nix shoulder-checks him. It earns an amused grin and a shoulder-push from the smiley guy.

“That’s Nate.” Nix points at the smiley guy, who waves at me. “And that’s my older brother, Drake.”

The brooding brother gives me a chin nod before entering the ostentatious vehicle.

I keep to myself the whole ride, but my jaw drops forty-five minutes later when the new place I am about to call home comes into view. Its size is impressive, and its beauty is completely breathtaking. I steal a glance at Nix, who is the proud owner of this magnificent architecture. He is definitely out of my league.

When the car stops, Nate jumps out. “Welcome to The Fort, Grace!”

“Thank you.” My shyness comes to the front, and I inch a little closer to Nix.

Drake stabs the call button twice and then moves his head from left to right, cracking his neck. He commandeers my luggage and Nix’s backpack.

“How’s Mama?” Nix whispers to Nate.

“She hasn’t slept worth a wink, according to Pops.”

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath.

I look up and make my disapproval known with a head shake. My little antic earns a snicker from Nate.

“I take it, your bad mouth has landed you in hot water. Mama will be disappointed when she finds out you failed to give a good impression.”

“Impression, my ass. Grace and I are like oil and water. Right, Grace?” Nix gives my shoulder a soft nudge. “I feel like she’s either praying for my salvation or completely appalled by my behavior.”

“Is that right, Gracie?” Nate inquires, giving me his full attention.

“Um, it’s not bad to pray for people. And I’m not appalled by his behavior. I’m…well, um…I have to get used to the cussing part.”

“We do curse a lot,” Drake says over his shoulder.

“Oh, they do!” Nate retorts quickly while punching the fifty-fifth button. “Pardon my brothers,” Nate whispers, “They’re such nincompoops!”

“Nincompoops?” Drake bellows. “Are you serious right now?”

“I’m trying to be proper, bro.”

As the elevator ascends to the fifty-fifth floor, my heartbeat increases its pace. My anxiety kicks in about my new surroundings and the new people I am about to spend every waking hour with.

“Grace, you’ll be staying with Rachel and Nate. Don’t worry; she’s a sweetheart,” Drake states.

“Pssh. Sweetheart? She has fangs! I’m the lovable one,” Nate teases, winking at me.

Nix leans in closer. His hot breath fans my hair. “Don’t believe a word he says.”

“Lying is frowned upon by reverent women like Grace.” Nate moves an inch toward me, arching his brow at Nix. “Go, Sister, and tell them of the sins of dishonesty.”

Nix snickers loudly while a bad word escapes Drake’s lips.

“Forgive them, Sister, for they know not what they do…except in bed. I, on the other hand, don’t need forgiveness. I’m married. God said go and multiply.” He clears his throat and says proudly, “I’m doing exactly that! All night! Every night!”

My eyes widen in shock while Drake growls, and Nix backhands Nate, who is laughing like a lunatic beside me.

“Will you shut up already?” Drake glares at him through his reflection on the shiny elevator doors.

“I am just trying to make her feel comfortable. What’s so wrong about that? You guys are so uptight. Pops told me to make her feel at ease!”

“And joking around like an idiot with your sexual innuendos isn’t making her feel at ease. She came from a convent. Have you forgotten already?” Drake scolds him.

I decide to end the debate before it turns into an argument. “Um, I’m fine actually. I mean, I’m not used to hearing those things, but I can’t expect everyone to change who they are because of me. I lived in a convent for ten years and acquired the nuns’ living standards, but I haven’t taken the vow yet”—I throw Nate a kind but pointed look—“which means I’m not a nun.”

“But you’re a very forgiving person, right?” Nate asks.

“Of course. But so are a lot of people.”

“And I assume, you’re also loving and understanding?” He follows up with a grin.

His smile calms my spirit.

“I try to be,” I answer truthfully paired with a shoulder shrug.

“Is it also safe to assume that you’re patient?” He raises his brow and crosses his arms over his chest.

I playfully wiggle my brows up and down. “It is a virtue that can be learned in time for some while others are just born with it.”

“Yes! I’m glad I’m not the only one in this family who’s a forgiving, loving, patient, and understanding person! I need help, dealing with all these heathens!”

Drake drops my luggage and then turns to face me. “Don’t mind him, Grace. He’s delusional.”

“Lies! They’re all lies! Way to sell me out, Drake!” Nate sulks next to me.

My arms itch to comfort him, but I restrain, doubting his sincerity. I give him a pitiful look instead.

I am about to say something when the elevator opens, revealing a beautiful woman wearing pink flannel pajama pants, a black sweatshirt, and pink socks.

“What the hell happened to your hair, Rachel?” Nix yells beside me.

The fairy-like woman who could be mistaken for a child sheepishly smiles and sticks her tongue out at Nix. Her short brown hair has reddish streaks, which highlight her light-green eyes.

“My hair is just fine. But I think you need to sleep until next month.” She walks toward us, shaking her head at Nix. “You’re extra grouchy. No wonder Grace looks all kinds of stressed out.” She smiles, pulling me out of the elevator.

We cross the foyer, and my jaw drops again at the wide space before me. Her living room is a palette of different colors, which opens to a great room. The kitchen is only a few steps from the living room, which leads to the dining area. There are two hallways, and the entire place is wrapped in nothing but glass walls.

“Welcome to my home!” She jumps on me and tightly squeezes me.

“My home, too!” Nate yells. “Grace, meet my beautiful, loving, one-of-a-kind wife, Rachel.”

Out of nowhere, wild yapping sounds off, and a brown ball of hair squiggles in between my legs.

Drake scowls at the hyped up dog. “That rat needs discipline.”

“Watch your words, Drake! He is your nephew.” Nate wags his finger at his older brother.

“He’s not a rat! He’s my son, Loki!” Rachel answers, scooping the furry ball into her arms.

“That ball of crack can’t even defend you, Rach. You should have gotten an alpha dog, like a German shepherd or a pit.” Drake playfully jabs Nate’s arm.

Nix sneers. “Even a pit wouldn’t stand a chance in fending off Takahashi’s men.”

He walks off, shouldering pass me.

His words sober my amused spirit. My intoxicating, cheerful haze is replaced by the cold on-the-rocks truth of my reality—that my future is most definitely shaken and stirred by evil men with dark intentions.