Page 15 of The Forbidden Villain
I have no such privilege, and that’s my cue to finally leave and maybe understand why my heartbeat speeds up whenever I see my brothers-in-law.
The in-laws who happen to be ten years younger than me, and one of them is my psychiatrist’s son.
Generally speaking, ethically she shouldn’t work with me since we are family. I refused to work with anyone else, though, and due to my fragile state, they made an exception, so we are stuck together.
Before I can hightail my ass, though, Wyatt speaks up, and his deep voice should be illegal for how intimidating it sounds, no matter what he says. “Darling,” he addresses me, moving closer, his scent washing over me when he leans forward and kisses me on the cheek. “How are you?” He hooks the loose strands of my hair behind my ear and grins, the dimple on his cheek deepening, and his knuckles gently graze over my scars.
The thing about Kings?
They give zero shits about personal space when it comes to family, and I’ve long given up trying to act standoffish with Wyatt. “Haven’t seen you since that disastrous family dinner my sister decided to throw. I’m avoiding those at all costs from now on. I think Mom still has nightmares, and I’m in no mood to listen to another lecture from my father.”
Oh God.
That family dinner will forever be imprinted on my brain, since it ended with Wyatt and Ian, his twin brother, getting into a fistfight. Levi was the one to pull them apart.
“I’m good, thanks.” I notice red droplets on his shirt that are barely visible. “You have a few stains there. You must have spilled something on it.”
“You could say that. It was an eventful lunch.”
I blink at this rather cryptic statement.
His words almost sound like a promise to me. I don’t have much time to focus on it, though, as another voice speaks up, this one deeper and more sinister. It creates a sense of silk gliding through me and slowly wrapping around me, pulling me closer to a man, because its sensual tone is impossible to resist. “Lavender.”
The only man who speaks my name in a way that makes my cheeks heat, and the familiar burning in my chest comes back.
Compared to Wyatt, he never calls me anything else.
“Levi.” I mimic him and jerk when he extends his hand to me, expecting a shake, I guess, so I grip it, only to swallow when he lifts it to his mouth instead and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles.
A zapping electricity rocks between us, causing the fire to glide through my veins and awaken something that only confuses me. My heart starts galloping as always, and it’s a sign I need to protect myself from whatever this is.
Pulling my hand away from him, I blink at his bruised knuckles. “Who did you beat up?” At my question, a strange light glistens in his eyes, scaring me.
My relationship with Levi Scott, or rather, the lack thereof, is very simple.
We don’t talk at all and just greet each other. No way I’ll ever change that, especially with his intense stares. At least most people pretend to never notice my scars, but he looks at me in a way as if he never wants me to forget they exist. My hideousness probably stands out among the beauty that constantly surrounds him.
“Actually, you know what? Forget I asked.” Stepping back a little so I can see Von as well, I try to keep my voice even. “Catching up with you all was great, but I have to go now.” I half turn and address the crowd. “It was nice to meet you.” They all wave at me, and I look at the trio once again. “Bye, and say hello to your parents for me.”
“Let me know if you need help with your studies.”
“Thanks, Von, and sure.” More like never.
I spin around and hop two steps at a time toward the library, quickly reaching the doors and pushing at them, ready to enter. Instead, I freeze when Levi says, “Someone who deserved it.”
Placing my hand on the door, I look over my shoulder, and ask, “What?” All the while everyone stares at us. Everythinginside me shrinks because I despise having everyone’s attention on me, but as always, Levi leaves me no choice.
Since our very first encounter, his single goal in life seemed to be to put me on the spot, as if forming chains around me, not letting me escape and hide in the shadows.
I lift my chin to the sun as warmth travels through my entire system, while the light breeze skims over my legs, bringing much-needed relief in this heat.
Why Rush decided to have his engagement on our island is beyond me. This land has seen so much destruction, one should be forbidden from entering it, letting it heal from all the injustice done to it.
Seagulls chirp soundly in the air, and my eyes open to study them, flying high up as the waves crush against the rock and the ocean nips at my bare toes peeking from the sand.
Gazing into the distance, I wonder if one might find atonement for ruining one’s own life? Or are we forever destined to live in our own hell filled with regrets and lies?
The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and something akin to nervousness, bordering on fear, slams into me. I turn around only to come face-to-face with one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen.
