Page 14 of Cruelest Contract (Storm’s Eye Ranch)

I wish this didn’t leave me feeling so hollow and isolated. I wish Gabriel would call and declare he’s found a much better solution. Preferably one that doesn’t involve getting hitched to a man I barely know and being trapped in rural Wyoming for eternity.

“The scones look delicious,” I say. “Thank you for bringing breakfast, Mel. I’ll set my alarm tomorrow so I’m not the last one awake.”

Her bright smile returns. A thin hand lifts to my face and brushes my cheek. “You really are a beauty,” she says with approval. “They are all going to love you.”

She hustles out of the room without another word and shuts the door behind her.

My stomach unleashes an audible gurgle. I didn’t eat much yesterday, not even at dinner. In addition to a trio of the biggest scones I’ve ever seen, there’s a bowl of fresh fruit on the tray and four slices of bacon.

Though I’m unsure whether feeding bacon to cats is wise, I break off a small crispy piece anyway and leave it in Louisa’s bowl. Bribery via bacon might be the key to luring her out of her cave.

Last night I intended to write for a little while but was too exhausted and overwhelmed to do anything besides sleep. My journal is still on the nightstand.

Clutching the book to my chest right now is as comforting as hugging a security blanket. I carry it over to the desk and decide to jot down some notes while eating breakfast. With my thoughts careening around in a state of panicked bedlam, I need to sort out my own head and figure out a plan.

Uncapping a fine point felt-tipped pen and thumbing through the pages makes me feel semi-normal. I’ll just tackle this day as I would any other. All I need to do is set aside the fact that I’m living in some warped fairy tale where the end game is a loveless Mafia marriage.

I nibble on a corner of a scone. They are as tasty as Mel promised. After another sip of tea, I write the numbers one through five on the left hand side of the page, skipping one line in between each number.

Somehow get in touch with Gabriel

Figure out what to tell Alice

Persuade Louisa to emerge from beneath the bed

Learn my way around the ranch

Out of ideas, I end up staring at the empty line for number five while tapping the pen against my chin.

Mel dropped no hints about what the Tempestas might have in store for me today. Pleasant as this room is, I can’t hide out in here indefinitely.

My priority is securing my brother’s safety. The Tempestas have the authority to make this happen. It’s my job to convince them.

Using all caps, I fill in the fifth bullet point.

GET TO KNOW THE TEMPESTA brOTHERS.

I stare at the words while polishing off the remainder of a scone.

These men are brash and formidable and intimidating. But they are still human. And while we are very different in many ways, we do have some things in common. I’ll need to tap into this if I’m going to beat them at their own game.

My phone dings and I snatch it off the desk. I don’t mean to be disappointed when I see the message is from Alice. She’s my best friend and she’s worried. I know she deserves better than a texted response with a vague promise to call her later.

I’m still feeling guilty about brushing off Alice when I scroll through the unanswered messages I’ve sent to Gabe. Angelo swears that Gabe is safe for the time being, still hiding out in San Diego.

While my faith in Angelo ranks somewhere on the level of my faith in gas station sushi, the two of them are close. When push comes to shove, Angelo will do what it takes to defend Gabe.

Even if ‘what it takes’ means handing me over to the Tempestas forever.

On impulse, I press the call button. My heart begins to sink after six rings and I’m expecting voicemail to pick up again but then there’s a click, followed by Gabe’s sleepy voice. “Yeah?”

Air leaves my lungs in a whoosh and my soul lightens. “Gabe, it’s me.”

He yawns. “Hey, Cici.” Bedsprings creak on his end. A woman’s voice whines something unintelligible. Gabriel mutters, “Shut up, it’s just my sister.” He coughs and returns to the line. “What’s going on?”

“Well, I’m here. In Wyoming.”

Another cough. And a long pause. “So how is it?”

The effort to keep my voice upbeat is almost painful. “So far it’s been kind of interesting. The ranch is enormous. Remember how we used to wonder about the kind of wild lives the Tempesta boys must lead?”

“Uh, sort of.” There’s the sound of a door closing, and then a faucet is switched on. “Are they being cool?”

“They’re being…polite.”

This is sort of true. They were mostly polite at dinner and they left me alone all night. Could have been far worse.

“I can handle the Tempesta brothers,” I say. “But how are you? I’ve been so worried.”

He sighs. “I’m kind of going stir crazy but Ange says I’ve gotta stay put here for a while.”

“As much as it pains me to say it, you should listen to Angelo.”

“Fuck.” He sniffs and clears his throat. “I hate this, Cici. All of it.”

“I know. But as long as you’re okay, I can deal with anything else.

” I feel my lip tremble and shut my eyes for a few seconds until the wave of emotion passes.

I’m glad my brother can’t see my face. “You know what I was thinking about the other day? How Daddy was always so hopeful he’d pass along his love of astronomy to us.

That giant telescope he had was practically NASA-worthy.

Sometimes I’ll look at a night sky and try to pick out the Gemini constellation.

That’s us up there, Gabe. Twins born under the Gemini sign. ”

I’m still talking when I hear him get distracted, murmuring to whoever was sharing his bed last night. “Just give me a minute,” he snaps, then says, “Sorry, Cici. Look, I know you’ve probably got plans today so I won’t keep you. But you be careful out there.”

“I will. Like I said, I can handle them.”

“Sure you can. You always knew how to deal with shit. Much better than I ever did. I’ll call you, okay?”

“Okay.” I fight off a wave of panic. “Gabriel?”

But he doesn’t hear me say his name. The connection has already been broken and a hollow sense of foreboding hasn’t disappeared.

I’ve never known life without my twin. He’s never asked me for anything and now he needs me. He has faith that I can succeed in navigating the Tempestas’ world.

I’ll prove he’s right. He’d do no less for me.

With new determination, I flip through my journal and locate the pages where I’ve written the names of the four Tempesta brothers. I start with the youngest brother and work my way backwards.

FORTUNATO TEMPESTA:

Definitely not the most obnoxious of the group but he has his moments. At times he seems to be annoyed when his brothers act up but will also strike back when tested. Smirked without a hint of shame when I caught him openly staring at my breasts during dinner.

GAETANO TEMPESTA:

Chaos takes a human form. He’s the Angelo in this family, only worse. Appears to take genuine delight in offending people and I’m his newest target. I have no idea if Getty believes he’s flirting or if he’s just totally deranged.

TIBERIUS TEMPESTA:

Kind of like an oversexed circus bear. Perpetually laughing at things that aren’t funny.

It remains to be seen if he’s constantly drunk or if this is just his personality.

Due to his brief career in pro hockey, there’s more internet material on him than his brothers.

He enjoys public fist fights the way other people enjoy eating candy bars.

JULIAN TEMPESTA:

Julian is….

The words come to a screeching halt.

It’s impossible to sum up Julian Tempesta in a few sentences.

He’s by far the most mature and always the first to take charge.

It’s obvious that he is highly intelligent.

I suspect he’s also uniquely cunning and calculating.

Yet he’s gone out of his way to make me feel welcome here so I don’t know how to categorize him.

All of the Tempesta brothers are staggeringly good looking. Sexy. Magnetic.

But Julian?

He sets my blood on fire with one look.

My instant and intense attraction to the eldest Tempesta brother is an earthquake that shakes me to the marrow. It’s disruptive and alarming. He fascinates me in a way no other man ever has.

At the same time, Julian is difficult to read. He’s sharp and shrewd and careful about what he reveals. When he’s close, my skin tingles and a shiver rides up my spine.

If I’m not careful, the contest will be over before it starts and I’ll be owned by Julian Tempesta forever.

The sound of heavy footsteps in the hallway interrupts my thoughts. Then comes a harsh, staccato knock that shakes the door.

“Cecilia,” taunts a deep voice, “come out, come out.”

“We’ve waited long enough,” growls a second voice, more menacing.

I’m not yet able to tell them apart from their voices alone. But an outbreak of laughter is familiar enough. Tye is out there.

Maybe they are all waiting on the other side of the door, Cassio Tempesta included.

The doorknob rattles and I flinch. I could hide under the bed. However, Louisa would surely fight me if I invaded her sanctuary. And it’s highly unlikely the Tempesta brothers wouldn’t think to search there.

As I stand up, I check to make sure my robe is securely closed. Why didn’t I change to real clothes after my shower? There’s nothing more vulnerable than confronting a throng of strange, virile men while wearing a powder pink granny nightie.

“CEC-EEE-LEE-AAA,” they chant in unison.

My hair is still damp and I run my fingers through it quickly, feeling so self-conscious I might as well be naked.

I’ve barely cracked open the door a couple of inches when a cowboy boot pushes its way into the room. The boot is attached to a grinning Tye Tempesta, who slides all the way in and promptly runs his eyes over my body.

“Hot look,” he says. “The glasses really do it for me. How’d you know I have a librarian kink? Why weren’t you wearing them yesterday?”

“I usually wear contacts. You’ve heard of contacts, right?”