Page 82 of Wicked Empire (Knight's Ridge Empire 3)

My heart shatters once more as she pulls me into her arms.

“I can’t wait to get to know you better,” she whispers in my ear. “I’ve spent all these years imagining all the things we could do together.”

“I want that.”

She holds me for a few more seconds before releasing me.

Taking my face in her hands once more, she wipes my tears away with her thumbs.

“I can see why the boys are so taken with you, sweetheart.”

“Mum,” Toby warns.

She rolls her eyes at him. “You really should have seen the resemblance, Tobias,” she jokes.

His grip on my hand tightens, and I can’t help but smile.

“Should I be keeping an eye out for any others or…”

“You’re safe,” Maria confirms. “From my side… at least.”

She noticeably cuts herself off from saying any more. But none of us needs to hear the words.

“Jesus Christ. I’ll order some DNA tests then, shall I? Just in case.”

“Just keep it in your pants, son,” Dad suggests helpfully.

Maria and Penny snort a laugh.

“Not sure you can be giving out that kind of advice, Dad,” I deadpan. “And anyway, I’m clearly going to have to vet any girl Toby considers worthy now, and nothing will get through me.”

“Because you have such good taste,” he mutters with a laugh.

“Hush now.”

“Yeah,” Penny mutters. “You two are definitely siblings.”

Toby and I stand as our parents embrace, allowing them to have a whispered conversation between them.

“How’s Seb doing?” Toby asks, dragging my attention away from watching my dad with a woman for the first time ever. The way he holds her. Damn. He’s so utterly smitten with her. It would be adorable if the situation weren’t quite so dire.

“He’s okay. He’s gone to meet his sisters to get everything sorted.”

“He doesn’t deserve any of this shit,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I think we of all people know just how unfair life can be,” I say, shooting a look over my shoulder at our parents once more.

“Yeah. It’s fucking shit.”

“We’re gonna fix it. Your dad’s going to get what’s coming to him, and we’ll start over. All of us.”

“Sounds good, Sis,” he says with a wink, pulling me in for a hug.

“Go get your—our—mom inside where it’s warm. You should be resting too, remember.” I pin him with a warning look.

“Sure thing, kid.”

“Eleven months, Tobias. Don’t fucking start with that shit.”