Page 14 of Reign of a Billionaire
Giovanni watched my face, then nodded. “Then don’t ask about my shit.”
Chapter 7
Kingston, 10 Years Old
Our nanny chased my little sister Aurora through the yard as I let out an exasperated breath.
“Don’t even start,” Royce grumbled while Winston watched us with a bored expression, taking a puff of his cigarette. If Father found him smoking, he’d have all our ears boxed. “It’s your turn to take her to the zoo.”
“It’s true,” Winston agreed. “But if you’re not up for it, I’ll do it.”
Rora’s dark curls bounced as she skipped across the manicured lawn, brimming with energy. Despite her fancy red coat with black bows for buttons and her shiny leather loafers, she was wild. But she was happy, and I wouldn’t—couldn’t—be the one to ruin it today.
I waved my brothers off and rolled my eyes. “Fine, I’ll do it. You guys suck.”
Royce glanced around before flipping me off. Winston just shrugged and returned to his vice, pulling in a puff of nicotine-laced air. The all-boys school we attended demanded a certain level of decorum from us, but that didn’t necessarily apply to our behavior in private.
“Nanny’s going with you, so you won’t really do much,” Royce pointed out.
I called my sister over and took her hand securely into mine while the nanny trailed behind us. She hummed the whole way to the zoo—which was thankfully only a few blocks away—chatting my ear off about the Christmas presents she wanted to shop for. She’d been crazy about hippos since watching a documentary on them, and no amount of explanation could convince my stubborn little sister that we couldn’t keep one in our yard,evenif it was at the top of her list.
“Stay with me, Rora,” I reprimanded in a soft voice.
“Always.”
She lifted her face, watching me with so much trust it made my chest pound with pride. I tugged her pigtail fondly, and a giggle bubbled on her lips.
We’d visited the zoo probably a hundred times this year, but Rora behaved as if it were her first time every time. The moment we were past the gates, she tugged her little hand out of my hold and ran circles around me and the nanny.
“Lion,” she squealed, smiling widely. “Here, come here. Bears!”
Her enthusiasm was contagious. There wasn’t anyone who could resist her innocent charm. Another loud giggle sounded from her, and I couldn’t help but smile along.
“Oh my gosh.” She beamed, her cheeks rosy from the walk. Her dark hair was a wild mess by now, but her eyes shone like obsidian, her delight palpable.
“Rora, stay close!” I warned when she strayed too far. We made our way deeper into the zoo and finally stopped at the elephants. I watched one lift his trunk high up in the air and reach for the tree branch, then shake it with all its might.
My worries sailed away as I stared in awe at the elephants. I’d have to tell the boys at school about this tomorrow. Of course,I’d have to play it cool and not tell them that I was with my five-year-old sister. They’d laugh at that. No ten-year-old boy wanted to spend time with their little sister—at least, they didn’t want to admit as much.
I didn’t mind it myself, but it wasn’t something I bragged about.
“See, Rora. A hippopotamus can’t do—” My eyes widened at the empty space by my side and I turned around, my gaze darting left and right. Pushing through the crowd, I searched for my sister’s smiling face. My stomach twisted with each passing second until a thought occurred to me.
She was stubborn. Maybe she’d taken herself to the hippo enclosure.
I rushed across the path and made my way to where they were housed. I spotted her red coat, her little hand wrapped in a stranger’s, and trepidation shot through me.
“Rora.” My voice traveled over the air, drawing my sister’s attention in my direction.
I stood on the other side of the pool pathway, but before I could run to her, I was yanked off the ground by my hair. A painful gasp tore from me, tears stinging my eyes, and I blinked them away furiously. I was being held captive by a man with an evil smile. I instantly regretted not dragging our nanny with us.
My sister ran toward me, but I shouted, “No, Rora.” Her steps faltered and she came to a stop, her dark eyes widening in terror. She breathed heavily, her little coat rising and falling from the exertion. “Run, Aurora. Run and don’t look back!”
Her little body trembled where she stood next to a man covered head to toe in tattoos. My eyes darted to him, praying for him to save my sister.
“I don’t want to go alone,” she whimpered.
“Don’t worry, little girl.” The man holding me grinned menacingly.No. I had to protect my sister. My brothers and Ihad made a pact. I jerked against his hold, his grip tightening on me as he leered at my baby sister. I didn’t like it. “Sharing is caring. I came for you, but we can take your brother too… that could be fun,da?”
