Forbidden Deception (Deception)

1

I ’m going to participate in whatever my brother decides to do.

I will volunteer, and I will take the reins, because what is life without a little danger and thrill?

I want to live my life without feeling the need to constantly keep a mask on around people. I could run away. I’ve never felt like I have anything to offer people, and I’ve spent years trying to figure out why. I’ve finally pinpointed it to one memory. One night that changed my life irrevocably.

Once upon a time, a little girl was left alone in the dark with monsters. They bit her, clawed her, and feasted on her fear. There was no way out, no strength or fight in her, until she found hope scribbled in small letters on the far wall of the room.

Words that gave her hope for the first time in her life.

The person who’d left the words on that wall appeared. Tall and dark, ready to rescue her from the misery, he destroyed the monsters.

That man was my brother.

Not only did he give me my freedom back, but he also gave me everything I have wanted in my life: a sense of belonging, a home, and a family. He gave me everything that was missing from the first eighteen years of my life.

But now, four years later, I feel as if I am intruding on his family and their friends.

How do I get rid of this feeling of not belonging when everyone tries to make me feel at home?

How do I tell myself that people want me in their presence and that it’s all in my mind?

“Microphones and chipped phones will be equipped. I need candidates by the end of the week.” My brother’s sharp voice pierces the room.

My ear against the door starts to hurt, so I stand up straight and run a hand down my shirt. Heart pounding, I take a deep breath and knock on the door.

“Come in.”

I turn the knob and walk inside. My brother works at his desk.

Remo Cainn looks harsh but all I see is the softness around his eyes when he glances up at me. His shoulders drop an inch and gives me his complete attention as he always did. Every time I need something, he provides it for me. If I am hurt, upset, happy, he is there to notice it all. Paying attention far more than a parent would to their biological child, far more than a friend, far more than anything and anyone. His connection and relationship with me is beyond words and labels. Remo, he is everything to me. A saviour, a knight, a highly intelligent man who ripped apart this country to find me. His ruthlessness is what kept me safe all these years.

My brother is the power that rules London, one of the wealthiest cities in the world, and it doesn’t stop there. Remo’s authority is as established as that of the monarchy.

He’s part of a group called the Elites. Pressed suits, extensive watches, and spending millions is just an everyday thing for a billionaire like him. Remo Cainn is a monster disguised in his suit is exactly how everyone describes him.

I heard what he did for his wife, Aurora. He is ruthless about her safety, and he loves her completely. They make me believe that love that is otherworldly, love that isn’t conventional, and love that is dark and deep, exists. And I don’t want anything less.

I never thought love was necessary, but seeing my brother become someone else entirely because of his wife, it’s proven how much that emotion alone can change everything.

While I didn’t witness my brother do anything that may be frowned upon, he told me what he did. I have read the news articles and every single tabloid that mentions his name, and I’m more than aware of the threat that looms around him.

I’m not bothered by any of it. When I was struggling and feeling hopeless four years ago, he showed up and dragged me out into the world beyond the four walls of my boarding school bedroom.

He showed me everything, gave me the freedom I so desperately desired, and now, at twenty-two, I have everything at my beck and call.

“Venezia.” Remo looks up, his inky eyes locking on me. His voice almost echoes around the quiet office. His floor is secluded from the rest of the building and allows him the privacy he needs.

“Hello, brother.” I grin. He’ll roll his eyes in three, two, one…there we go.

“What is it?” He looks back down at his work, his hands flying over the keyboard, eyes switching at an impossible speed between the papers and his screen.

“I heard your call.” His head snaps up, his wide shoulders pulled taunt.

“Eavesdroppers never hear anything good, Venezia.” He shakes his head, his tone dismissive.

“Thank you for the advice, but I’m actually a little intrigued. Do tell me, why are you hiring someone and need candidates when you have a perfectly capable person right here?” I motion to myself, walk over to his desk, drop his files, and take a seat in the chair.

“Venezia, if you’re saying what I think you are saying, you are out of your mind,” He waves a hand at me, eyes still focused on the computer screen.

“It’s exactly what you think. I volunteer.” I raise a hand, a grin still plastered across my face.

“It’s in Edinburgh. I would love to explore the city that trapped me, and while I am there, I can finally get some experience working under someone who isn’t you.” I sigh, looking behind him where the sky-high buildings paint a breathtaking vista.

“Why would you willingly go back there?” Remo sighs, then finally puts aside his work and gives me his full attention.

The minute his eyes fall on me, my heart quivers.

What?

I’m still not used to having him look at me like this. Power oozes from his eyes. If he weren’t my brother, I would bolt right out the door.

“I just want to. Place me in the position, please. I will get personal intel from inside the company. I will work there. Spy for you. Please, let me do this. I promise I will stay safe. In fact, assign me a guard.”

Remo doesn’t move. He doesn’t look away from me.

“Come on. Please? I will take whatever security measurements you want to give me. You can keep a tracker in my phone. In fact, I would feel safer that way.”

Still nothing.

“Remo. You know I’ve wanted to do something for myself for a long time. Let me have this. Please. Tell me whatever I need to do. I’ll stalk him, track him, be beside him, or even just work under him and listen to the gossip. You know everyone always loves me. I’ll be the perfect candidate. You’ve kept me away from the media; no one there will know who I am.”

His jaw tics.

He taps a finger on his desk.

It’s working. Yes. Yes.

“Remo. You told me if I wanted to venture out on my own, you would let me. I’m asking to do this small project for you. It will help me heal. It will help me connect with or destroy the city that kept me in the dark. Mum and Dad aren’t even a problem anymore.”

Another tap of his finger on the desk.

One more. Just tap once more, and it will be a done deal. What even is he waiting for? I’m the best of the best. I will give him every detail he needs, and he knows it. I need this, and he knows that, too.

“You shouldn’t cage a bird you rescued yourself, Remo,” I whisper, my eyes fixed on his hand on the table. The finger is about to hit the table a third time.

It stops, and my eyes narrow

“What would happen if you got caught, Venezia? You don’t have experience. You don’t know much about what this mission even is.” Remo runs a finger along his jaw, his thinking tic.

I lean forward on the table, grabbing his hand on the table. I wrap it in my own cold hands.

“Tell me. Teach me. Help me. I’m a fast learner.”

He looks away for a moment.

I hold my breath, waiting, hoping.

“Just say yes already! I’ve worked for you for four years now. I know how a business works and where the important documents are.”

Remo looks back at me, then his eyes drop to our hands.

He slowly removes his hand from mine and places it on the table. My heart about leaps out of me.

“Fine. You will get trained by Helia and get all your devices bugged with trackers. You can’t, under any—”

My happy scream makes Remo cringe, and I leap out of my chair, running around to wrap my arms around his shoulders in a tight hug.

“Thank you, thank you. I love you. Thank you.”

He awkwardly taps me on my back, and I laugh.

“Fine, I get it. Enough of me hugging you, but I know you love it.” I laugh once more when he sighs and shakes his head. I round the desk and sit in front of him again.

“Do you know who Rafael Gustav is?”

I shake my head.

“He’s from the Gustav family that is involved in the Elite, so we can’t harm him, but I need you to find the files he has on Aurora’s father’s murder. He got hold of the CCTV footage and is holding it above my head.”

“Rafael resides in Edinburgh. He is a real estate giant in the UK and is also a very close rival of mine in the wine industry.” He grabs a paper from the pile in front of him and places it in front of me.

“You are going to be working as his personal assistant and will spy on Rafael for me.”

My smile spreads, but Remo scowls.

“Is he an old man? Big belly and—”

“No.”

I wait for him to elaborate, but he’s focussed on his papers again, so I knock on his desk. He looks up at me and raises his brow as if he’s waiting to see if I have something to say.

“What’s his age, Remo? Tell me more.”

“He’s thirty-six years old, and he has three brothers.”