Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Enzo’s swift grip latches onto my wrist, and I swing my head around.
His furious gaze clashes with mine, but I lift my chin.
“If you don’t want half the city bidding on your body parts for putting your hands on Rayo Revenaw’s daughter, I suggest you let me go.”
“You need to be briefed,” he snaps, grip tightening.
“And you need to remember that I don’t need you. It’s you who needs me.”
“Walk away from me now and I will have to punish you for it.”
“You mean showing up at my sister’s place of business with the bride you bought and the whore you won’t let go of isn’t punishment enough? Or maybe that’s your entire game. Maybe that’s why you wanted me, as you keep claiming. Degradation of the desperate daughter.”
His eyes flare. “Watch your fucking tongue.”
“Watch your moves, Mr. Fikile,” I seethe. “I know what I bring to the table here, but you?” I scoff. “You are nothing but a name to me.”
Enzo’s face goes slack, void of all emotion, leaving nothing but fire in his hellish eyes, but even that washes away with a single blink.
“Is this what happens when you get your feelings hurt?” His tone is full of ridicule. “Are you that threatened by her presence you—”
I’ve got the blade I stole from Jayden’s trunk removed from beneath my right sleeve and flying across the car before he even realizes it’s happening, he’s so focused on my face.
Katana gasps, and his head whips her way, his fist shaking in rage at the sight.
I don’t have to look to know the blade is sticking half an inch into her bicep. I calculated the distance against the angle and weight of the blade when he was still mid-sentence. I threw just hard enough to cut through her muscle without piercing the bone.
“Boston, what the fuck!” he shouts, yanking the door closed. “Pull around again,” he orders the driver, and then we’re passing the entrance altogether, driving in a circle to get back around to the entrance.
“Bitch,” Katana hisses as she yanks it out, and I grind my teeth when Enzo offers her the handkerchief from his pocket.
She goes to take it, but when Enzo doesn’t release it, her eyes pop up to his.
He lowers his chin. “I don’t care if she shaves the skin from your bones, you will not speak to her that way, do I make myself clear?” he tells her.
A huffed laugh pushes past my lips and I shake my head.
He turns his glare on me, his mouth opening, but I cut him off.
“If you’re about to threaten me against harming her, I would advise you take me right back to my prison and add a second lock; otherwise, I will walk inside this building and make a mockery of this relationship as you are making one of me.”
His eyes narrow, some of the anger fading as he calls out to the driver who has just begun to brake in front of the red-carpet-covered steps for the second time. “Step out with Katana a moment. Keep her hidden.”
“Boss—”
“Now,” he barks, and the man moves quicker than I’d have thought possible, helping Katana from the car and locking us inside. Enzo wastes no time, getting right to it. “Did you not hear a word I said to you tonight?”
“Kind of hard not to when you spoke them directly to my face.”
“Then what possessed you to show hatred of me in front of her?”
I blink at him and then blink again, an incredulous laugh escaping. “Are you serious? You want her to believe we’re, what? In love? Like she’s not fully aware of what this really is. You expected me to smile and hold your hand and lie about how fun the night was about to be with your ex-fucking-wife?!” The last few words leave me on a scream.
“That is exactly what I expect.”
“Oh, get real, Enzo. My god.” I drop against the seat, disgusted in myself for not hating the idea of coming to this thing. I should have known the universe would find a way to remind me of my place in this world.
I don’t fucking have one and I’m not meant for it. That is the only possible answer, and to deny that is to lie to my damn self.
I hate this.
I hate that I was so eager to stand beside him tonight.
After several seconds of silence, I finally look his way, which is exactly what he wanted.
His dark brow lifts instantly. “Are you done?”
Wow.
Okay.
A humorless laugh leaves me, and I shake my head, pinning him with a blank expression. “You want me to play your game? Fine. But humiliate me any more than you already are, and I will wipe the fucking board with you.” I reach for the handle, but pause, looking back at him. “And then I’ll nail her to it for fun. I’ve been a good girl, Enzo Fikile. Do not test me.”