Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26161 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26161 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“I just want to know the truth. Tell me the damn truth.”
Eleven
Come the fuck on.
I hit every red light from Ritz Russo’s—where I had my eye on a new singer who had a whole Halsey vibe going on—to Hush. Luckily, when I pull up out front, one of the usual valet guys sees me right away. I toss my keys at him and then bolt inside. Pushing past horny fuckers everywhere, I make it down to reception where Jonas waits at his desk with a frown on his face.
“Everything okay?”
“He hasn’t hurt her,” he assures me, nodding toward his laptop where he’s no doubt watching the cameras.
“Good. Thanks for calling me.”
Jonas was under strict instruction to not allow William into any rooms without my supervision, ever since what went down with Kate. But knowing Nat would be sniffing him out, eager for answers, I told him to be especially aware of any weird requests. The moment he called to tell me William had a blonde with him, I was already on my way.
I promised her he’d never hurt her. Never hurt anyone ever again and I meant it.
I fucking threatened William from ever touching her again, or even inhaling the same air.
Him walking into my place was one thing. But creeping on her in my room? Then saying the shit he did? Not cool. When the dickhead got lippy with me, I saw red. Rammed my fist right into his pretty Ken doll face. It satisfies me knowing his face is all fucked up.
Bottom line is, we’ve moved on.
The Warners helped when we needed it, but William has used that piece of leverage over me for a long time. I let him, too. It wasn’t until Natasha showed up and he fucked with her that my “we go way back” fog began to clear. I told him he needed to back the hell off this scene and me. And especially Nat.
I thought we had an agreement.
Yet, here we are.
Me hauling ass to the Blue Box. The room is outfitted with hidden cameras. So at least if he hurt my girl, we’d know about it. When I reach the room, I hear yelling. Not wasting a second, I burst inside. I expect something horrible like him forcing himself on her.
Not this.
Not Natasha looking like a fierce angel, both hands fisted, as she yells at William. He’s on the bed, curled into a ball moaning about his bruised nuts.
Good girl.
Good fucking girl.
“Say it,” she cries out, hitting him with her fists wherever she can land a punch.
“I killed her, okay?” he whimpers.
Her shoulders hunch. “Did she fight? Did you try to save her?”
“She always fought,” he mutters. “It was part of the excitement. I guess…I mean, I always got turned on by her fighting. We both did.”
“Did you try to save her?”
“Of course I tried to fucking save her,” he snaps at her. “Do you think it looks good on me to be associated with a bitch I choked to death?”
Nat starts pummeling him again as she sobs. “She was an amazing person! You ruined her and couldn’t even save her! You let Ren take the fall so your precious popularity would be intact! I hate you!”
Stalking over to her, I pull her back and into my arms. With a kiss to the top of her head, I silently assure her I’ve got her. She turns and hugs me, crying into my chest.
“It’s okay, baby,” I croon, stroking my hands through her hair. “We’re together now and I’ve got you.”
William sits up on the bed and glowers at me. “So it’s like that, man? You’re choosing sides and picking this crazy bitch? What about everything I did for you, Ren? With Rose?”
I stiffen. “My mother has nothing to do with this. Your dad helped us when we needed it, but we long since paid that debt. I owe you nothing, William. I thought we could be friends, but you’re too far gone. You’re like all the other politicians—sick, corrupt, evil.”
He sneers at me. “It’s like that? Well, maybe I should march my ass down to the police department and show them what you did to my face.” As if Ronan’s best friend—and cop—Blaine would do anything besides laugh cruelly at him. William has no idea that he’s not the only connected person in this city. We passed the Warners up on influence years ago.
Natasha hugs me tighter, which spurs me on.
“You can fucking try. And we’ll tell them who’s really responsible for Kate’s death. Accident or not, that can’t look good for your public image,” I threaten.
He laughs, cold and cruel. “I destroyed her phone. There is no evidence.”
“You must be ten kinds of stupid if you think I’d willingly let you go into a room alone with my fucking girl and not have some sort of insurance in place. This room has cameras. They all do, asshole. It’s how we protect everyone here from violence. And accidents,” I growl. “Your little confession is mine.”