Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
I suppose the same rings true regarding Meredith’s warnings about River Bently.
“Amanza,” he says pointedly.
“Yes. I’m here,” she replies as she pushes back a lock of her hair, and I try my hardest not to roll my eyes so hard at her in public.
“I’d suggest you don’t speak to Anya again if you wish for your brother to keep on breathing.” Her eyes go wide at his threat, and it fills me with an unfamiliar smugness.
“But—”
“But nothing. We fucked, and it was fun.”
“I’m sorry, what? It was fun?” I scoff. Amanza looks to be on the verge of tears from his words, whereas I want to strangle him.
“Take me off speaker, Anya,” he requests in the tone he uses when he orders me to bend over and do as he pleases.
“Fun,” I say, shaking my head, irked for some reason. What about this little pipsqueak could be fun? She looks like she’s about to burst into tears, and that alone should give me satisfaction. So why doesn’t it?
“Anya, we need to discuss last night,” he starts.
“No, thank you. Our agreement is over. Go and have some more fun with someone else.” I hang up.
He calls right back.
I don’t answer.
I run my hand over my hair, ensuring it’s still perfect. Amanza looks like her world has crumbled, and I don’t even need to threaten her, which is greatly disappointing. I almost feel sorry for her if she truly thinks River is as crazy as me. I step around her and walk into the store without another word.
CHAPTER 37
Anya
I’m fucking furious, and I have no idea why. But I think it has something to do with River saying how much “fun” he had fucking Amanza. That doe-eyed bitch? In what century? It’d be as good as fucking a blow-up doll.
“A fucking blow-up doll, I tell you!” I say as I throw a knife and hit my target dead on. “Shopping is meant to make me feel better, so why the fuck am I angrier?” I throw the next knife and it hits slightly off center. I scream, self-imploding.
It’s been a while since I made my way to the back of my mansion for target practice, but there’s a lethal edge I need to try my hardest to smooth over. Otherwise, I’ll probably go after the doe-eyed bitch. And some part of me, that’s never made itself known before, thinks that would be unreasonable.
“Fuck,” I grumble and then pick up my tea as I look over the well-manicured backyard. Vance stands off to the side at a distance, and I lick my lips. Why do I have so much pent-up rage inside me when I was fucked to within an inch of my life yesterday?
I grab my phone out of habit. This time, River is the most recent call. I frown at that. Alek has always been top of the list.
I hit call on Alek’s number.
It rings, and I wait for voicemail, not even hopeful anymore that he’ll answer.
I sigh when I hear the recording, then start to speak. “Do you remember when we were kids and we started throwing knives?” I ask, reliving the memory of the old bitch teaching us to hit dead center. I idly flip a knife in my hand.
Our lives have never been easy, but at least we had each other. Or so I thought. I throw the knife, and it fills me with satisfaction. “If memory serves correctly, I was a better shot initially.” I know how much that statement will piss Alek off. Even though I’m calling him, distance and time have taken away my need to hear his voice. At least I know he’s alive.
I think about River, and wonder if he’s being honest when he says he’s looking for Alek for my sake. “Anyway, I told River to stop following you. I don’t know why you’re mad at me about it since you were originally the one who dumped him on me. FYI, I still think I’m going crazy. I think I might like him, but not in a bright and shiny way. In the way where I don’t want anyone else’s dick inside me. I mean, I fucking hate him right now… but I’ve never experienced this. Is this what you’re feeling for your dancer?” Fuck, I don’t know what I’m saying anymore.
“Please come back. The old bitch is getting ahead of herself too, thinking she can take it all back. I need you.”
I hang up and stare at the phone for longer than necessary. Did I really just ramble to my brother that I like someone? The very same someone I imagine throwing knives at because he think’s fucking someone else was “fun”?
God, I want to claw at my own chest. Is this what jealousy feels like?
“Delivery, miss.” Clay walks out holding a bag, and I know what it is right away, because I picked it all out. Even if he paid for it. It’s mine. This fucker actually thinks sending me my own jewelry is going to make up for that bullshit on the phone.