Total pages in book: 266
Estimated words: 250787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1254(@200wpm)___ 1003(@250wpm)___ 836(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 250787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1254(@200wpm)___ 1003(@250wpm)___ 836(@300wpm)
“The question is, how did Costello know our fathers were dead?” They weren’t even cold, and she was already there.
Senior year at Barrington
I pace the hospital hallway at Carnage while Kashton sits in a chair up against the wall, bent over with his hands gripping his hair. “Saint’s going to be okay,” I tell him.
His head snaps up, and his bloodshot eyes meet mine. “She shot him.” Getting to his feet, he steps into me. His chest bumps mine, and I can feel his anger at how much he’s shaking. “Ash—”
“Calm down, Kash.” I place my hands on his trembling shoulders. “We don’t know what happened.”
His watery eyes widen. “Are you fucking serious?” he snaps, taking a step back. “She broke my fucking nose and kneed me in the fucking dick! Then she shot our brother.”
“Devin is going to take care of him. He’ll be okay.” He doesn’t even mention the fact that our fathers are also dead. The only person he cares about right now is Saint. We carried him up here from the morgue, where Kash found him lying in a puddle of his own blood. Devin just took him back for surgery. Now, it’s just a waiting game.
“She’s his wife!” he shouts. “What the fuck was she thinking?” He goes on, not expecting me to answer. “And where the fuck were you?”
Saint had called me saying there was a code 26 and that it was for Ashtyn, I pretended to be asleep as if I wasn’t the one who helped her run. “I—"
The sound of the elevator dinging gets our attention, and we both turn to face it as the door slides open. A woman steps out wearing a skintight knee-length white dress, showing off her curves and paid-for chest. She’s followed by four men, all dressed in black cloaks and white masks.
“What the fuck is this shit?” Kash demands.
“Boys.” She smiles, and her dark green eyes go from Kash to me. They lazily take in our sizes and appearances. We’re both covered in our brother’s blood.
“Hey! I asked you a fucking question, bitch!” Kashton snaps, stepping forward.
I reach out to grab his bloody shirt to keep him back, but he shrugs me off. “Kash—”
“We’re going to have so much fun.” She gives us both a chilling smile and snaps her fingers.
Two of the guys dressed as Lords step forward, and chains drop from their hands, clanking on the floor.
“Escort them to the arena, boys. I’m going to check on the status of the other.”
“I don’t know how she would know they were dead, man.” Kash sighs heavily, answering my previous question and pulling me out of that memory. “Are you coming home soon?” he asks.
Hearing someone walking toward me has me looking up to see Gavin. “Have to go,” I say.
“Wait,” he rushes out. “When are you coming home?”
I end the call without answering and pocket my cell. I’ll worry about that later. They’re obviously getting some answers, and I’m ready to play with my newest toy.
CHARLOTTE
I sit on the edge of the table dressed in the gown but pulled tightly around the front, tucked under my arms so you can’t see anything. I’m naked underneath. My clothes are folded neatly on the counter with my underwear and bra hidden underneath. He's getting ready to see me naked. It's humiliating and embarrassing. I'm sweating, and when the door opens, I startle, seeing Haidyn enter with an older man. I know who he is.
Gavin takes care of the Lords and their dirty work. From what I’ve heard, he’s like their father. One they actually trust with their lives and secrets.
“Hello, Charlotte. I’m Dr. Gavin, and I’m going to be running some tests today.”
What kind of tests could I possibly need? I notice he calls me Charlotte, not Annabelle, and it makes me wonder if Haidyn has told him who I really am.
Haidyn comes to stand beside me, and I can’t make eye contact. Instead, my blurry eyes remain on his T-shirt.
“Lie on your back,” Gavin orders softly. His voice would be soothing if my chest didn’t feel heavy.
I lie down, the white paper covering the length of the table crinkling at my movement. I look up at the ceiling tiles as my heart hammers in my chest. I hear the opening of wrappers as Gavin moves around on my left. Then he walks over to the table. “Any family history of diseases that you know of?”
“N-o.” I clear my throat.
“Any pregnancies?” he asks.
“No.” I shake my head as a fresh tear falls out of the corner of my eye. “I’m on birth control,” I add. Is that why I’m here? Because Haidyn is going to make me his fuck toy, and he wants to make sure I’m protected? Men like him don’t wear condoms. Ever. So I’m going to have to be the responsible one.