Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
“Don’t tell me anymore; I don’t want to know.”
“She said she’s going to train them as pets.”
“I told you not to say shit else to me. Where are we with Lorde’s situation?”
“He’s on the road already, should be at ground zero by now. You should give him a call.”
“I will, as soon as we get back. We need to send backup to meet him there.”
“I’ve already warned the others they should be gearing up as we speak.”
“You filled them in on what they’ll be doing there?”
“Yeah, they know that their women are going to be used as cover if that’s what you’re worrying about.”
“Ah, I’m still not happy about that, but it’s the best we can do with the last-minute warning my kid gave us.”
“I think you’re worrying for nothing. She’s already using them for the job, so it no longer matters whether we like it or not.”
Yeah, I know, but that doesn’t make it any easier for me to take. I never wanted my wife and daughters anywhere near this ugly shit, but my own damn kid has gone and circumvented all of my good intentions. “Fuck it, let’s see what she does.”
Chapter 93
*Elena*
I should’ve taken the ring off before leaving the apartment this morning, but I was in such a rush after staying up all night with Ryder and not getting much sleep that it just completely slipped my mind. By the time I realized that it was still on my finger, there was nothing to be done. I couldn’t bear the thought of taking it off and leaving it in my purse all day, where it could possibly go missing, so in the end, I left it as is and hoped against hope that no one would notice.
Silly, I know, because the thing is roughly the size of a knuckle and shone like the sun at high noon. So, unless I walked around with my hand hidden behind my back or stuffed into my pocket all day, there’s no way it won’t be noticed within two minutes flat.
I looked at it now, and that silly smile flashed across my face again while my heart picked up its beat and my tummy got warm. It’s so dumb, my reaction to the piece of metal. It’s not like I don’t have a vault full of such things, but none are as precious as this. No matter the cost or the beauty of the ring, it’s the sentiment that far outshines my other collections. And yet, my wearing it could cause a backlash, the likes of which I’ve never faced before if not handled correctly.
A part of me was feeling quite rebellious and saw no need to hide it. It’s not like we were doing anything wrong after all. It was long overdue if you asked me, and the only people who would be offended by it were the very ones who’d interrupted our lives in the first place, so why should I care?
Brave words, I know, and they filled me with righteous indignation for the rest of the ride to work, but that bravado didn’t last long as I realized that I was in no way ready or prepared for the questions that were sure to come once someone noticed it.
The nerves in my stomach made me sick the closer I got to the building, and I almost asked them to turn back as all of my confidence left me in a second as soon as I imagined the circus that was bound to follow.
I knew all it would take was for some enterprising paparazzi to get a look at the rock on my hand, and the news would be all over the world before lunch before I’d had the chance to tell Mom and Sydney, which would not be good.
But still, I couldn’t bring myself to take it off. I kept seeing his face and remembering how excited he’d been when I accepted his ring. The way he couldn’t stop looking at it, on my finger, or the way he’d taken my finger into his mouth while we made love.
That right there is probably the biggest reason why I find it hard to take the thing off. That moment has been burnt into my brain for all eternity because it’s one of the sexiest things I’ve ever experienced in my life. I can still feel the butterflies in my tummy as I did then.
The way my heart had fluttered as if it had wings as he slid into me, his eyes on mine, as he suckled my finger with the ring into his mouth. I get the shivers even now and couldn’t keep the grin from spreading over my face.
I cleared my throat and tried to look professional when I remembered the two men in the car with me. I missed Ryder already and wished I was back at home in bed with him, but the poor thing had a full day ahead with his new PR team after the ruckus he’d caused the day before.