Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I’d only been five or so at the time.
When her eyes landed on mine, the vicious mask fell into place. I can’t remember if I told Dad or if he found out on his own, but not too long after that, he filed for divorce.
I haven’t seen or spoken to her since that fateful day when I saw that genuine side of her that she greedily kept from us.
Thoughts of Mom’s absence make me think of what came next. The dark times. A part in my history where everything that was straight and made sense suddenly became horribly tangled. My reality shifted after the divorce, and it took a lot of therapy to bring life back into focus.
Before I can continue to travel along the path of memories I’ve spent years trying to put to rest, I notice headlights flashing through the trees. My heart rate quickens. It’s Caius, who’s come for me. It takes a few steadying breaths to get my nerves to calm down.
You can do this, Romy.
With my left hand gripping a silver, glittery clutch I found in the closet and my right arm balanced on my hip, I brace myself to see him. Seconds later, he comes striding into the house, distracted as he taps away on his phone with his thumb. He stalks past me, not bothering to look up. Since he’s wearing dark jeans and a black sweater, I assume he’s going to change so that we’re both dressed up. As I thought, he returns a few minutes later in a bespoke tuxedo. In his grip is the tag from the dress.
Our eyes meet—his dark and colder than the depths of the ocean abyss—and I stand my ground. I don’t cower under his chilling stare but rather arch a brow at him as if to indicate I’m done playing the victim.
His eyebrows slightly furl and then his gaze skims over my body, lingering first on my cleavage and then again on the racy slit in the material that shows my upper thigh.
Though his presence is still slightly terrifying, I know I have to force the fear deep down inside. All I have to do is pay attention. Everything is a clue. This is all a puzzle.
“That’ll do,” Caius says, tone dismissive.
Despite his callous words, I see the slight flare of his nostrils. He likes what he sees. However, even though I’m his “girlfriend,” he doesn’t want to like what he sees.
Good.
About time someone else feels uncomfortable around here.
Caius clears his throat and pockets the dress tag before checking his watch. “We need to get going. Guests are already arriving.”
Hope flickers in my chest. “Guests?”
“Investors dinner. Around fifty or so people will be there.” His eyes bore into mine. “Behave.”
I curl up my lip in disgust. Ignoring him, I start for the door past the mudroom. Before I reach it, a strong hand encircles my bicep, squeezing enough to stop me. It takes everything in me not to jerk my arm from his grip.
Letting my anger boil over isn’t going to move me ahead in this game.
Cool head.
Stay calm.
“Put this on,” Caius orders, handing me a long, black coat. “You only need it for the short walk to the car, but it’s below freezing out tonight.”
Even though I don’t want to, I accept the coat and allow him to help me put it on. The expensive cologne scent is familiar. Same one that was in his office, in his closet, in his bed.
Caius, Caius, Caius.
He’s everywhere, invading me inside and out.
“Won’t you be cold?” I ask, hoping very much that he will.
“Car is still on and the heater is blaring. I’ll be fine.”
As soon as I step outside, I’m grateful for the coat. Wind whistles under the carport, sending flakes of snow fluttering around us. Caius trots ahead and opens the passenger side door. I ponder how to get into the vehicle in these inappropriate heels a little too long because before I can stop him, his hands are on my waist, hoisting me up.
I quickly hop into the seat, eager to get his hands off me. He shuts the door and soon joins me. As much as I dread going back to the lunatic lodge, I have a feeling I’m about to gather some major intel to help me in my effort to find Megan. This is a necessary evil.
Caius is annoyingly quiet on our drive. My mind is racing with a million thoughts and questions, but I refuse to break the silence. We can pretend all he wants, but I’m still his prisoner, not his girlfriend.
Again, I’m getting swept up in my anger at the situation. I take a few calming breaths before assessing my nemesis to try to get a read on him.
He’s tense.
Typically, he’s a granite statue.
Tonight, he’s on edge. I can see it in the way his knuckles turn white as he grips the steering wheel and how his teeth softly grind together.