Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
"Funny you should ask," Julian smirks. "She was trying to call the house only hours ago. I'll call back now and request she join us. I'm sure she'll be more than thrilled to do as she's told. But what's your plan? How are you going to get to the bottom of this?"
"I'm going to get the truth out of her," I mutter. "One way or another."
* * *
"You wanted to see me, Ryder?"
I smirk at Livia. Nothing should surprise me now, not even the fact that she's shown up for this interrogation in the skimpiest dress she owns. She looks cheap, and I'm tempted to tell her as much, but I don't want to scare her off, not just yet.
Julian and I have come up with a plan. We spread some fake whispers, saying Aurora's hair had been chopped off when she got taken. I'm going to see whether Livia really knows what she's talking about when it comes to my principessa.
"I did," I nod, pointing to the sofa in front of me. "Take a seat."
She does, crossing her legs and flashing me a view of her bare pussy. I don't react. She's getting predictable, and it's boring me to fucking tears.
"I wanted to ask you about something," I go on. "Perhaps you can be helpful to us after all, if you help us find Aurora."
"You want her back?" She furrows her brows, instantly upset by my words. "But why?"
"That's none of your concern," I reply easily, smirking at her. "All I need to know is what you've heard. I know you have eyes and ears all over our estate... perhaps you can solve a mystery for me."
"What mystery?"
"Well, I heard through the grapevine someone cut Aurora's hair off."
"What?" She narrows her eyes at me.
"Yes," I shake my head sadly. "They left it behind in her cell."
"That's not possible, I would've seen it."
I look her in the eyes and she pales when she realizes what she's said.
"You're such a bad fucking liar, Liv," I tell her softly. "You set up all these elaborate plots and then slip up on the smallest detail. Pathetic."
She picks herself up, her body visibly trembling as she looks for a way out, glancing at the door.
"Forget it," I say firmly. "It's locked. We're here alone now, and you're going to tell me the truth for once, or fucking else, cagna."
She drops to her knees in front of me, shamefully touching her forehead to the floor. "I'm so sorry, Ryder. I didn't want to hide the truth from you."
"Fucking liar," I spit out. "Of course you did. And I know you only did this to get Aurora out of your way."
I step in front of her and she raises her wide, tear-filled eyes to mine. "Please, Ryder."
"Don't beg, it's not a good look on you. You tried to get rid of Aurora so you could take her place, didn't you?"
Her lips thin out, she doesn't answer, just stares back.
"Tell me the truth," I demand. "Did you want me to pick you?"
"Of course." Her voice is trembling. "I realized... in the years I spent away from you... I need you. I want to be with you. You were the one for me."
"That's too fucking bad, Liv." I kneel next to her and tip her head back so she has to look me in the eye. "Because you're not the one for me."
"Please," she begs again. "Don't hurt me."
"Why would I show you any mercy?" I slap her cheek and she cries out. "The only way you're getting that is if you tell me what you did to Aurora and where she is. Right the fuck now."
Vehemently, Livia shakes her head. "I can't. I did the right thing. She doesn't belong here with you. I do, Ryder. Only me."
"You're unbelievable," I hiss. "I can't possibly make it any clearer that I don't want you. I want nothing to do with you, and unless that mouth opens to tell me where my property is, I don't want a word out of it. You fucking got that?"
"Ryder, please! I –"
I shut her up with another sharp slap to her cheek and she cries out again, her hand hovering over the red print on her face.
"There's more where that came from," I hiss. "And I'm not afraid to dole it out. Now tell me where Aurora is."
Her lips tighten even more and she shakes her head. This is the last straw of my patience and she's tugging at it so much I'm going to snap sooner rather than later.
"You don't want to test me, Livia," I grit out. "Because you're going to be very fucking disappointed if you think my past feelings for you are going to stop me from hurting you for lying."
Her eyes turn even wider. "You can't keep me here against my will."