Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
"What the fuck?" Marshall spits.
We’re all at a loss for words.
"How could this possibly happen?" he continues. "What have we got that he wants? Why the fuck would Archibald do this to us?"
He’s thinking aloud, but I stay silent, counting up how many times I’ve been betrayed personally by this devil lord. To turn on your own people is the ultimate act of evil.
I realize our boss is a weak excuse for a man, cloaked in deception.
Have you ever been betrayed? You know that sinking feeling of realization when the person's transgression becomes so instantly clear that it rocks your faith in the world, in everything you thought you knew? Well, that's where I'm at about now. I feel sabotaged, undercut, wounded by this man.
But it can't be my fault. My instincts are spot on, always have been. Something else is at play here.
Kaden speaks up, breaking into my thoughts.
"We're going in. We will take down Archibald and every man who worked for him who didn't warn us. This battle has been elevated to a full-scale war. We must win today, and then we’ll fish out every last person who doesn’t have our backs."
His speech revs us up, and I know that at least I can trust my brothers. No matter what, we’re a team. We will win today and then the real work will begin.
I hold Caroline snugly against my body. She played her part perfectly and was able to pull the correct information out of her father. Because of her, we now know the true culprit, and seeing her strength makes me adore her even more.
Today, I’m fighting for her. And I never lose.
Chapter 29
Kaden
I’m so fucking ready to put an end to this vicious business. We’re all in a state of shock at discovering Archibald's betrayal.
We trusted our boss. He was like a mentor to me, and now he's turned against us? It's fucking unbelievable. I've been working for a tyrant the entire time.
Caroline, too, is in shock but she's holding up well. She's been extremely helpful at showing us her father's weak points. At this point, I’m pretty sure she knows he’s a total jackass and that he doesn't love her. It’s sad that he cares more about money than his own daughter.
Which automatically makes him my enemy. Anyone who doesn’t love my beautiful Caroline is my enemy.
There’s a part of me that’s always burning with desire for her, aching to consume her in every way. This is a constant factor, a unique connection we have forged in our relationship, so she’s constantly on my mind.
I never would have thought that could be like that. Mr. Fucking Libido, always horny and ready fuck, tied to one woman? Fuck that, right?
But here I am, willing to fight to the death for this woman, for her honor and protection. I would seriously lay down my life for her, and today I'm prepared to do so if it comes to that.
I grip her hand that’s clammy with fear.
"I'm afraid, Kaden. I'm so afraid."
She’s changed so much in the short time she’s been with us, her strength growing day by day, but in this moment I can’t fault her for being afraid. We’re walking into a seriously fucked up situation.
"Shh, baby." I hold her close. "It's all gonna be over today. You will never have to see that monster of a father again."
"I hope so."
She's ready. After witnessing Edwin's deception on so many levels, I know my girl is ready for this. She's so much stronger now than when she first entered my strip club. She was so innocent, and now all I see is this powerful woman becoming her true self.
She’s afraid, but I know it’s fear of losing one of us. She couldn’t bear it. How large her heart is to have room to love seven men, all clamoring for her attention.
She's handled it with grace, and now it's time to close the chapter on her disappointing past. Her father is the ultimate antagonist for her. The man wants his own daughter dead, and that will never make sense to me.
Just like it will never make sense that Archibald has betrayed us and sided with him. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't heard the admission myself.
At least now we’re ready to take them both down. It's not a good day for them. In fact, it’s about to be the fucking worst day of their pathetic lives.
We veer into the neighborhood. Caroline is staring out the window blankly.
"This is supposed to be my home," she says. "And now we've come here to kill my father. How did my life become like this?"
"You're with us now, baby." Apollo is quick to offer comfort. "It has to be done. Prepare to make your peace with it. And just remember, if it's not him it's you. And we’ll all be dead before we ever let that happen."