Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Sighing, I roll around in bed, only to find out the sun has already risen.
Great, there goes my night. I’ve only slept a couple of hours, at most.
Suddenly, my phone buzzes, pulling me from my thoughts. I fish it from underneath my bed and check. It’s Dad.
Dad: How’s it going there? Still unsure about everything?
Penelope: Studying is fine. Hard time with some boys. But doing my best with what I have. Still searching.
Dad: Don’t push yourself too hard. I don’t want you dead too.
Penelope: That won’t happen.
Dad: I will protect you.
Penelope: I know.
Dad: Message me if you need me, and I will be there.
Penelope: Thank you.
His comments always make me smile. He’s so protective over me. Always has been.
But me going to Spine Ridge University has even put him on edge, out of all people.
I’m the only daughter he has left. I can’t disappoint him.
I get up from the bed and put on my short black dress and pumps before I walk out the door and head straight for the Skull & Serpent Society on the opposite side of the street.
When I get there, I take in a deep breath and force myself to put my big girl panties on.
This place is nothing but trouble, but I have to push on for my sister.
I ring the doorbell. The wait feels eternal. After a while, none other than Alistair opens up.
His usual solemn gaze makes place for surprise.
“Pen. You’re here.”
My face grows warmer and warmer as the inevitable blush seeps in.
“You expecting someone else?” I ask to break the ice.
I mean, I wouldn’t put it past them to keep fucking other girls. I mean, we didn’t specify exclusivity or anything.
“No, I’m just surprised you’d come back here after …” His brow rises. “You know.”
Now I’m blushing even harder, and fuck me, I never blush.
Why is this happening?
He suddenly grabs my shoulder, leans in, and whispers, “Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone. It can be our secret.”
Secret. I like that.
“Well, come in, since you’re here anyway,” he says, pretending like nothing ever happened. He opens the door farther so I can walk inside. “So what brings you here?”
“I need to speak with Felix,” I respond, sneaking a peek over his shoulder. “Is he here or in school?”
“We don’t have classes today. Or this entire week, for that matter,” Dylan suddenly chimes in as he walks out of the kitchen carrying a bagel. “Courtesy of my dad while he figures out what to do with the private hospital bill sent to him by Nathan’s parents.”
My jaw drops. “You got suspended?”
He takes a sip of his coffee. “Temporarily. Just to stay low. Keep out of Phantom’s way after what we did.” He takes another big sip, still staring at me. “For now.”
“They’ll get over it.” Felix’s voice resonates from across the hall. “Nathan didn’t need that finger anyway.”
He’s casually leaning against a doorpost with his arms folded, wearing a smug face like he’s actually proud of what he accomplished.
Meanwhile, I’m still deciding who’s more fucked up; the person who cut off the finger or the person who told him to do it: Me.
Shivers run up and down my spine as our eyes connect.
“Where did you leave it anyway?” I ask, morbid curiosity making me talk before I realize it.
“In a little box,” he casually replies.
“He takes trophies.” Dylan shrugs.
“Trophies …” I shudder.
Felix steps forward, walking until he’s right up in my face. Always in my aura, too close for comfort. But being in his vicinity also has something empowering. Something viciously addictive. Like he oozes violence I can siphon away from him.
His eyes have only grown more bloodshot since I last saw him, and it makes me wonder if he ever really sleeps. At all.
His hand rises to grab a strand of my hair. “You’re wondering what trophy I’d take from you, aren’t you?” My lips part, but I don’t know what to say, so he leans in to whisper, “I’d take the one thing you wouldn’t ever give to me freely … Your heart.”
I lean away.
“Out of all the things that could scare you, that’s the one?” he says, a smirk slowly appearing on his face.
For some reason, it makes me blush.
I don’t ever fucking blush. Not for anyone.
Until he came along.
“Why did you come here, Pen?” he asks, twirling my hair around his finger. “Is your pussy hungry for more cock?”
My eyes widen. “What? No, I—”
“Wait, you fucked her?” Dylan suddenly interjects. I turn to look at him, and he narrows his eyes at me. “When?”
“None of your business,” Felix barks back, releasing my hair.
Dylan steps forward. “Did you forget our fucking deal?” He’s right up in Felix’s face now, intimidating him. “She belongs to all of us.”
Felix snarls back, “I’ve already marked her.”
Dylan pushes him. “Fuck off. You don’t get to claim that.”