Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“I don’t have the skills to fix such a beautiful dress.”
Now the seams had been pulled in and the dress was tight. She was able to breathe but the very thought of food made her feel sick. They were at the church, her mother had chosen the place. Her mother and Kim had done most of the organizing of the wedding. All she’d done was work through it and attend the necessary appointments. The wedding dress and even the cake.
Kim had insisted on Colt coming along, but Rosalie had taken Petal. Colt had eventually arrived, but she and Petal had eaten all the cake. Kim had tried to get them to do stuff as a couple. Pick a song, even practice dancing, but Rosalie had refused. She had told Kim and her mother to choose everything. She didn’t care.
“Happy Birthday,” Petal said, reaching into her jacket pocket and pulling out a small velvet box.
Kim and Gabrielle had disappeared. It was just her and Petal.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Babe, you’re at your own wedding. You look close to tears. Our usual movie marathon for your birthday is not happening, so I wanted to at least get you something.” Petal held the box out to her. “Now take it and don’t be a pain in the ass. It’s only a little gift.”
Rosalie took the box and opened it. There were beautiful pearl earrings. “Petal?”
“So, they were my grandmother’s and she gave them to me in her will. I knew you loved them since we were kids. I figured this could be your ‘something old’. I did clean them as well.”
She had loved these earrings. She’d sit on Petal’s grandmother’s lap and just play with them. Moving to the mirror she slid them into her ears and turned to Petal. “What do you think?”
“You look beautiful, Rosalie, you always do. Please, don’t cry.”
“I’m not going to cry.” She hated that her eyes filled with tears.
Petal moved toward her. “Tell me what to do. I’ll do it. Do you need me to create a distraction? Kill anyone? Just tell me.”
“There’s nothing we can do.”
“I’m here for you, Rose. You’re not going to get rid of me. I promise. I’m here for life.”
She held onto her friend tightly not wanting to let go.
When the door swung open, Rosalie looked up to see her father waiting. He wore his leather cut, pants, and boots. The shirt he wore looked stained, but he’d slicked back his hair. She hated him so much.
“They’re waiting for you,” Daemon said, staring at Petal.
Her friend didn’t want to leave, she felt it in the tension of her body. She tried to be reassuring, but this day was testing every ounce of her nerves. There was only so much she could take. Petal left the room.
It was just her and her father.
“Where’s my mom?” she asked.
“Waiting. I told her I’d come and get you.” He folded his arms across his chest and glared at her. “Are you going to make this difficult?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? I’m dressed and ready for a wedding. How do you think I’m going to make this hard?”
He came toward her and raised his hand. “You be careful how you smart-mouth me.”
“You hit me, they’re all going to see it,” Rosalie said.
Her heart raced. She felt sick to her stomach. She hated this man with a passion.
“Do you think they’d give a fuck what I do to you?”
Rosalie smiled. “You’re right, the men won’t. They don’t care, but Kim would.”
There was a twitch, ever so slight, but it was there.
“She’d be pissed if I went out of this room bruised or bleeding. Go ahead, hit me, kick me, and then you can deal with her.”
Daemon smiled. “That’s okay, I can take it out on your mother.”
“Don’t you fucking dare.” She grabbed her father’s arm, panic flooding her body.
Daemon squeezed her wrist, pulling her hand away from him. She let out a cry. “You could hurt yourself in a fall.”
She gritted her teeth. “What do I have to do for you to leave her alone?”
The pain increased and if he kept putting pressure, it would snap. She winced as he seemed to tighten his grip just slightly, but enough to cause her more pain and to expel a whimper.
“You want me to not hurt your mom?”
“What will it take? What do I have to do?” She didn’t want to make a deal with this piece of shit, but what choice did she have? He’d hurt her mother and she had to make sure she was protected.
“Simple. Tonight, you fuck your new husband. You spread your legs for him and you get pregnant.”
Rosalie stared at her father, disgusted, humiliated, and she knew he’d hurt her mother if he didn’t.
“I want that kid.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Get pregnant and I’ll leave your mother alone. You don’t, I’ll make her pay every single time you fail me. You might get a brother or sister out of it.”