Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
My jaw clenches. Shit. I can’t show a single weakness.
War continues, “Everyone, remove your blindfolds.”
They drop the silk covering their faces. I don’t care enough to examine them closer. They’re merely pawns in a game where there is no ending.
“Game one.” War puffs on his cigarette, turning over his shoulder and squinting around the smoke before facing the blonde. “Fuck for three hours. Show me something I haven’t seen.”
My eyes roll to the back of my head as I raise the bottle back to my mouth and turn to face Stella. She’s entranced with what the boys are doing, so I grab at River’s hand and direct her to a booth that’s nestled far enough away from everyone to be able to talk.
The entrance door opens and people start filing in. It’s probably a good thing that this place is in the middle of the forest and camouflaged by rocks.
River taps the joint she’s rolled against the table, moving blonde hair over her shoulder as her mocha eyes rest on mine. “Why don’t we just kill them?” She lifts the trunk to her lips and lights the end. Blowing out a cloud, she leans back in her chair. “I mean, why do they have to enjoy the chase?”
“Because they’re Kings,” I answer, plucking the joint from her fingers and squinting around the smoke. “And because we’re all a little fucked up.”
I inhale, just as a camera flash snaps and we both stare up at Stella who has her phone in her hand. I pass the J and pointedly ignore whatever War and the boys are doing.
“Question.” Stella leans against the chair. She flashes me a reckless smirk as she passes it back to River without looking at her. “Do you think they’ll let me choose the second game? I mean, clearly War is starting soft.” She turns to the four-person orgy in the center of the room. The music has changed to Bone Thugs and my muscles finally ease.
I feel my mind drift away, my eyes heavy but mood lifted.
“They will.” River coughs on the last smoke before squashing it out in the metal tray between us. “You get what you want. I, on the other hand, have War as a brother.”
A bubble of laughter leaves me as my head tilts back to the ceiling. I can’t help it. It flew out before I could stop. I bring my face back down to River, to find her staring at me with slanted eyes.
“I don’t know why you’re laughing! He’s as bad with you as he is with me.”
“Maybe,” I tease, holding her in place. “But at least I can fuck his frustrations out of him if he annoys me too much.”
Her mouth slams closed. It could go one of two ways. It’s the first time I’ve ever said something like this out loud.
She relaxes in her chair again. “Honestly, just hurry up already.”
We all fall silent.
I need a mood shift.
Pushing up from my chair, I shuffle out of my leather jacket. As soon as I’m standing in front of the bar, back where the Lost Boy is, I place the bottle on top and watch as he serves the civilians down the way. It’s not too busy, but there are a dozen or so people in here. Some nestled away in corners, drinking and enjoying the show. Others unbothered, sitting near the bar. In any other place, what’s happening would make people run in the opposite direction, but to the people of Perdita, this is tame.
They’re immune to it.
“I’m bored.”
The Lost Boy pauses as he reaches up to the top shelf to grab a bottle of whatever it is.
“Care to entertain me?”
His eyes glaze over. “I don’t know.” He leans in close, his palms on the bar. “Are you as crazy as your uncle?”
War
My half-full glass hangs just below my mouth. I keep my eyes peeled on her, watching every movement. The Lost Boys have been here since the beginning of the Elite Kings Club. From when it was formed all those years ago when the ten Fathers founded Riverside. Perdita is off the coast of Riverside. Technically, you could sail over here in a big fuck off ship. I’ve considered it. Just to mix it up a bit, but we don’t like to. Everyone here needs to stay here. Just like the fucking Lost Boys. They’re detached from civilization. They would be wild wolves set free on a full moon if they ever made their way to US soil. Perdita is an island that’s right on the edge of international waters.
We can do whatever the fuck we like.
“You think she’ll take it that far?” Vaden nudges his head to where Halen is sliding up onto the bar, her legs dangling over the edge. All he has to do is part them.