Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 115619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Be strong. Even as my heart tells me to go to him, my brain screams to me of the pain he’s caused me. If I had only been a couple of minutes quicker; another choice I made that led me to this very time. At this moment, staring at the last person I wanted to see and the only person I wanted to see at the same time. They're both him. I can't escape, no matter how I try.
“Bianca.” I shiver at the way he says my name. His voice sounds like he swallowed glass chips. It’s gruff and thunderous. I hate that I can’t get a good read on him. Nobody has the power he has over me. Nobody has ever looked at me the way he does, like he’s willing to burn the entire world down to keep me at his side. A man who would kill and destroy anything between him and what he desires, is a very dangerous man indeed.
“I—” Any pitiful explanation I was about to offer gets put on hold when I finally notice the red splotches on his clothes. Blood. It’s on his shirt and gray slacks and dried on his knuckles. Fear and satisfaction fight for control. All I can do is hope he’s dead.
“Did you kill him?” I ask, my voice brave.
“Are you sure you want to know the answer to that question?”
Do I? “Tatum will never forgive you if you lied to her, but then again, if Kristoff valued his life at all he wouldn’t have hurt her the way he did.”
Callum tilts his head to the side, regarding me, and I can’t lie the threatening look he’s got going on makes me want to climb him like a tree. The blood on his hands, the feral look in his eyes. The deep tone of his voice. Fuck, I have to stop letting my hormones run the show.
“Why are you here? The last time we talked, you told me to stop trying, to let you go. Now you’re in my house. Did you change your mind? Are you finally ready to admit what we have is real?”
Of course, he would go straight to us. The man is insufferable. “I didn’t come here to see you. Tatum called me. She was drinking, and I was worried. The last thing she needs in her state is to be alone.”
“There are two guards at each entrance and exit. She wasn’t alone.”
He takes a step towards me, and I take a step back without thinking. If I let him get close to me, then he’ll touch me, and if that happens, I’ll shatter all over again and forget that he is the enemy in all of this. Even if part of me knows deep down he’s not the one that killed my mom. That my father is wrong. I have no proof. It’s merely my intuition, and when it comes to him my thoughts are always skewed. Callum makes me question everything I thought I knew.
“Your guards are paid to protect her, yet no one can protect her from herself. Don’t leave her alone. I’m worried something will happen, and I can’t bear the thought of losing her.”
“And you think I can? She’s my daughter, Bianca. Everything I do is to protect the people I care about. You included.”
“You don’t need to protect me. I’m not your problem.” I cross my arms over my chest. I need to leave before he traps me with his body and makes me admit truths with his fingers and cock. I can’t do this, not until I have more information.
“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re not just my problem. You’re the fucking air I breathe, and every day that passes where you aren’t by my side is one where we both suffer. Stop this nonsense.”
I can feel my resolve breaking, crumbling with every word that passes his lips.
No. I can’t do this. I can’t let him manipulate me.
“Look, I need to leave. There’s nothing for us to talk about. I’ve said everything I need to say. I’ve asked you to stop. Please don’t make me get the police involved.” I’m not sure where the last bit came from. It’s not like I’d actually do it, and I doubt it would do anything to stop him. Nonetheless, I need to try and appear serious.
The laugh that fills the air is bitter, unhinged. He crosses the space between us in a second, his hands sink into my hair and he wraps the locks around his fist. My scalp stings, but my traitorous body ignites under his touch. I want him to teach me a lesson. I want him to prove to me he wants me. I want this to be real.
Tilting my head back, he stares down at me, his frame pressing against mine. I can feel every delicious inch of him. My scalp throbs, the pricks of pain zipping straight to my core. “Let’s get one thing straight, little bird. Nothing will stop me from possessing you. Not your father, not the police, not some fucking piece of paper telling me I can’t come near you. I will gladly go to jail if it means I get to touch you, fuck you, kiss you, and claim you. No one can keep you from me, not even yourself. Don’t tempt me to prove to you how much you want me. We did that last time, and I’m sure you can remember how that ended.” The smirk on his beautifully smug face makes me burn with rage.