Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
I push to my feet. “Julian!” I shout into the room, knowing damn well he’s watching me. He’s been watching me. He knows I’m attracted to her. He knows I want her, but I’m also his ticket to get her to help him, or pretend to help him. “Julian! Get your fucking ass in here!” I continue the demands, pacing as I deliver them, and it’s a full ten minutes before the door swings open. Julian is in the doorway, not a wolf to be found. He looks so damn much like Caleb, it’s eerie as hell.
“I wondered when you’d call,” he says dryly, stepping inside and allowing the door to shut behind him.
For a few beats, we stare at each other, seconds ticking by with the crackle of challenge. “You’re close to my brother. There’s no reason you can’t be close to me. I don’t want him dead. I don’t want any of you dead. I want you by my side. We’ll be unstoppable.”
I’m cautious, biting back the acidic words on the tip of my tongue. “I want Layla protected.”
His eyes narrow on me. “Have you lifebonded with her?”
“No,” I say. “But she matters to me.”
“Her protection can be arranged. Join me. Help me bring the others over.”
“How?”
“You tell me.”
“As long as you endanger humanity, you will never win over Caleb. Give him Layla; tell him you want her to solve the problem with ICE, and that you don’t want death.”
“I’ll meet with him and agree to share our data, but I won’t give up you or Layla. And you—you need to stand by my side and show unity with me.”
Fuck him, I think, but I remind myself this is a game of chess. Nothing more. “In exchange for Layla’s protection and our fucking privacy in this room,” I counter.
He smirks. “Then you’ll join me?”
“Yes. I’ll join you.”
“Fuck her into submission. I’ll turn off the cameras.”
“How will I know they’re off? I’m not your freak show.”
“You’ll have to take my word for it.”
“I’ll rip them out.”
“Fine. Do it.” He shrugs. “You will walk out of this room with me and stand before my men by my side. Understood?”
The chance to get out of this room and see the place I need to get us out of, since all of its renovations, I’m all in. “Why are we still standing here?”
Chapter fifteen
Layla
Three hours of shopping in the city Julian has created at Groom Lake. It’s really a city, too, with buildings and stores lining cute brick sidewalks and big-name stores. Lots of them, too, and it’s terrifying. It speaks to big money and sponsors of the Zodius, or just plain intimidation by the Zodius.
Either way, the world is in trouble.
With two soldiers and Tad along for the ride, I’ve been forced to buy clothes, perfume, and jewelry, while Tad stares at me with hungry eyes that turn my stomach. The idea, he informed me when this all started, was to make me see what kind of life they can give me here. I’ll be spoiled and treated as a queen. But when our final stop is Victoria’s Secret and Tad enters behind me, I’m on edge and ready to jump or lash out.
We walk past some skimpy bras and panties, and he grabs a bra. “Try this on for me.”
I don’t know what comes over me, as I’m not a violent person, but I whirl around on him and spit on him. “I’ll die before you ever see me like that.”
“Fucking bitch,” he growls, and literally pushes me into a table, colognes and toiletries clamoring to the floor. I can feel the tension and fear in the store’s attendants, women I believe to be as captive as I am, and I hate that my behavior created this in them. “Buy what you need and let’s get the fuck out of here,” he snaps, and to my relief, he steps to the side of the door and stands there.
I breathe out and cast the redhead behind the counter a look of apology, and she returns one of understanding. I wonder if she’s part of the sex camp. I wonder a lot of things. I quickly grab the items I need, including a gown and robe that are more sturdy than sexy, as I’m being watched and gaped at with every move I make. One day, I think, maybe we’ll be free of this place, and I can wear things for Jensen, not the Zodius army. My cheeks heat with the idea and the memory of him between my legs, licking me, and I am damp with the idea of him inside me.
Shaking off the inappropriate thoughts considering Tad is lurking about, I head to the counter and present the credit card I’ve been offered, snatching up a fragrance I know I like from the display. The Zodius soldiers can’t see me smelling good for Jensen.