Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
I shiver as the memories rip down my spine. “Okay, but Eli, you could have told me earlier. I would have helped you.”
“No, you wouldn’t have…” He leans over and kisses my temple. “You would have left with him and I couldn’t let you do that.”
I stumble out of the car and push my dry hair out of my face, watching as the taillights disappear around the corner. Eli struck the deal with Dominic before he and Ky were together, so why did he do it? And what the fuck is Dove doing with Bam Bam? Even as the initial thought leaves my mind, I already know.
“Cartier!” One of the security guards at the gate climbs down from the watchtower, holding his AK across his chest. “What happened?” He brings his radio up to his mouth, but I stop him.
“Don’t.”
His eyes widen, but he lowers his radio slowly. “Ma’am, you can’t walk in there like that, forgive me for saying.”
“No, I know.” I make my way to the gate as he swipes his key card to open it. “You’re going to drive me to the Nero mansion, please.” Kiznitch are way too good at keeping secrets. The workers and people who know about me have kept my secret for three years. Delila would be proud.
I slip into the passenger’s seat of the G-Wagon with the word SECURITY stamped across the body of the vehicle. The trip to the lake house is a twenty-minute drive, and I take this time to go through my phone and missed calls, texts from Kyrin, Keaton, Kill, and then finally Nial. I don’t bother answering them back because I know that once I tell them that I’m here, they’ll come straight away.
I jump out and thank security, quickly slipping through the front door and climbing the steps up to the bedroom. The lake house is my favorite house in The Village. It offers three-sixty views of the forest and lake down below, and since it’s facing west, you get to see the most amazing sunsets over the shrub-filled mountaintops. I remember the story my mom told us as kids, about the first couple from Kiznitch who found the land by stumbling upon it by accident. I don’t remember the whole story, and now I wish I had paid closer attention. Since Kyrin and Lilith moved into the manor with Luna, I’ve taken up the space here. Well, when I am here, but I’ve also decorated it to be mine.
I slip beneath the scalding hot water of the rainforest shower and squeeze soap into the palm of my hand, watching as the water around my feet turns to dirt. Four minutes. I’ll give myself four minutes to enjoy a shower in peace before I call Jordan and Chris and get them here.
After scrubbing all evidence off my skin, I shuffle into some casual gray sweats and a tight white crop top with no bra. You can see my new nipple piercings through the fabric, and I pointedly make no effort at hiding them.
Tossing my towel onto my silk bed covers, I swipe up my phone and hit dial on Kyrin.
“Cartier, the next time you run, I’m chasing you.”
“Chill out,” I tease, heading down the stairs and into the kitchen. “I was gone for less than a day. Hey, so I’m coming on tour.” Silence. There’s shuffling around on his side before a door closes.
“We have already spoken about this, and what are you going to do?” My teeth clench as I fight with my answer. The one I want to give him just to throw it in his face, and the perfectly rehearsed answer that he will swallow easier.
“I’m not in the show, Kyrin, but I am coming.” I pause, testing to see if he’ll question my statement. “—I’ll be taking Delila’s RV.”
He scoffs. “You might need to ride on over here and tell Persephone that you’re taking it, because I’m pretty sure she has a few other girls in there.”
I flip open a bottle of OJ and kick the door closed with my foot. “I’ll be there in ten.”
“The grass is damper than usual, don—” I hang up on him and push my phone between my boobs. Swiping up my discarded leather jacket, I slip it over my shoulders and shove my feet into my maroon Jordans. Way too good a shoe to be riding in, but I know Kyrin will be timing me.
Grabbing the keys off the table, I make my way outside, rolling the waistband of my sweats down a little before swinging my leg over my bike. She’s been all sorts of colors, but the matte black and teal green have stayed for a couple of years now. Kicking out my leg, I start her up and squeeze the handle, revving the two-stroke engine loud enough for the birds in the trees to scatter.