Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
I was just the unwitting missile sent from afar to make it all collapse from underneath them.
But why?
What did I have to do with three people I’d never met and a wrong that had occurred before I was even born…
You’ve been lied to.
Find the Pride of Kings.
Find out who you really are.
“Three?” Roc asked as the words from Unrequited’s first letter seemed to echo through me. “Who else is—” His words were cut off when the door to the workshop opened, followed by the sound of heels clicking on the polished concrete.
I kept my face blank as I watched the answer to Roc’s question slowly approach. Her expensive perfume drifted toward us in a cloud, the unique scent reaching us before she did, and her beautiful face as carefully guarded as my own. My belly flip-flopped when I searched her features for any other similarities.
“Do you want to tell him?” I asked her when she finally reached our circle and looped her arm through Joren’s. “Or should I?”
I didn’t bother explaining my meaning. The chances she hadn’t been eavesdropping were slim to none.
Jada’s painted lips spread in a practiced smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean,” she lied. “I just came to collect my husband. A friend from out of town is visiting, and we have dinner plans. I’m afraid whatever this is,” she said with a slow sweep of our grim faces, “will have to wait. Ciao.”
Without another word, she herded Joren toward the door, and a moment later, they were gone.
“Man,” Roc said, watching them go and running his hand over the waves in his close-cut in agitation. “I don’t know what the fuck all of this is about, but keeping it a hundred, I’m cool on it.” He looked at Rowdy. “You said you wanted to be the one to handle her, so you got it.” He slapped hands with Rowdy, and they gave each other dap and a snap before Roc walked off, mumbling incoherently. “I got enough damn problems. He just gon’ pull a gun on me? His boy? The fuck I look like playing detective anyway?”
I snorted and shook my head as I watched him go. I turned to Rowdy and started to speak when he cleared his throat, his green gaze sliding to Golden, who I hadn’t realized was still standing there.
One moment, Golden was staring off like he was deep in thought, and the next, he was spinning on his heel and following after Roc, Joren, and Jada without a word.
Ooookay.
My gaze was slower to return to Rowdy, but when it did, I found him already watching me.
For long moments, it was all we did. We drank each other in until the silence was too heavy to stand. “Are you going to kill me now?”
I froze when he stormed toward me, driving me back until my spine pressed against the Honda Accord that Golden had been repairing earlier today.
Before I could say anything else, Rowdy’s mouth was on me in a kiss so searing it melted my brain completely and loosened my tense muscles until all I could do was return his brutal kiss with just as much hunger.
Rowdy wanted control—to lead me where he wanted me—but I wasn’t willing to submit just yet—not after everything he’d put me through.
I had no idea when I’d started crying, but I was vaguely aware of his hands on my tear-stained face.
Rowdy held me through it as our lips fought for dominance, tongues twisting and tangling, and teeth tearing at the skin of his lips and mine. Neither of us cared about that first taste of blood. We just kept biting at each other, wanting to make the other hurt for the pain we’d caused.
“You left me,” he accused hoarsely.
I whimpered. “You left me first.”
Maybe not physically, but mentally and emotionally? Rowdy had been the first to walk away. And it had hurt far worse than me packing my shit and walking.
As if my words had sparked some detail he’d forgotten, he tensed a moment before he slammed his fist on top of the Honda’s roof, making me jump just before he tore away from me.
“Fuck!” I blinked as he began pacing the small space in front of me like an angry lion. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I stood there helpless and confused while Rowdy kicked the shit out of the Honda. His gaze flicked to me before moving away just as quickly. That same shame I’d witnessed that night three weeks ago reared its ugly head. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”
“Why? Why are you sorry? Why is it suddenly so wrong to kiss me now when you’ve been doing it for months?” I screamed back at him. Rather than answer, he shook his head, then ceased pacing to lean against the wall with his eyes closed instead. “You know what, Owen? Fine. Fuck you. I’m not going to beg you.”