Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Slade’s hand tightens on mine and I run my thumb over his knuckles, trying to calm him. “I suggest you walk away before I bury you,” Slade responds, not once taking his eyes from his biological father.
“And I suggest you stay out of business that ain’t yours to be worrying about.”
“You made sure to make her my business,” Slade reminds him. “You remember, right? When you threaten my family, my life, and my future. So, you best fucking believe that you will never touch her again. She’s mine.”
Lucien’s lips pull up into a sick grin. “My, my. You really are my son. You’re a greedy little bastard.”
Slade’s body practically shakes with fury and I squeeze my eyes while silently begging for him not to listen to a damn word Lucien says. “He’s trying to get in your head,” I murmur low, fisting my other hand into the back of his shirt as he protects me with everything he’s got from the man who abused me for way too long. “Don’t let him. You’re so much stronger than him. You’re good and pure. He’s vile. You’re nothing like him, Slade.”
I feel him begin to relax as the tension seeps out of his tight muscles, but don’t be fooled, he’s still more than ready to go.
He stands before Lucien, tall and imposing, an absolute force to be reckoned with. I peer around Slade’s side and rest my eyes upon Lucien and what I see has hope surging within me. It’s something I have never seen from this man in my life, something I didn’t even realize he was capable of - fear.
He senses it just like everyone else Slade has ever faced down. He’s the alpha, always has been and always will be and Lucien doesn’t like it one bit. He knows that Slade is more than willing to stand here all fucking night to protect me and while it’s a good thing. It means that next time, he’ll be more prepared.
Lucien finally begins to retreat and as he gets to the door of his SUV, he turns, looking back at me with a sick grin that sends chills racing down my spine. “Don’t go anywhere, princess,” he taunts. “You have a wedding to attend and I will be following through on my end of the deal.”
With that, he laughs and slips back into his car.
Slade doesn’t move an inch or let up on my hand until Lucien’s car reverses back off the sidewalk and disappears down the street, way out of sight.
I finally start to breathe and the second he releases my hand, my knees buckle and I fall back down to the hard ground as the terror washes over me. Sobs tear up my throat and I bury my face into my hands.
This whole time I’ve been preparing myself for this. I’ve locked my window, locked the doors, told everyone important to me to be on the lookout, I’ve even slept with a knife and threatened to use it on Slade’s neck thinking it was him. But not once did I think about how I would feel, how I would react, and what sort of horrors it would wash over me.
I wasn’t ready. Not in the least.
Slade crouches down and holds me between his legs, his knees on either side of me. His arms circle me, one holding my head to his chest and the other soothing up and down my back. “It’s alright, Virago. He’s gone. You’re safe with me. What did I tell you? You’ll always be safe with me.”
His words are just empty words and yes, while he kept me safe, he doesn’t mean it. He ended things and I was lucky that he must have heard my scream, but what happens next time when he moves on and it’s another girl he’s protecting? What am I supposed to do then?
Lucien made it damn clear that he’s coming back for me and considering I’m expected to marry Marcus Mahony in less than four months, I don’t doubt that he’d be coming soon. Marcus would be nervous hearing that I’m gone and Lucien would be doing everything he can to assure him that I’ll be back and ready to walk down the aisle on my eighteen birthday, even if it means handcuffing me to the priest.
I cry into Slade’s chest, finding it impossible to calm myself. Five minutes turn into ten and before I know it, I’m being lifted off the ground. I curl into him, hating him seeing me like this, but being so glad that he’s here.
I’ve always prided myself on being stronger but now I see no way out. It’s inevitable. Whether it’s today or tomorrow, Lucien will get me. It’s not possible for Slade to always be there and the second he turns his back, Lucien will make his move.