Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Of course not. I know how hard Marco has worked for both the police and as a double agent for my father. He’s gone out of his way to get information or find shipments or traitors whenever my father asks. So why can’t he do the same for me just this once?
“You said if I need anything to let you know.”
Marco’s face falls. “Fiora.”
“Don’t ‘Fiora’ me,” I snap in annoyance, throwing my thick napkin onto the table. “So, was that just a lie to make me feel better?”
“I want to help you, I really do, but I can’t. Not everyone has the weight of the Godwin name and money behind them to get what they want, you know. You sound like a spoiled rich girl upset she isn’t getting her way.”
The barb feels like knives cutting my skin over and over. I thought Marco saw me as more than a Godwin, but maybe I was mistaken. Marco knows he fucked up, because his mouth opens and closes a few times like a fish out of water before he sighs.
“Look, that came out wrong. What I mean is—”
“Buffalo burger with seasoned fries,” our waiter cuts in, dropping the plate onto the table in front of us. “And a cheeseburger, hold the pickles, extra mustard.”
I stare at Marco the entire time the waiter serves our food, speechless for the first time in our seven-year friendship. Between Braken’s dismissal and edging earlier and Marco’s refusal to even make a simple phone call, I’m one more stupid roadblock from exploding.
Once the waiter is gone, I grab my handbag, retrieve my wallet, and toss down a few twenties on the table before Marco can stop me. He reaches for my hand, but I pull away, and throw my bag’s strap over my shoulder.
Marco stands when I do. “Hey, wait, Fiora, come on. Sit back down. I’m sorry.”
“Give whatever is left over to the waiter as a tip.” I flash him a sarcastic smile. “What’s a few burgers to the Godwins, after all? I’m spoiled, rich, and”—I glare at him one last time—“go fuck yourself, Marco.”
I leave Marco behind as he calls my name over the ruckus. I don’t turn around and step out onto the street. I sense eyes on me, but I ignore it. Even in my heels, I’m close enough to walk, and the cool breeze feels good on my flushed skin.
Braken won’t tell me anything. Marco won’t help me. Papa certainly won’t offer any information, even if I begged. Then who can I go to? Jescie? Sable? Would they know anything? Doubtful.
Maybe I can retrace Mason’s steps. Meet with his friends to get his schedule before the Mariners game. I whip out my phone and scroll through my contacts to find just the person I’m looking for and press call.
As the phone rings, I make a vow to myself.
No matter what anyone says, I won’t stop hunting for the truth.
Chapter 18
Fiora
When my phone rings, my gut already knows who it is before I even pick up.
“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days,” Storee says the moment I answer. “What the hell is going on?”
“I—”
“Locke told me you are a Godwin,” she interrupts. “Care to explain? And he said your brother was killed, and that you’re engaged to Braken Frost! I had to hear all this from him!”
I knew this day was coming, and I hated that I had to lie to my new best friend. My only best friend.
“I’ve been meaning to call to explain, but everything has been happening so fast and—”
“Why did you feel you had to hide the fact that you’re a Godwin from me?”
“I wanted to get away from everything. Life. I wanted to become someone new and— I don’t know. I shouldn’t have lied. I’m sorry. I really am. It’s hard to explain just how suffocating my life was and why I so desperately wanted to get away.”
There’s a pause followed by a heavy sigh. “I shouldn’t be making this about me,” she says softly. “I’m sorry. You just lost your brother. How are you?”
“Numb, I think. My brother and I weren’t exactly close, but… my life feels like I’m churning in the sea right now.”
“Braken? Marriage?” she asks.
“Yeah… welcome to my life as a Godwin. See why I wanted to run away and be someone else?”
“You have to marry someone you don’t even know? This sounds so archaic.”
“It is. But now that I’m the oldest…” I release a sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “My father is a man that… I wish I could describe this better. It’s just a mess.”
“I like Braken. He’s a great guy and one of Locke’s best friends,” she offers. “I guess it could be worse.”
Flashbacks of him hunting me in the forest, fucking me in ways I didn’t know was possible, come flooding in. “Yeah, I suppose it could be worse.”