Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” I say, looking back at Drex just as my uncle yells something, but it’s muted as something quiet zips through the air, causing his words to cease immediately.
I hold Drex’s gaze, never looking away, and he never looks away from me either as the telltale sound of a heavy thump hits the ground, rattling the cabinets just a little. My eyes stay fixed on Drex and the small drop of blood that has landed on his neck.
It’s not as messy as I expected, then again, my eyes haven’t fallen to the floor, and I never actually saw the bullet enter. Axle walks in to join us, and Drex hands him the gun, never moving his eyes away from mine.
“Get rid of that and the body,” Drex tells him, before wiping the blood away from his neck.
“No problem. Probably should have asked him a few questions before killing him though.”
Drex takes a step closer, watching me like I’m a caged animal that will strike at any moment.
“Marshall wasn’t my call. He was Eve’s,” he says as though it explains everything.
Wordlessly, I walk out of the house, sucking in a deep breath. My father’s executioner was his own brother. His executioner was his niece, completing a vicious circle.
He just died at my request, and I feel like justice has been served.
No guilt.
No pain.
Revenge feels better than people want you to think. It doesn’t feel hollow anymore.
Drex comes out, still warily gauging me.
“Take me home,” is all I say.
Chapter 44
EVE
The second I’m off the bike, I turn to face him, not giving a damn about the five other men in the garage.
“What took so long?” I ask him, trying and failing to forget what my asshole uncle said before Drex got there.
“Didn’t want to spook him. He went in through a bedroom window after cutting the power to the alarm system like a fucking pro. Wasn’t expecting that, and didn’t want him to hear our bikes, so we ditched them early and ran half the way.”
Fuck it.
“There’d better not be any truth to what he was saying about you hooking up with another girl.”
I don’t even care how crazy I sound right now, but the five other men disappear quickly after hearing that.
His eyebrows go up, and his lips twitch like he’s amused. This is not the time to be amused. This is the time to be explaining.
“So she was right,” he says, grinning openly now.
“Drex, this is seriously not the best time to smile.”
He clears his throat as he stands. “You’re hot when you’re jealous.”
“You’re seconds away from an introduction between my knee and your balls.”
His throaty chuckle only grates on my nerves as he moves closer, tipping my chin up with his fingers so that I have to stare up into his eyes that are dancing with humor.
“To speed things along, I allowed myself to be seen at the club and the usual spots this past week. It’s also proving a point that I’m not scared of Pop, while selling the breakup. Anyway, I went to the strip club—”
He stops when I tense and take a step back. The amusement leaves his eyes when I start to turn away, but he grabs me at the waist, holding my back to his front even as I try to jerk away.
That’s it. I’m taking karate. I’m sick of being so much weaker.
“And saw Sarah,” he goes on, acting as though that should explain things. “She walked right up, dropped into my lap, and made out with my neck, all while explaining that one of Marshall’s spies was watching and to sell it. Well, she actually fucking blew raspberries on my neck, but the music covered the sound. Imagine keeping a straight face with that shit going on. I grabbed her ass a little, and she pretended to be grinding on me, but she wasn’t. Her crotch never touched mine. She was stripper at one point; she knows how to sell sex even if it’s not going on. I went along with it, because you trust her. Turns out she was right if Marshall brought it up and showed up the very next day.”
I go still in his arms, and try to play his words over in my head. He leans over me, nuzzling my cheek with his while keeping my back pressed against his front. “Don’t start doubting me now, Eve. I’ve spent five days going out of my head. I didn’t fuck some girl or even think about fucking some girl during this week. I just wanted this over and wanted you back. I didn’t fuck anyone while we were actually broken up. Didn’t want anyone but you, even though I couldn’t have you.”
I relax against him, and he kisses the side of my neck, smiling against my skin.
“You’re sexy when you’re pissed, but I sure as hell don’t want you pissed about this.”