Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Caius pulls back, flashes me a warning glare, then turns to look toward the sound of the voice. “The garage isn’t where you usually like to play, Solomon. My apologies. I thought me and my girl were alone.”
Liar.
I don’t rat him out, though.
Glancing toward Solomon, I’m shocked to see the state of him. He’s no longer put together. Blood splatters his face and he’s wearing claw marks on his cheek. In his arms is a young woman—possibly younger than me—limp and also bloody. Bluish bruises form along the side of her face. She’s also completely naked.
My heart leaps into my throat. Caius, though seemingly unbothered by the bloody couple, nods at Solomon. I notice the tenseness in his shoulders, though. He’s unnerved or maybe even afraid of this man. If Caius is afraid, I should be terrified. It’s strange that I’m thankful for Caius’s protection in this moment. I truly am getting my mind warped in this place.
“I like to spice things up every now and again,” Solomon reveals. “I’ll need help with this.”
Caius nods again. “I’ll call Theo. There’s a janitor’s closet down the hall. He’ll meet you there.”
“Much appreciated,” Solomon says, eyes darting my way. “And if you ever get tired of that one, let me know. She’s a little older than I prefer, but I do like the sounds she makes. So fucking needy.”
Disgust roils in my gut, making me recoil from the man. Caius chuckles as though Solomon’s telling the funniest joke. I want to spit at the horrible man carrying the unmoving girl.
“Man, I think she’s a keeper. Dare I even say ‘the one’?”
Solomon smirks. “That only makes me want her all the more. Perhaps we can broker a deal. You know I’ll pay anything for what I want.”
“I’ll think about it,” Caius says with a grunt. “Better get going before rigor mortis sets in.”
His words have me freezing.
Wait…
The girl is dead?
Bile rises in my throat and my skin breaks out in an oily sweat. Solomon begins whistling a cheerful song as he heads toward the door that goes into the lodge. I track him as he makes his way through the door. Long after he’s gone, I continue staring at the closed door.
“Janitor’s closet,” Caius grunts into his cell phone. “Yeah, she’s with me.” He pauses and grits his teeth before saying, “She’s fine.”
Theo.
He’s worried about me.
Gareth may have sold me out, but Theo still seems to care.
“You can text her later,” Caius mutters. “I’m taking her home now.”
Caius hangs up the phone and then picks up my clutch from the garage floor. I didn’t even realize I’d dropped it. The past twenty minutes or so have been a whirlwind. He hands me my purse and then locates my missing shoes. I can’t help but fixate on his messy hair—hair that I ruffled with my fingers only moments ago—as he kneels before me to put on my shoes.
While still crouched down in front of me, Caius turns his gaze toward me. He studies me intently for a beat and then rises to his feet. “You did well, little girl. Better than I expected.”
My cheeks burn hot. I don’t know if he’s indicating I did well with keeping my mouth shut around Solomon or by letting him get me off. I sure as hell didn’t fight him off one bit. I’d damn near begged for him to do more than he did.
“He killed her,” I manage to croak out. “That sick asshole killed that girl.”
Caius doesn’t gaslight me like he’s done a thousand times before and I’m not told I didn’t see something when I most certainly did. Instead, I’m graciously given the truth.
“He did. Be lucky it wasn’t you.”
Caius hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me to my feet. I’m unsteady between the pill and drinks from earlier. I can’t help but fall against his solid chest. His grip around me tightens, not allowing me to collapse. I inhale his familiar, masculine scent, letting it comfort me.
“You did that to protect me?” I ask, voice stupidly hopeful.
“I did.”
“Why?”
Because he likes me?
“I did it because we don’t need problems from your father. I simply did my job.”
His words sting. I shouldn’t be shocked by them, but I am. Caius has been nothing but a drugging, kidnapping, molesting prick since the moment I met him. Did I really think his feelings for me changed and that he now cares about my well-being?
He doesn’t.
All he cares about is protecting the Crowne name.
I’m a pawn and he used me as one.
With his cruel words, though, he gave me the validation I need. He admits this relationship is a fraud and I’m not losing my mind.
“Take me home so I can shower your disgusting stench off my body,” I choke out, fighting tears. “Touch me like that again and I’ll cut your cock off.”