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)
He’s an evil piece of this dark game I’m in.
I can’t forget that.
The toilet flushes and I can hear the sink turn on. After a few minutes, he returns, tie in hand and shirt fully unbuttoned. His heated gaze rakes over my pajamas and he shakes his head as if he’s annoyed with me.
For what, I have no idea.
“I’m ready,” I tell him, tugging the hair tie out, letting my blond hair fall to my shoulders. “Call her.”
He studies me for a beat and then walks over to the desk where his laptop sits. I wait impatiently as he taps away on his screen. Then I hear the distinct sound through the speaker of a line ringing.
“Hello?”
The familiar voice seizes my heart. It’s been forever since I heard Megan’s voice. I didn’t realize until now how much I missed her. Tears flood my eyes and I quickly blink them back. I slide off the bed and rush over to his side so I can see the screen.
Megan, wearing a lot of artfully done makeup and looking far more sophisticated than I remember, stares vacantly at us. Is this real or is it another one of Caius’s tricks?
“Someone wants to speak to you,” Caius says to her and stands. “Be good, little girl.”
He smacks my butt softly as he passes. I shoot him a nasty glare despite the thrill of heat rushing through me. As soon as I settle in the desk chair, I gape at Megan, unable to form words.
“Are you okay?”
Megan’s eyebrows pinch slightly. “I am.”
“Thank God,” I rush out. “I’ve been worried sick. Did they hurt you?”
This time she frowns. “Who?”
“Them,” I say, shooting Caius another dirty look. “The Crownes.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Jerking my head back to look at Megan, I try to make sense of what she’s saying. She seems genuinely confused at my question.
“They kidnapped you,” I remind her. “Everyone played along in saying you dropped out of college. They must’ve paid them or something.”
Megan’s face turns neutral. “But I did drop out.”
I bark out a laugh, only to realize she’s not joking.
“No, you didn’t,” I retort, irritation rising inside me. “They took you and brainwashed you in their CUP program.”
Caius makes no moves to stop me from revealing their secrets.
He’s a bold criminal.
“No one brainwashed me,” Megan says curtly. “I’ve been given tools to help me be a more confident, successful woman.” She narrows her eyes, which meet mine without wavering, a new skill she must’ve learned recently. “I’m sorry, but why is this any of your business?”
Her words are a painful strike, much more impactful and bruising than the one Gareth gave me.
“You’re my friend,” I utter softly. “I care about what’s happened to you.”
She’s no longer shy and awkward. There’s a ferocity to her that didn’t exist before. Confidence exudes from her as if she’s always had it.
“Friend?” She laughs and shakes her head. “We had what, one class together? I barely remember you. Rochelle, is it?”
I blink several times, trying to decide if she’s being for real.
She is.
I’m not imagining our friendship. We were partnered up on the project and became fast friends. She disappeared and I didn’t let up on my quest to find her.
It was real.
Our friendship was freaking real.
Why is she being unnecessarily cruel as if to hurt me on purpose?
“Romy,” I whisper. “You’re remembering wrong. I’m going to get you out of there.”
Megan scoffs, anger flashing in her eyes. “Get me out of where? Out of my life where I’m finally happy? Girl, you’re delusional.”
She’s happy?
Behind her is a dark mahogany bed frame. I can’t see anything else. What if she’s in a prison and being held under duress?
Her features soften and she gives me a grim smile. “Look. I can see you’re upset about…whatever kind of relationship it is you think we had.” She waves a manicured hand to gesture between us. I note that she’d always been a nail biter, but these nails with fanciful artwork must’ve cost a fortune that she never had. She continues with a sigh. “I’ve moved on from my old life. I’m no longer a moth. I’m a butterfly.”
“You were never a moth to me,” I say softly.
She opens her mouth to respond, but another voice enters the room she’s in.
“Meg,” a deep voice says, amusement in his tone. “You’re not dressed yet? Our friends are waiting at the pub. Come on, babe. Throw on something sexy and let’s go.”
I don’t see the face, but I know the voice.
It cuts like a thousand razor blades, deep and long, forever scarring me.
The pain is unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
Agonizing hurt consumes me.
“I gotta go,” Megan says, a guilty look on her face. “Tell Caius bye for me.”
The screen goes black, and I’m left staring at the empty screen. Tears spill from my eyes, no doubt tracking mascara in their wake. An ache in my chest makes it hard to breathe. With my fist, I tap the center of my chest, hoping to beat some air into my lungs.