Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 53428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“Didn’t he have school too?”
“I’m sure he did.”
“When did you two finally talk?”
“One day, I had enough of him stalking me, so I walked across the street, pulled my gun out, and told him that if I saw him again, I would put a bullet in his head.”
“And what did he say?”
“He ignored my gun and whispered that I smelled good and that he desperately wanted to take me out to a nice restaurant.”
How I wished that we had been in the same town growing up. I understand exactly how Gypsy felt. One look at Kashmere and how could a person continue about their day? Surely, I would have stalked her too and been willing to let her shoot me in the chest just for one date.
“So. . .I went out with him that night.” She shrugged. “I used to feel lonely back then. . .even though so many people were around me.”
“You were invisible to your family.”
“Most of the time, unless they needed me to do something for the Killer Crows.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “It felt good to be truly seen.”
I stiffened. “You said that you stopped seeing him due to your father and grandmother, but there has to be more to the story.”
She widened her eyes.
“Kash, are you hiding things from me?”
“No.” She lowered her voice. “I’m more. . .embarrassed by it and. . .it always makes me really sad.”
“What happened?”
“I got pregnant.”
Shock vibrated through me. “Pregnant?”
“I was a teen, super scared, and now I was pregnant by Gypsy who was my family’s enemy. They were fighting a fucking war with his people for God’s sake, and now I’m pregnant. I didn’t think I could tell Romeo or Chanel because their whole focus was killing the Coffin Cheaters. And there was no way I would tell my parents.”
My heart boomed in my ears. “What did Gypsy say when you told him?”
Her eyes watered. “I didn’t. I hid it. Merik took me to a clinic in Glory and. . .”
I tenderly grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “That must have been a heartbreaking moment.”
“I was just a kid. . .making a big decision and. . .” Tears left her eyes. “I still don’t know if that was the right decision. At times I look back and think of how much of a coward I was.”
“You were young—”
“And stupid.”
“Don’t say that.” I wiped her tears away. “Never say that.”
She swallowed. “When I left the clinic, I was sobbing and. . .it was raining and. . .”
I raised my eyebrows.
“And Gypsy was standing outside with no umbrella, just staring at me, heartbroken and confused.”
“What did he say to you?”
“Nothing and truthfully, I think he was crying too, but I couldn’t tell due to the rain.” She looked away. “And so. . .because I was an immature coward, I told him that we were over due to the war between our families. And then I rushed off with Merik.”
No wonder he isn’t over her.
She cleared her throat. “Merik told his mom, Aunt Irene that Gypsy and I had dated. Then she told some other aunts, and next the whole family knew, but at least Merik never brought up the abortion. But, that was how my grandmother got into it.”
“That was good.”
“Once the Peace Treaty happened, I did my best to avoid Gypsy. I hid during most of the wedding. Anytime there was some sort of family event, I didn’t show up. It wasn’t like my family realized that I wasn’t there.”
“But, I bet Gypsy missed you.”
She placed her hands in her lap and twisted her fingers. “Gypsy reminds me of that horrible decision. Every time I see him, I drown in guilt and regret, thinking of the baby I. . .killed.”
Now I was understanding more why she had been so lenient with him last night. She knew she hurt him in the past and only wanted to find some semblance of peace between them.
But what she didn’t understand was that once a man had a taste of her, there would be no peace until she was back in his arms.
“So, there you have it.” She gave me a sad smile. “That’s my history with Gypsy.”
And quite a history it was.
I pulled her into my arms and held Kashmere close to me. “Thank you for telling me. This helps a lot.”
She leaned into my embrace. “How does it help?”
“Now, I know that Gypsy will never give up. He truly wants to marry you, and it has nothing to do with the Coffin Cheaters or Killer Crows.”
She shivered against me.
“In fact,” I frowned. “There is no amount of negotiations, land, or power that will keep him away from you.”
Chapter 11
Male Ego
Santino
A seething animosity ran through me as I considered the time Kashmere and Gypsy had together.
The thought of him planting his seed in her before me twisted my stomach with a burning fury. This emotion was raw and uncontrolled, like an animal’s instinct to protect its claim. It was a sensation of pure possessive jealousy, and never had I experienced this before.