Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
He looked into her eyes and for a split second, she saw an innocence in him she hadn’t seen before.
“Whatever you need to tell yourself to make it through this situation you’ve gotten yourself into is fine with me.” He shrugged. “I don’t give a shit about your defense mechanisms and ideologies. I don’t give a fuck about the strengths or frailties of women or men, either, as a general topic. My only concern right now is preserving the business I worked so hard to create. The business you almost destroyed with one shot in the dark. Now, speaking of being broken, emotional and weak, how is your friend, Chasity?”
Her heart broke into a thousand pieces…
How’d he know?
Her face must’ve said it all, for there was a twinkle in his light gray eyes. He stood slowly, holding on to time. His lips slipped out a banana peel, and she tripped and fell on her own weakness…
“I bet you wonder how I found out about your sick friend who has been in and out of the hospital. I have my ways.” He tossed a satiated, malicious smirk her way. “I’m resilient. I never give up. Just like you. Your best friend is dependent on you. You’ve been helping her financially as best you can, taking care of her… She is the family you always wanted, but never truly had. A big sister. She got sick, and now, you do everything you can to give her some semblance of a quality of life. I can end that life, today, have her snuffed out like a fuckin’ cigarette if you don’t stop wasting my time, my money, my wellbeing, and my manpower with your stalling, procrastinating, and manipulative bullshit.”
She sniffed away another tear that budded in her eyes. How did he do this?!
He stroked his chin, then smiled at her as if she were some pathetic, idiotic simpleton.
“…Like I said, all horses can be broken. Even beautiful black mares named Honey…”
“Whatever you want, I’ll do it.” The words came out frozen, cold and hard. Her love for Chasity made them melt and form in her eyes. The warm tears dripped down her face.
“I know that you will. Eat. Rest.” He waved in her direction as he walked away. “I’ll be back in a few hours so we can get started.”
And then, he was gone…
Tiana Major9’s, ‘EARTHGANG,’ played as James lay back on his dark gray satin pillow. He sniffed his fingers, smelling her on him. Her skin. Her hair. He closed his eyes as he ran his finger under his nose once more. Something about her scent aroused him in the worst way. His dick hardened as flashes of her naked body replayed themselves in his mind. She was a source of lust, no matter how he tried to fight it. Maybe it was her resilience, on top of her gorgeous face and body, too.
He hated having to kill beautiful things. They were so rare in today’s world. He sat up, and grabbed a glass of water from his nightstand. He was comfortable in his own dwelling, despite all the shit going on at the moment. He’d made certain that his home was tailored to his comfort and needs. The bedroom walls had a cave-like texture, and everything was in cool earth tones—shades of brown, rich grays, matte blacks. The entire structure was made of wood and concrete—a safe, masculine space, without being too dark or too cold.
His bed was the color of rich Belgian chocolate and covered in lavish dark silver satin sheets. The headboard was a large, quilted painting of a black arrow piercing the air. He’d had no decorator telling him what to do. No magazines or television shows to point him in the right direction. He knew instinctively what he wanted, for he was seldom indecisive.
His phone rang, and he noticed it was from the correctional center. After taking another sip of water, he set the glass down and answered.
He listened to the usual collect call introduction, then heard his sister’s name: Irish.
“Hello,” he said as he lit a cigar. “It’s my ticking time bomb sister… How’s it going?”
“You’ve been avoiding my calls, you son of a bitch.” Her husky voice hugged a smile, he was certain. He didn’t have to see it to know it was being worn proudly.
“I have.”
“Why?”
“Because you get on my fucking nerves and when I talk to you, I feel drained.”
“Fuck your feelings. Aren’t you going to ask how I’m doing? What I’ve been up to?”
“Sure I am. Sucked any pussies lately?”
“No, unless you include that peck on the cheek I placed on your face when you came to visit. Look, I didn’t call to discuss my love life, or lack thereof. I have a new lawyer, Archer. Jenson. I did what you suggested.”
“That’s a first.” He laughed mirthlessly, then dumped ashes into his ashtray.