Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
He knew I had gotten in Merce’s car. How? Maeme and Capri had been asleep for hours when I snuck out.
“He told me that my Grams was in danger. My father had escaped your dungeon and that y’all would get my Grams next as punishment.”
Thatcher inhaled more smoke then replied, “I see.”
No, he didn’t see anything. None of them did, nor did they care.
“I doubt it.” The sarcasm dripping from my tone was a mistake. I hadn’t meant to speak my thoughts. It had just come out.
Thatcher’s glare held me there. Frozen as the evil just beneath his surface swirled with the constant threat that he may snap at any moment.
“Sebastian waited for you,” he said taking the cigarette from his mouth. He looked down at the lit end. “He was fucking convinced you’d call, text, even show up. He swore that you’d explain why you left. He was so damn sure you had a reason for leaving him.” Thatcher’s emotionless gaze hardened. “You aren’t the first girl to reject him. But you’re the first one to wreck him.”
“Don’t!” I warned, no longer caring how dangerous this man was. I would not listen to this. Any of it. “DO not try and make me believe he cared. It wasn’t real for him!” I stopped to swallow and take a deep breath. Pain and rage were now battling for first place inside my chest.
“Whatever this is or whatever game you are now playing, just tell me what it is you want from me. Because I know I was a pawn in your plan. I know I was used. And Sebastian made sure I’d never have the faith to trust anyone ever again.”
Thatcher scowled, and it was effective at shutting me up. I took a step back.
“I’m not here to convince you that you’re wrong. Although you are. I came to find out if you were worthy of Sebastian.” He paused. “And honestly, I think he deserves better. You don’t seem to know him at all.”
Clenching my teeth, I stared back at him. “How could I know him! Everything he said to me was a lie.”
Thatcher tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “Does that help you sleep at night? Believing he wronged you?”
I wanted to scream at him to leave but I couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t kill me and Linda before he did.
“He was willing to face the boss of the Southern Mafia, and take whatever punishment he received, knowing death could be a possibility. All because he was afraid you were going to be taken from him. That, little girl, was never part of our plan. He ignored orders for you.” He pointed at his chest. “I was there when he saw the video feed of you getting into Merce’s car. I saw the look in his eyes.”
I sucked in a breath, wanting to close my ears and scream at him to stop. I couldn’t listen to this. I couldn’t survive any hope that the man I’d loved was real. That even a small portion of what we’d had in the cabin meant something to him.
“He broke my dad’s arms!” I shouted.
Thatcher gave me a disgusted look, as if my words made him ill. “Did you ever think to ask why? Or was the fact that he did it enough for you?” He shook his head. “You’re not worthy of him.”
I stood there, watching as Thatcher headed for the door. He was leaving.
“Why?” I called out. “Why did he do it?”
Thatcher stopped, not turning around to look at me, and for a moment, I thought he was going to leave without replying.
“When your dad called you a slut, Sebastian broke his nose. When your dad called you a liar about his handprints on your arms, Sebastian broke his arms. When your dad said you knew about the drugs and were involved because you were fucking Merce”—Thatcher looked back at me—“Sebastian wrapped his hands around his throat to shut him up. He could have killed him. But he didn’t.”
I sucked in a breath. “My dad gets drunk. He calls me names. He doesn’t mean it.”
“So, you’ll defend the man who was meant to protect and take care of you, but has never done that once in your life, but not the man who loved you so goddamn much that he was willing to do anything to keep you safe regardless of his own life.”
He shook his head, then walked out the door.
What Sebastian had done wasn’t right. I stood there, telling myself that his actions weren’t sane or normal.
But …
Thatcher had said Sebastian loved me.
I pressed a hand to my chest at the sharp pang, and my eyes swung back to the door before I broke out into a run. I heard Linda call my name, but I didn’t top to answer her. I sprinted outside into the almost-empty parking lot.