Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 135378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
My jaw is on the floor when his steely gaze meets mine.
“Consider your choices, Sophie. You could do much worse than someone who’s willing to do absolutely anything to keep you. Most of the people you’ll call friends in your lifetime won’t care about you at all. When you find the ones that truly do, hold on to them, even if they aren’t perfect.”
I don’t speak. I don’t think I can. In the last few minutes, this man has just admitted to murder and other atrocities, threatened me with murder and those other atrocities, and essentially demanded that I accept his son—or else.
I can scarcely breathe.
“So, will you play ball, Sophie?”
I nod my head.
Is there any other answer?
He smiles. “Good.” He stands, pushing back his chair and moving around the desk.
On instinct, I back away from him.
His smile transforms into a smirk that reminds me a bit of Silvan, but a much, much meaner Silvan. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Sophie. As long as you make my son happy, you’re part of my family. I won’t hurt you unless you give me a reason to. Your destiny is really in your own hands.” He meets my gaze. “Everybody serves a master whether they realize it or not. At least you know who yours is.”
I gasp softly when he drapes an arm around my shoulders. My leg muscles feel wobbly when he leads me toward the door.
It’s like I’m not in control of my own body. Someone else is walking. I can’t even feel the weight of his arm around me, but I can see it as if I’m floating outside myself.
I think maybe I’m in shock.
This is reminiscent of how I felt the night I left Dylan.
This assault was a lot different from that one.
Richard opens the door and Silvan is waiting anxiously outside. His gaze darts to his father’s arm around my shoulder and confusion flickers across his face. Richard releases me and heads back to his wife’s side, sliding an arm around her waist.
Silvan grabs my face and searches it. “Are you all right? You look pale.”
I nod, but I still can’t speak.
“She’s fine,” Richard says, his tone even like nothing is amiss.
I want to rally and pretend the same thing, I just can’t. I’ve reached capacity for what I can endure tonight, and I just want to climb into bed and sleep it off.
“Sophie’s part of the family now,” he says easily. “As long as she’s with you anyway. Had to give her a formal welcome.”
Silvan slides his father a look to let him know he’s displeased as he curls an arm protectively around me. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
I’m more than happy to leave.
Richard and Melanie follow us out. The sight of Hugh standing outside the limo pierces the fog and relief slips in through the pinprick hole.
A noise from somewhere off to our left destroys it. Especially when I look and it’s not an animal or my imagination. Two hulking, shady-looking men stand in the shadows.
I grab Silvan’s arm and his gaze snaps in that direction to see what’s startled me.
His hand finds the small of my back and he pushes me toward the car. “It’s all right,” he murmurs lowly. “They work for my dad.”
That doesn’t feel like an “it’s all right” to me, but he said the same thing about his friend the other night. I don’t think Silvan’s “it’s all right,” means “those men aren’t dangerous.” Just, “those dangerous men are under our control, so you don’t have to be afraid unless I want you to be.”
What have I gotten myself into?
I guess I didn’t really get myself into it.
All I did was go to a stupid party.
I knew going to parties was a shitty idea.
I’m never going to a party again.
I get into the car where at least I feel safe. Silvan joins me and wraps an arm around me, pulling me into his arms. As soon as the door is shut, he asks, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“What did he say to you?”
“That he’s a murderer. Some other stuff, but… that part stuck.”
“Jesus. Well, I didn’t want to share anything I shouldn’t, but if he told you himself, I guess it’s okay. I’m sure this goes without saying, but…”
“I won’t say anything. I’m not trying to get your murdery dad after me.”
His lips curve up faintly and he brushes my hair back. “Good. I also don’t want my murdery father after you. No way that ends well.”
Tell me about it.
His threats echo in my memory. He doesn’t even know me, and somehow, he zeroed in on my biggest fears to tailor threats around them.
Silvan is observant, too.
Like father, like son, I guess.
Silvan asks if I want to go to my dorm or my mom’s house. I don’t feel like there’s a right answer.