Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
We make our way into the house, welcomed by a butler who offers a swift dip of his chin. The inner sanctum of the devil himself is furnished in only the finest. From the artwork to the furniture we are escorted toward. There are crowds of people all sipping champagne, dressed in expensive suits and gowns. It looks like a royal party from the outside, but I know once you delve deeper into it, there aren’t any flawless people in this house tonight.
Each man has one girl beside him. And each girl, half the age of the man she’s standing beside, wears a necklace similar to mine. As if she’s branded. Collared. Owned.
“Do you see anyone you recognize?” Drake questions in a low tone so only I can hear him.
Shaking my head, I tell him, “Not yet.” We grab a couple glasses of champagne and move farther into the house I grew up in. The living room is exactly like the day I walked out to go to a party. The patio, which is to our right, is filled with men and women laughing, chatting, and having a good time.
I’m about to tell Drake I see one of the men from Thanos’s parties, but I can’t, because my gaze lands on a man sitting at the head of the long dinner table that’s been set up in the garden.
The man I called father.
On his lap is a girl who can’t be more than twenty. She’s wearing a thick silver collar, similar to that of a dog. Hanging from the ring in the center of her neck is a leash. She’s beautiful, but what makes my stomach turn and bile force its way into my throat is how much she looks like Harper. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve called her sister.
“It seems your father has found a replacement for his runaway daughter,” River comments from my left, while Drake on my right is silent, his hand squeezing mine. It’s as if he knows I need him to be strong for me in this moment.
“I guess so.” My voice is raspy when I respond to River.
I blink back the tears, seeing for myself the monster my father really is.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
DRAKE
My girl turns to me. “I need the restroom. Stay here,” she tells me urgently, excusing herself, and I can tell this is affecting her more than she had anticipated. I know it can’t be easy seeing this. She’d been shielded from it for so long, and now, thrown in at the deep end. It was a mistake bringing her here. I realize that now. But she asked for revenge.
She wanted to kill him, and I know if I had refused her, she would’ve gone out and done it on her own. That would’ve only gotten her killed. And that is not something I could live with. Not now, not ever. I watch her race up the stairs, but I don’t follow. Allowing her time to think will perhaps have her changing her mind about going through with this.
Regardless of her decision, tonight, her father will die. Whether by my hand or hers.
“Savage.” Amoretto notices me and waves me over. His eyes are dark, wild, and when I near him, I wonder if he’s high. Possibly. He offers a hand, which I shake, and give him a smirk. Playing to the games of these men is easy. “How are you doing?”
“Good. It’s been a while,” I tell him.
“It has been. I have a treat for you tonight.” This time, he tugs on the chain linked to the girl in his lap. She drops to the ground on all fours like a dog. My anger is simmering when I watch him rise and lead her over to a small bench on the manicured lawn.
“What is this?” I question, the men behind me watching intently. It’s as if I can feel their eyes burning through my back.
He chuckles before unzipping his slacks, pulling out his flaccid dick, and I know what he’s about to do before he does it. A stream of urine hits the girl’s face, her mouth wide, accepting it. She doesn’t move, doesn’t cower. He continues laughing, the men behind me cheer him on, and my fingers tingle for the gun holstered on my ankle.
Since the security failed to search us, we still have our weapons.
“She’s so obedient. I think your future toys should be this well trained,” he offers while zipping back up. Tugging the leash once more, he drags her closer to where we’re standing on the patio. When she looks up at me, I notice her eyes are dilated. They’re a stormy blue, but she’s so strung out on something she doesn’t even notice when he slaps her.
“Well, you’ve certainly done a job on her.” My response is rigid, and River’s hand finds my shoulder, squeezing in warning. I need to play along until we make sure all the men are seated. Dinner is in a few minutes, and that’s when our team will enter, and we’ll have a chance to take out these assholes once and for all.