Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
I can’t breathe.
I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!
I’m going to pass out.
Everything turns black.
Aubrey.
Aubrey.
Aubrey.
The voice finally breaks through the darkness and light comes rushing in along with air. I gulp several times in an attempt to fill my lungs. Both Hugo and Spencer are kneeling beside me, matching concerned expressions on their faces.
They are father and son, but in this moment, they could be twin brothers they look so much alike.
“That’s better,” Hugo croons. “I think you were having a panic attack.”
I reach for his hand, needing to ground myself to something. His fingers thread through mine, giving me the comfort I need almost as much as the air.
“How did this monster get a snake into our house?” I croak, staring up at Hugo. “Why would they do this?”
His lips thin out and he scowls. Spencer holds up his phone and answers for him.
“It’s someone we know. Has to be. The code was disabled while I was gone.” Spencer’s jaw tightens and he spears his fingers through his hair, messing it up. “Fuck.”
Hugo’s grip tightens around my hand. “Why weren’t you here, Spencer?”
Spencer shrugs, evading his gaze. “I had shit to do.”
“What shit? You don’t have a job and college hasn’t even started yet!”
“I’m not your goddamn house sitter,” Spencer snaps back. “Lay off.”
“Stop,” I cry out. “Stop fighting. It doesn’t matter. I just want the cameras gone.”
Spencer hops to his feet and stalks out of the room. Hugo helps me up and then motions for my bathroom.
“Want to take a bath while we deal with this?”
The thought of someone watching me while I bathe makes me want to puke. Hell no.
“Can I go over to Gemma’s until they’re all gone?”
He cups my cheeks and kisses the top of my head. “Of course, Love. Whatever you want to do. We’re going to deal with this. Once I discover who’s fucking with my family, I’m going to destroy them. You trust me?”
“I always trust you.”
“Good girl. I won’t let you down.”
Spencer
This thing with Aubrey is changing. It’s morphing into something I can’t control. While I hate that, I also welcome the refreshing change. I’ve been chained to my monotonous life that I resented with every part of my being for nearly a year.
Yes, I want to fuck with her, but I also want to fuck her.
It’s like I have this invested claim over her. She’s mine. Though she maddens me and pisses me off, I still want her. I don’t want to share her with anyone, especially my fucking dad.
Dad is the least of my problems, however. Someone is stalking and harassing Aubrey. They’re not just messing with her, though, they’re messing with the Parks. We own this mountain, this town, and all the people in it. Whoever is doing this has balls—balls that we’ll eventually crush in our powerful fists.
The cameras Dad and I found earlier were in plain sight. Cheap stick-on shit. It makes me want to throttle our housekeeper for not mentioning them. One could even suspect she was the culprit since she has the alarm code, but she’s old as fuck and has no motive to terrorize our family.
Then who?
I rack my brain for who would have some vendetta against her, no fear of us, and access to our home. We Parks are pretty close-knit and don’t let many outsiders in, so it’s frustrating to be clueless. Even Jude, a man of many means when it comes to uncovering information, has come up short.
Once I’m sure Dad has gone to bed, I make my way back into Aubrey’s room. Earlier, once we cleared the house of cameras, Gemma and Jamie put new bedding on her bed and tried to cheer her up. Everyone left and it’s been fairly quiet. I’ve been biding my time.
I twist the doorknob and push into her room. The bed is still perfectly made and there’s no one in it. Aubrey sits in her desk chair, hugging her knees to her chest, staring blankly at the bed. A flare of fury ignites in my belly. Someone is breaking her.
She’s mine to break.
Mine to piece back together.
Mine. Mine. Fucking mine.
Stalking over to her, I clear my throat and speak with authority, “Up. Come on.”
Slowly, she turns her head to look at me. The blank expression is haunting and I don’t like it. I peel her arms away from her legs and draw her into a standing position.
“Where are we going?” she croaks out, confusion lacing her tone, attempting to tug her hand from mine.
“My room.” I grip her hand tighter. “You’re not sleeping in here.”
All resistance evaporates and she lets me lead her out of her room. We go back into mine. I shut the door behind her before bringing her over to the bed.
“Get in,” I instruct, releasing her to pull back the covers. “Now, leech.”