Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
They share a look. Lee speaks up. "We only want to protect you, man."
"From what? If you clue me in, maybe we can stop this song and dance?"
Another shared look, and I'm done. I shove Sebastian away from me. "You say you want to protect me? Keeping secrets isn't going to protect shit. Besides, you say I'm choosing her over you, yet you're the ones not telling me the truth. You can both fuck off."
Sebastian looks ready to charge me, and I stare him down. Lee takes a few more steps to come up beside Sebastian. "It's not like that, man. Come on. Calm down."
I take a deep breath because he's right. Not about the bullshit secrets, but the fact that I need to calm down. Another minute and I'll knock their heads together, and I might regret that later.
Lee pulls Sebastian back, and we all seem to calm down a little. All breathing, taking in the situation.
Lee takes the lead next. "You going to that stupid party of your father’s?"
The question seems laced with more than what he’s outright asking. But I can't pinpoint exactly what he wants from me. "Yes, I've been ordered to attend. My father said you two and your families will be there as well. Why?"
"Our fathers are two of your father's clients. We were told it's a family affair, and we have to show up. Same as you."
Something tells me they won't be pimped out to further their father's careers.
The thought pisses me off all over again. "Look. I'm tired. I'm going to go take a nap."
Sebastian stops me with a hand on my chest, and I freeze. "Get your hand off me, or I'll rip off your goddamn arm."
He drops his hand. "Just do what your father says. You've been spotted with the girl multiple times. People think she's unsuitable. I don't want to see you or her get hurt."
I meet his eyes now, letting him see the flint and fire in mine. "Are you threatening her?"
"For fuck's sake, no. Like I said, I just don't want to see you hurt."
There's another tense moment where we all stare at each other. "What do you want from me, Sebastian?" I turn to look at him. This is his fault. He's the one who instigated it all.
"Just watch your fucking back. That's all I'm trying to say, but you're too goddamn pigheaded to listen."
"I don't fucking need your advice or help. I never asked for it. "The words burst out as if my body can't contain them anymore. "Can't I have one fucking thing that is mine? MINE!"
The outburst echoes through the room, and they both stare. I've admitted more than I wanted to, and I hate that so much.
I shove at Sebastian, and his arm comes up before I can block it, his fist connecting with my jaw. My head is whipped to the side from the blow, pain shooting through my nerves and bones. It shocks me but also brings me back to reality.
Once I'm sure I won't kill the asshole, I meet his eyes. "Going my father's route to control me now? Nice."
This time, he lets me go with a look of shame flashing in his eyes. The rage builds with every step I take, and by the time I reach my bedroom, I’m ready to explode.
What the fuck is happening? What is my father doing to control my friends, MY friends?
I scrub at my face and turn circles around my room, trying to calm the fuck down. A tightness enters my chest, cutting off my air supply, and I bend over, gasping, just trying to draw breath for a moment. I know this feeling. I’ve felt it before, but it’s been forever since I had a panic attack. The door to the bedroom opens, and a cool hand presses against the back of my neck. I smell the lemon verbena wafting off Lee, so I don't smack the hand away. Then a bag of ice brushes my fingers as he tucks it into my palm.
"For your face since we don’t want to ruin your pretty boy image. Bastian didn't mean it, okay? He was just angry like you were. It was a misunderstanding."
I straighten, slump against the bed, and hold the ice to my face. "Yeah, the first time my dad hit me, he called it an accident too. He didn't mean to do it. I just made him angry. Look at us now."
Lee stares down at me a moment, then sinks to the floor, crossing his legs. "We just want you safe from him, from this whole situation. We all know if you keep him happy, that’s one less day you'll come home with bruises. Besides, this isn't all about you. Something is going on with Sebastian too.”
I meet his gaze and hold it. "At the cost of what? What's the point if I have to give up every part of myself to keep him happy? Once you take it all, what is left for me? What will be the point then?”