Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
I only need to get to the door. That’s it. I have a general idea of the direction of town, even if it is miles away. Once I get to the road, though, I might be able to flag down a passing vehicle. That’s my only hope. First, getting past him, which right now seems as likely as outrunning a bear.
“You’re the problem,” he whispers, his hate-filled eyes burning holes through me. I shrink back into the cushion. “You’ve always been the problem.”
There is so much hatred in him, so much rage, and when he looks at me, I understand one thing with crystal-clear certainty—he would kill me if he could.
Whatever is in him, whatever is in control now, wants me dead.
The man before me, the man who wiped my tears, gave me my first kiss, and protected me for years, is the complete opposite of Ren at this moment. All of Ren’s love, protectiveness, and devotion have been twisted into something that seems downright demonic in comparison.
“Listen to me. I know you’re still in there. I know you still love me.”
“Would you shut the fuck up? God, this stupid fucking bitch never stops talking and is always in the way. I told him. I fucking told him what happens when you get women involved in things, but did he want to listen, did he? No,” he barks, lunging almost like he wants to bite my face like a rabid dog. “No, he thought he knew better. Thought loving you would make him whole, would stop him from falling off the deep end. Would keep his humanity in check. He always thinks he knows best, but he doesn’t.”
He’s completely lost it. It’s only when I register the wetness on my cheeks that I realize I’m crying again. My breath comes in hitching sobs, every muscle of my body tense, prepared to flee. But I have to get past him first, don’t I?
“Shhh, it’s okay. We can talk this out.”
“What is there to talk about?” he screams, pressing me into the corner of the couch. My eyes dart around wildly, my survival instinct kicking in on the heels of a fresh wave of adrenaline. He wants to hurt me. He’s going to hurt me, that crazy light in his eyes and his empty, soulless smile speaking of unfathomable pain and destruction.
“Please,” I sob, gripped by panic and the growing certainty he wants me dead. “Please, it’s me. Remember us. Remember everything we have and what we’ve been through.”
“Who is we? We don’t have shit.”
“That isn’t true. We have so much. We always have. Please, don’t forget that.”
He cuts me off, a hand wrapped around my throat, a hand which tightens until pressure builds in my head, and even pulling in a sip of air is a struggle.
His face becomes a mask of stony loathing, eyes hard and sharp as flint that glows with a murderous light.
“You’re in the way. You’re the problem.” He says it like he’s finally figured out something plaguing him. “It’s all about you. Things were fine before you came into the picture. Once I’m rid of you, he’ll be mine again. And we can do this together. We can hit our goal.”
“Who?” I squeak out, my heart fluttering and my body screaming to run, fight, escape.
Leaning in, he growls in my face. “Who do you think? Ren. Your precious fucking Ren.”
One moment, my heart beats heavily against my rib cage; the next, it simply stops beating. I can hardly breathe. I almost forget everything in favor of searching his once familiar eyes, looking for the truth.
That can’t be right. I must have misheard him. That’s the only explanation. It’s Ren’s hand around my throat, and Ren’s body pressed against mine. His presence, his scent, the depth of his eyes, and even the tiny freckle on his nose. This is Ren.
“But you’re Ren,” I whisper. “You are.”
It hits me all at once, cold certainty settling into my bones before he even says a word.
“Are you fucking blind?” He barks out an unhinged laugh. “I’m sorry, princess, but Ren isn’t home right now. All you get is me.”
Oh my god.
All this time.
I missed it all this time. How could I have missed it?
Every clue, every hint. The mood swings, all of it, every memory comes rushing back at once, flooding my fragile mind. It’s all so clear. I could give up here and now and let him do what he plans because, dammit, I’ve been so stupid. But I can’t. I won’t. I’m stronger than that.
“You’re River,” I breathe, and it isn’t a question.
He smiles and even inclines his head. “In the flesh. And once you’re out of the way, he has no reason to fight me anymore.”
Then he squeezes, his fingers pressing hard. The force bruises, and there’s no question where this will end unless I do something. Now.