Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
I take another sip of the drink instead of responding.
Stop drinking. We’re moving in.
I lower the glass and turn to face the window instead. Killian is on top of a man, beating his damn face in, blood splattering onto the mat. The man will probably die if no one stops him.
“Do you run this fight club?” I ask.
“Now what kind of bloody question is that?” Rami laughs. “Of course, I do! I’m Rami, the fucking Ripple Hills Monarch! All this is mine.”
“Ah.”
“Yeah. Make lots of rubies and gold from this little gig, too. Come,” Rami says, taking one of the recliners. He spreads his legs apart then pats his lap. “Why don’t you sit with me?”
I clear my throat. “I’m okay here.”
“Sit down. Now.” He continues a smile, despite the words coming out through gritted teeth. I start to set my drink on a nearby table, but he says, “No, no. Bring that with you. Wouldn’t want it going to waste, would we?”
Carrying it with me, I walk toward him and ease myself onto his lap. As I do, I feel Caz’s gun digging into my waist. “You like that, yeah?”
I fight the urge to vomit. There’s a pinch in my belly, but I focus on the fight. “My money’s on the one doing all the punching.”
“What? That darkie brute?” Rami laughs. “Eh, believe it or not, that fucker is from Blackwater. People are betting a lot of money on him.” Rami grabs one of my locs, twirling it around his fingers. I fight the urge to swat his hand away for touching my hair without permission. “Not only that, but he’s part of the monarch’s inner circle. And we’ve got him. The rubies and gold will be rolling in.”
“Is he the only one you have from Blackwater?”
Rami shakes his head. “No. There’s another, and she’s a delight.” Rami claps when a bell rings and Killian’s fight is over, though I’m sure no one can hear it but me. A man with a thick device in his hand escorts Killian off the stage. The end of the device lets off an electric current, and he places it on Killian’s back, tasing him while shouting at him. It’s just like the weapon Juniper had at Toman’s party
Rami looks at me, and I fidget on his lap. Pressing his fingers to the bottom of my glass, he forces the rim of the cup to my lips. “Drink up.”
I take another sip, and my stomach churns. The drink burns going down and my head spins, but I try to stay present.
Willow, stop drinking whatever he’s given you!
“He’s…he’s making me.”
“What was that?”
My eyes swing to Rami’s, but now I’m seeing double. I blink hard, hoping it’ll clear my vision. It doesn’t.
“Nothing. So…um…where is she? Juniper?”
Rami is quiet a second, glaring at me. “How do you know her name?”
I blink slowly, keeping my double-focus on Rami. He watches me carefully, then a slow smile spreads across his lips. “You think I don’t know who ya are?” His voice has changed. It’s deeper. Huskier. I drop the glass and it cracks, splintering on the floor. Rami’s hand comes to my throat, tightening, and I clutch at it as he forces me to look at him.
“You’re Caz’s dark little whore. There are pictures of ya leaving his pub. I saw ya with him and his clan, you dumb bitch. You think I’m stupid? That I’d just let someone like you back here? What the fuck are ya doing here? Where is he?”
“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about—”
Rami clutches my throat tighter and lifts me in the air before tossing me on the floor. I land on my back with a grunt, trying to get up, but it’s impossible. I’m dizzy now, my legs going numb. I can’t move them. He stalks toward me, sneering, revealing that red tooth dead in the center.
“You spyin’ for him?”
“N-no.”
“One thing I hate is a lying darkie.”
I weakly slide back on my elbows as he closes the gap between us. When he bends down to clutch my ankles, he drags me toward him and pins me down between his legs. I dig into the waistband for the gun, but he yanks it out of my hand and tosses it across the room.
“Stop!” I scream.
“Oh, now you want me to stop?” He’s grinning down at me. I take a swing at him, but he catches it and shoves my hand back down on the floor. His other hand strikes my face, a heavy slap, and my cheek stings so badly my eyes well with tears. “Be still!” he barks. “You dirty darkie bitch. I’ll teach you what happens when you work for Caz Harlow!”
“Caz!” I scream. “Caz! Now!” Take the stairs down. Red door! I’m here!
“Are you calling out for that filthy fucker?” Rami grins as he flips me onto my belly, and I try to fight him off, but I feel like I’m losing complete control of my body. I feel his hands tearing at my shorts and then my panties. He groans, as if pleased with what he sees, and I hear a buckle jingling. A zipper noise is next. No, no, no.