Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
I back away from the door.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
I crawl back onto the bed as the handle opens, and a hand slowly pushes open the door.
My heart is racing in my throat.
Long black hair followed by a familiar handsome face peeks inside.
“Are you awake, darling?”
Blaine
I bring a bowl filled with strawberries and whipped cream inside. I’m not a great cook, but it’ll be a nice treat for her.
She’s huddled up on the bed like a scared animal hiding in plain sight.
“What do you want?”
I put down the bowl and say, “Brought you some strawberries.”
She swallows.
“Not interested.”
I make a face. “But you haven’t eaten since you arrived here.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Don’t lie to me, please,” I say. I approach the bed, but she backs away so much that I stop. “I know you’re mad at me.”
“Don’t.”
I frown. Her eyes are laced with fear, and it makes me apprehensive.
She glances at the locked door, and I step back, guarding it.
“Where is my phone?” she grits.
“I took it,” I say. “But it’s safe. I promise.”
“Lies,” she spits back.
“You won’t get it back. Ares’s orders.”
She rolls her eyes like she knew I was going to say that.
But I cannot let her out of this house. No matter how badly she wants to.
Ares’s wishes are my commands. That’s how it’s always been. That’s how it’ll be.
But perhaps …
I clear my throat and place something down on the cabinet, setting the strawberries on top. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
She ignores me completely, wistfully staring out the window like I mean nothing to her. And it hurts.
I throw her a glance and watch her sparkling green eyes with keen interest as they home in on my hand diving into my pocket. “I can’t kill him for you, if that’s what you want …” I take out her knife and place it on the cabinet next to the door, knowing the weight of the burden I’m placing on her. But I know she can take it. After all, she’s the one who’s slowly been wrapping three demons around that cute little finger of hers.
“Now be a good girl, darling, and eat those strawberries.”
ARES
“Glad we could do proper business again,” my father says, shaking the hand of the man in front of us.
“I’m happy to be able to sell my goods to your customers again,” the man says with a gleeful grin, his mouth full of gold teeth. “I’m sure they’ve been ravenous waiting for it.”
My father chuckles awkwardly.
“I’m sure,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Excuse me, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced,” the man says, holding out his hand to me. “Wayne Ferry.”
I glance at his hand and then his face.
“No, thanks. I don’t shake the hands of murderers.”
His face contorts into complete and utter shock, and to my delight, I find myself laughing.
“Ares!” my father barks.
“Are we done here?” I ask as I get up from my seat. “I have things to do.”
“Yes, I am,” Wayne says, shaking his head. “I’m done here. I’ll see myself out.”
“Apologies, Wayne,” Father says as he follows him out the door. “I am trying to involve my son in the business side of things. It’s not going as smoothly as I’d hoped. I do hope you’ll forgive his brazenness.”
“I’ll think about it,” Wayne says, throwing me a snooty look.
“You’ve done it now,” Kai whispers to me.
“Shut the fuck up,” I growl back.
He shrugs as Dad closes the door again.
“Ares … That was uncalled for.”
“I don’t know why you keep wanting me at these meetings when you have him,” I say, nodding at Kai.
“Because you’re my son, and I’m the man who owns this company that provides the wealth you indulge yourself in,” he says, still holding the doorknob. “You’d do well to remember that.”
“You should try not to piss off his clients,” Kai whispers. “Even the fucked-up ones.”
“They aren’t fucking clients. They’re drug-dealing murderers who are using Dad’s customers to earn blood money.”
“Ares,” my father hisses.
“No, I’m not gonna sit here and pretend they’re esteemed businessmen when all they are is petty criminals.”
My father slams the light switch. “ARES! How many times do I have to tell you to fucking behave?” His nostrils flare. “One fucking day in the week. You couldn’t give me one day of your obedience.”
“I am not your fucking pet,” I growl back.
“You’re my fucking son, and I expect you to act like it.”
“Right …” I scoff. “The same way you’ve been behaving as a proper dad, you mean?”
“Fuck,” Kai grits. “For fuck’s sake, just apologize and be done with it.”
“No.”
I’m not going to sit here and pretend we’re holy when we’re not.
“You already made up your mind,” I tell my dad. “You don’t need me here.”
When I get up, he growls, “Sit. Down.”
I slowly back down again even though I hate listening to anyone, let alone him. But if I don’t … he’ll make me.