Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Or hear you.
Goose bumps prickle the back of my neck as I shove my hands into my suit pockets. Fucking hate wearing this thing. It’s definitely something I will need to get used to. If ever.
Wu-Tang thumps through the speakers, and little lights hang above in the trees before leading toward the jetty. The yard spreads out wide enough to not seem so congested, but there aren’t that many people here. It’s clearly an invite-only party.
My eyes land on Poppy, who’s sitting on a lounge chair beneath a large tree, laughing at whatever that girl who is sitting beside her just said. I know who it is, Betty Peterson, a.k.a. Ruby’s BFF. The music isn’t loud, but there’s an air of uncertainty that hovers over the space. I still don’t know why Victor called this party, but I’m sure that by the end of it, we will all know.
“You know you’re painfully obvious…” she says from behind me. Clearly, she’s drunk. Her voice slow and dripping with liquor. She must come closer because I can feel the heat of her body on my back. I keep my eyes on Poppy. Sure, I’d jump in front of a bullet for the brat behind me, but my sister is still my priority. “How does it feel to not have control of me here?” She’s drunk. Too drunk.
I follow her slow movements as she rounds the front of me, taking the step down and looking up at me from a bent head. On any other occasion, I’d fuck the stupid out of her, but right now, she’s just pissing me off.
Her swollen lips wrap around the top of the bottle, and I watch as she tilts her head back and swallows.
Without unlocking my eyes from her, I reach for the frosted glass of Grey Goose, removing it from her hands.
“Hey!” she whines, reaching for it.
I pull it away from her, stopping her body with my own. “You’ve had enough.”
“No—I—”
“You—” I grip her from around her tiny chin, forcing her eyes up on mine. “Have had enough.” She’s annoying me because while I should be watching Poppy, her drunk stupor has me distracted. Yeah, Ruby is hot. Yeah, I will enjoy leaving my marks on her any time I get, and yes, I know how fucked up I am because I took her virginity fully knowing that the girl could end up being a grade-A clinger, but right now, I don’t want to deal with her.
Her frown dissolves and a slow curl of a smile touches the corner of her lip as she looks around my body. “Are you sure you want to boss me around?” Whatever the fuck she’s looking at has her feeling bold. “This is my cousin.” She leans around me and drags the body of whoever he is down the step where she’s standing. He has blond curly hair, tanned skin, and a build that honestly is unimpressive.
“Am I supposed to be scared?” I ask her, not bothering to pay him any attention.
“Yeah, ahhh… You’re on your own…” And even though I don’t know him, he clearly knows me. The boy leans in, kissing her on the cheek and disappearing through the sea of people. I can see out of the corner of my eye the times he looks back to me but carries on doing what he’s doing.
“What the fuck?” Ruby spins around, following her cousin. “He’s usually so protective over me.”
I shove her out of the way. “Just so you know…” I cock my head to the side and trace my eyes all over her body. From her face, down to her tits, past her semi-exposed belly, and down her legs, before coming back up and meeting her at eye level. “I’m not here for you.” Her smile falls slightly, and I carry on through the bed of people, needing to get to Poppy. When I look back to the spot I saw Poppy moments ago, she’s gone, and Betty has her tongue down some idiot’s throat.
I take heavy steps toward the tree, grabbing the guy’s shirt from his collar and shoving him backward and off Betty.
“What the fuck, man?” He runs his hand over his hair.
Betty’s eyes come to mine. “Oh, hey.”
“Where’s Poppy?”
Her eyes dart over my shoulder as she uncrosses her legs while shoving her skirt back down. I don’t care for Betty much, but she and Ruby are basically sisters, so Victor did tell me that I was to watch out for her too. Not to the extent that I go out of my way, but at least if she looks distressed. Hard pass and probably won’t do it, but whatever.
“She was right here…” She turns toward the now empty spot, her brows curving in, confused. Pushing up from her chair, she stands and starts twisting and turning, scanning the area. “She was just here.”