Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
He’s smoking, whistling a tune as he walks down the narrow passage. He frequents this hotel because every night, he hires a woman to visit him and then afterward goes out to the same bar. I know this because Eli owns the bar. And every time, he purchases the same amount of drugs.
I’m not going to judge someone for their habits, but what I won’t excuse is him touching another woman while giving Billie the idea that she’s something special to him.
Besides, I’m wildly pissed off that he ever touched her in the first place.
I’m unreasonable.
I’m spiteful.
And I’m entirely addicted to her, so I’m not in a place to share.
I drag a crowbar along the row of trash cans as steam creeps from the manhole covers.
He spins, finally noticing he’s not alone.
Sheer horror mars his features as he turns and quickens his pace. I match him step for step, with cool control, still dragging my crowbar.
Suddenly, he turns and holds his hands up. “I don’t know what this is about. I don’t want any trouble.”
I’ve never wanted anything for myself, and I’ve never ignored the restrictions and rules laid down by my family and Eli Monti.
But Billie Taylor has become a poison I can’t help but ingest, and I’ve learned that I’m not entirely a sane man when it comes to her. Now I just need to make sure this asshole never reaches out to her again.
It’s not my style to hide behind a mask. But it feels like the more I spiral in my need for Billie, the more addictive lies I’m willing to create for her.
That, and I don’t want my little visit getting back to Eli or Dutton.
Again, I’ve never done anything for myself, and even now, I feel like I’m betraying Eli. But I’ll do anything for her. It’s not her older brother she has to worry about anymore.
“Do you know who my family is?” he says nervously. “What do you want? Money? Is this about the recent smear campaign?”
I shake my head, taking great pleasure in the way his hand shakes.
Killing him will complicate things, and Eli will most certainly dig into the person behind it. So I choose to remain a faceless demon, terrifying enough to spook him and run him off from my woman.
He looks confused as he licks his lips. “Is this about the hooker?”
I shake my head slowly again.
His eyebrows dip, and I rub my crowbars against one another as if to warn him of my impatience. I can’t risk him recognizing my voice.
“Wait!” he shouts as I take a step forward. “Is this about the Monti family?”
I tilt my head to the side. He’s close. The dumbass sparks with a thought. “No? The Taylors? Billie Taylor?!”
I offer one curt nod, then place the tip of my crowbar at my throat and drag it along the skin as if slitting it—a clear warning.
His body trembles and his knees go weak and give out. He falls into a puddle. I stare down at him, wanting to put this fucker out of his misery. I can’t believe they actually thought this man was a good choice for her. He’s all talk, but when faced by a demon, he’ll throw anything or anyone out as a sacrifice. He’s the worst type of man and certainly not good enough to be by her side.
“You don’t want me near her?” he inquires quietly.
I nod again. Fucking idiot has some brain cells after all. The cigarette that fell out of his mouth smolders on the ground.
I imagine all the things I could do to this pitiful man. They called him powerful, but he’s nothing but a sheep in wolf’s skin, trying to play in a world he was never meant to be a part of. Sure, he can ruin someone’s reputation, but that means nothing to someone like me, who doesn’t give a fuck what others think.
But Billie has too much to lose, and I’m not willing to leave it to chance that he isn’t bold enough to target her after she so publicly rejected him.
“I won’t go near her, I swear.” He whimpers. “Please, just let me go.”
Let him go. My lip curls at the thought. I’ve never been good at catch and release. I hunt my prey, and I bring it back to my master. Then again, I’ve never acted of my own accord before. Not until now.
I care about her more than I’m able to express in words.
And I’ve never had much restraint when it came to my addictions.
But I force myself to take one step backward.
And then another, slowly backing down the alley, only turning away from the sniveling asshole when I’m a few feet from the street.
I may lack in restraint most of the time, but I can force it when I need to. To protect her. To not bring questions about her or our relationship.