Natalie Bennett – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Natalie Bennett – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:02:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.books2020.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Natalie Bennett – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com 32 32 Insanium – Devil’s Playground Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/insanium-devils-playground-read-online-natalie-bennett Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:02:38 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/insanium-devils-playground-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Dark Authors: Natalie Bennett Advertisement

Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)

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I’m more than a pretty face with a bloodied axe.
In riddles and rhymes, my story tracks.
Before the Playground, I played somewhere worse.
Madness was holy and pleasure a curse.

It’s where I found them.

Three beautiful monsters wrapped in sin,
Grins like knives and violence beneath the skin.

They weren’t part of the plan.
But they made vows in blood,
Whispered devotions through gritted teeth,
And crowned me their queen without needing a throne.

Of course, I kept them as my own.

Three psychos are better than one.
Especially when the killing’s half the fun.

NOTE
This a standalone dark reverse harem novella set before the events of the Devil’s Playground series and can be read completely on its own without any prior reading

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Three of my favorite toys were sprawled out before me, each flaunting a distinct allure and deadly charm.

One gleamed a playful pink with a serrated edge, flashy and bold.

The second, draped in midnight blue, boasted captivating skeletal motifs that danced along its blade and handle.

The third was a sleek, purple number, its design aerodynamic and menacing, promising swift, precise strikes.

I wished I could take them all; choosing just one felt akin to picking a favorite star in the vast darkness above, and the others would surely feel neglected. Lost in contemplation, I was yanked back to reality by a soft knock at my door.

“Come in,” I sang, injecting a cheerful tone into my voice.

The door creaked open to reveal both of my brothers. Their gazes quickly fixated on the trio of knives laid out on my bed, catching the light from the afternoon sun streaming in through the balcony.

“You two are just in time. As you can see, I’ve got a bit of a dilemma here.”

Charon approached first, his attention still on the uniquely decorated blades. “Like participating in Judicium?”

“Aw, are you worried about me?” I smiled up at him, feeling touched. “That’s not an issue.”

“I’m more worried about everyone else, Kenzie. You know you can’t just go slicing into anyone who annoys you just by breathing too heavily, right? We need some of those people in one piece.”

I frowned at his obvious deflection. “Don’t act like I can’t play nice with others.”

“Can you?”

“You just wait and see. I’m gonna be the best team player that ever played the game.”

He laughed and shook his head. “There are no teams, Kenzie. Trust your judgment for alliances, but you shouldn’t try to make friends too quickly, either.”

I shrugged. “You know, making enemies can be just as fun.”

I looked back at my knives and then at my kind-hearted big brother again. “But say someone does do something I don’t like. Then what?”

“Maybe they have an unfortunate accident. Or maybe they make it through, and we’ll be waiting for them where they least expect it,” Kyrous answered.

“I can deal with that,” I conceded. “You think there will be anyone cute there?”

Charon’s expression tightened. “Please, remember we’re going to be watching. I may have a strong gut, but there are some things I don’t need to see.”

Right. How could I forget that they would be able to see almost everything that was about to happen? Things were sure to get awkward real fast. Not for me, of course, but I wasn’t as prudish as these two refined gentlemen. “But what if I get lonely?” I asked with a pout.

“Then give us a sign or something, Kenzie. Fuck.”

“And make sure he or she is worthy,” Ky added. “You know what will happen if they aren’t.”

Oh, I certainly did. I laughed, returning my attention to my bedspread and clapping my hands together. “Okay, now help me pick.”

“They all cut the same. Choose the one that feels right,” Charon advised.

I picked up the blue knife, its skeletal design resonating with my current mood. “It’s not just about the cut,” I mused. “It’s about the statement it makes when I finally get to use it.”

Kyrous pushed off from my ornate dresser and stepped closer, his expression growing serious. “The pink one is playful and unexpected, good for a shock factor. The purple, sleek and fast for a clean strike. But the blue”—he paused, taking it from my hand to examine the intricate skeletons—“is bold. Morbid. It fits the game you’re about to play.”

Charon nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied my pretty toys. I held my hand out and gently grasped the blue knife, taking it back from Ky, its weight familiar and comforting. “I think this is the one.”

With that settled, I could get to the bottom of why these two had come to find me.

If it weren’t for today being my last day home for a while, it wouldn’t have been that unusual. We always hung out when they weren’t off planning world domination with our cousin and their gorgeous specimen of a best friend. And I never minded their company. The twins were among my favorite people to walk this big, rounded earth. Second in line after our mother dearest, and right before our adoptive father, who was one spot ahead of our cousin Ciaran. The best damn friends a girl could ask for completed the list just after Maverick. Dolly Parton had an honorary placement right beneath them. I didn’t know her, of course, but I liked to pretend I did.

“Now, I know you guys love me and everything, but I’m guessing you didn’t come in here to remind me of that.”

“We came to get one last look at you before Judicium,” Ky replied.

“Really? I didn’t think I was going to be offered a makeover.”

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Advertisement Tag (Game of Crows #1) Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/tag-game-of-crows-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:56:24 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/tag-game-of-crows-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, College, Dark, Suspense Authors: Natalie Bennett Series: Game of Crows Series by Natalie Bennett
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Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >186

The Hunt was supposed to be harmless.
A Crowsfell University tradition.
This year, someone changed the rules.

It felt like a joke until the cryptic texts turned into threats, and masked figures started lurking in the shadows.

Now, my friends and I are trapped in a game we never agreed to play.
Secrets are surfacing, tensions are rising, and the line between trust and betrayal is blurring faster than I can keep up.

Then there’s Ryder Voss.
My best friend. My anchor. The one person who’s always been there.
The golden boy hiding far too much darkness.

He isn’t just protective anymore, he’s relentless.
The more things spiral, the more possessive he gets.

I crave his obsession as much as I fear it.
Because if the boy who’s always saved me decides to ruin me?
I’ll let him.

None of us are ready for what’s coming.
And without him, I don’t stand a chance.

About the book
TAG is the first part of a dark, slasher-inspired romance duet, set within the elite world of Crowsfell University.
A slow-burn with morally grey characters, forbidden tension, and a web of secrets and lies

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

PROLOGUE

10310214

I know what you did.

I had been ignoring these texts for two weeks. Cryptic, taunting messages from unknown numbers. I thought it was a prank, someone messing with me. It didn’t take long for me to realize this wasn't some kind of perverse joke. Whoever was texting my phone seemed to take great joy in my misery and paranoia, like we were playing a game.

10310214

Are you ready?

The latest message glared back at me as I sat on the Crawfords’ couch, scrolling through Netflix in an attempt to drown out my thoughts. They were deviating from their usual taunts, and that worried me. I looked toward the staircase and listened for any signs of movement. I had tucked Esther in two hours ago, so she should have been sleeping peacefully, tucked under her pink quilt with her stuffed bunny, oblivious to the dark, messy world adults lived in. She didn’t deserve to grow up in a house of lies. I didn’t deserve to be sitting there.

The Crawfords were at some fancy convention dinner, their lives perfectly polished to match their immaculate home. Gianna was nothing but warmth and the kind of kindness I swore couldn’t be real. Mickey had the effortless charm of your typical CEO. They were a gorgeous couple. Only I knew the cracks beneath the surface. Or maybe I was the crack, the irreparable blot in their picture-perfect life.

My phone buzzed again, forcing me back to my current reality.

1224310704

You’ve been tagged.

“Tagged?” I shook my head with a bitter laugh and backed out of the thread as another text came in, refusing to read it. I was on the verge of losing my mind. I tossed the phone onto the coffee table and stood up, needing to move, to do something other than sit there. I headed for the kitchen, my thoughts windmilling. How could anyone know my secret unless I told them? Mick certainly wasn't going to announce he'd fucked me all over this house for seven of the eight months I had been babysitting his six-year-old daughter. And there was no way Gianna was aware of anything. She would've taken him to the cleaners, and I would be out of a job that came with room and board.

I grabbed a glass and filled it from the sink. The cold water was heavenly as it slid down my throat, but it didn’t wash away the creeping sense of anxiety. I needed to pull myself together. I tilted my head back and ran my hand through my hair, freezing when I heard a light tapping sound. I swiftly turned, eyes darting to both doorways.

“Esther?”

I took a slow step forward, my bare feet shuffling over the polished floor. The tapping came again, a little shorter this time, followed by a soft thud.

“Es, is that you?”

Getting no response, my grip on the glass tightened. Was someone in the house? No, that was impossible.

The Crawfords' security system was set to alert when any door or window opened and announced when someone was approaching. If anyone were inside with me, they would've had to of been here almost all day. I waited expectantly for the sound to come again, sighing when the silence stretched.

“Get a grip,” I whispered harshly.

All of this is because someone may have miraculously uncovered my deceit. Regret gnawed at me, guilt right on its heels. Neither was strong enough for me to end the arrangement with Mickey. I was under no illusions when it came to our relationship. One day we would have to stop, but if I had my way, it wasn’t going to be anytime soon because although I did feel a bit guilty, the pros outweighed the cons. Sex was off the charts. The extra padding in my bank account was a nice bonus, too.

Mick wasn’t close to ending what we had either. He loved the thrill of it all, his perfect wife and slutty mistress under one roof. There were shared looks when we all ate dinner. Sometimes when they were having a pool day, he’d find an excuse to come inside, and then we’d fuck fast and hard in my bathroom. More often than not, he crept into my room at night while Gianna was sleeping right down the hall. We made a game of how quiet I could be.

I knew the ever-regal Ginna Sterling wasn’t letting him fuck her ass. I gave him all the things she wouldn’t and never pressured the man to leave her for me. I wasn’t a fool. Mick wanted to get his dick wet with his kid’s nanny, not blow up his life. I didn’t mind that at all. It was a win-win situation for both of us right now. I wasn’t going to let some rando behind a screen ruin it for me.

I turned to set the glass down, and the tapping came again. This time it was much closer than before. I whirled around.

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Advertisement Sins of Autumn (Nightmares of Nevermore #1) Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/sins-of-autumn-nightmares-of-nevermore-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:51:05 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/sins-of-autumn-nightmares-of-nevermore-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Crime, Dark, Novella, Suspense Authors: Natalie Bennett Series: Nightmares of Nevermore Series by Natalie Bennett
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Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >54

I fell madly in love with a nightmare.I thought I knew him. Wilder Carson—the man who chased me through high school, who promised me forever and the world. That was before I saw the texts and the photos that unraveled everything I believed.
When my friends and I escaped to a remote cabin for some much-needed TLC, I thought I was leaving the chaos behind.
I was wrong.
The knocks on the door and the masked figures lurking in the shadows are not random. They’re calculated. And somehow, they’re connected to him.
Now, I’m not just questioning if I ever knew the man I loved.
I’m questioning if I’ll make it out alive because his dark promises weren’t just words.
They were warnings.

Author's Note
This book is part of the Nightmares of Nevermore series, a collection of standalone dark horror romance stories. While each book is interconnected through shared themes of obsession, betrayal, and survival, they can be read in any order.
These stories contain mature themes and content that may be disturbing to some readers. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

It was the kind of half-conscious awareness where dreams and reality were blurred. The room was completely dark aside from the distant city lights reflecting off the floor-to-ceiling windows. I lay there for a minute, my body feeling heavy, languid from sleep, and the delicious soreness that had helped put me to bed.

My skin prickled with awareness, and I turned my head, my gaze clashing with Wilder’s. He was propped up on one elbow, his hazel eyes fixed on me, unblinking and burning with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

“How long have you been awake?” I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.

“Long enough.” His fingers brushed against my cheek.

The touch was light, like he was afraid I might vanish if he pressed too hard. “You’re beautiful when you sleep.”

“Is that what you’ve been doing? Watching me sleep?”

“I love watching you.”

I laughed softly. “You sound like a stalker.”

“I am.” His lips curled into a faint smile. “But you’re the only woman worth watching.”

His words made my stomach twist in the maddening way only he could, warmth blooming under my skin at his attention. There was something unshakable about the way he looked at me, like I was the center of his world, the axis his entire existence spun around. It was suffocating, overwhelming… and impossible to resist. I glanced across the room and saw it was only a little after 1 AM.

With a sigh, I closed my eyes and dragged the comforter higher, aware of how bare I was beneath.

After a minute or two, I laughed. “You’re still staring,” I rasped, though the complaint lacked any real bite.

“I can’t help it.” His voice dipped lower, his fingers trailing down my arm, igniting a path of heat as they went.

I opened my eyes and smiled at him. One would think that I’d be used to this by now, but he still easily made my heart race with just a look. He leaned down, his soft lips brushing against mine. The kiss started soft, almost tender, but it didn’t stay that way long.

His hand moved to cradle the back of my neck, holding me in place with a fervor that left me breathless. Every stroke of his tongue was a reminder that I was his. He pulled back just enough to whisper against my lips, his breath warm and heavy. “I need you.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Again? We just—”

He cut me off with a wolfish grin, the kind that always sent my pulse skittering. “Don’t act like you don’t want me just as badly.”

Before I could argue that while that was true, he’d already fucked me twice, his lips were on mine again.

His hands slid down my body, the bedding tangling around us as he shoved it away. The cool air hit my skin, quickly replaced by his warmth.

His mouth trailed down my neck, lingering on the sensitive spot just below my ear before moving lower. He kissed a slow path down my collarbone, his lips and tongue working in tandem to drive me insane. When he reached the curve of my stomach, my body was already trembling beneath him.

“Wilder,” I whispered, but whatever protest I might’ve had dissolved the moment his mouth found its way between my thighs.

His tongue was slow at first, deliberate, teasing, as he licked me from top to bottom.

The sound I made was more of a gasp than a moan, my back arching off the bed as his lips sealed around my clit. He was relentless, his tongue moving in rapid, precise strokes.

His beautiful eyes met mine, a predatory smile playing on his lips. He knew exactly what he was doing. The control he had over my body was exhilarating. He moved his head back and forth, covering my entire pussy with his magical mouth.

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Advertisement Queen of Vice (Old Money Empire #1) Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/queen-of-vice-old-money-empire-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Mon, 21 Oct 2024 11:27:47 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/queen-of-vice-old-money-empire-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Dark Authors: Natalie Bennett Series: Old Money Empire Series by Natalie Bennett
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Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >76

Nothing’s what it seems.
Escape is just another broken dream.

In a city where vice and corruption reign, my life has become a nightmare.
With no one to turn to, I'm left with only one option—the man I should avoid at all costs.

Mateo Escuro.

The infamous crime lord who controls this city and everything in it, is now my only hope.

He promises to help me, but his terms aren’t I must become his wife—in every sense of the word.

He is ruthless, unpredictable, and dangerously possessive.

As our twisted relationship intensifies, secrets from my past start to unravel, and I realize just how deeply Mateo is entangled in my family’s history. To survive this, I’ll have to surrender to him completely.

But in a world built on lies and deceit, surrendering to him might mean more than losing myself—it could cost me everything.

PLEASE NOTE
Queen of Vice is the first book in a duet, replacing the Old Money Trilogy. This is not a new release, but an updated version of Queen of Diamonds with significant changes and a full rewrite. Queen of Vice is a dark romance featuring a morally black mmc. This story isn't for the faint of heart. Reader discretion is highly advised. A CW can be located in the back of the book.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Elena

If you have a gut feeling that something is off about a person or situation, listen to it. Most of the time, your intuition is trying to warn you and paying attention to it can prevent future regrets. Believe me, I wish I had followed my own advice. But even if I had, I'm not sure it would have made any difference.

1 week prior

Despite the oppressive humidity, a chill ran down my spine, alerting me that something was wrong. As I rushed towards the worn bungalow with its shabby shingles and creaky wooden stairs, the feeling only intensified.

It was already past four in the morning, so there shouldn't have been anyone awake. However, every light in the house was on, causing a sense of unease to wash over me. The hairs on my arms stood on end as I became acutely aware of being watched. I stopped and looked around cautiously, but the street was deserted except for a few stray cats seeking shelter on the porch of the abandoned house next door.

With a deep breath, I quickened my pace. Walking home always made me nervous, especially in this sketchy neighborhood. But I had no other choice--my car had a flat tire and without a spare, walking was my only option if I wanted to keep my job. Balancing precariously between getting by and utter poverty, I didn't have the luxury of choice. As I passed through the rusty gate and made my way up the pathway, I scanned for any signs of danger.

Fishing my keys out of my pocket, I inserted the one for the front door into the lock and to my surprise, it wasn’t locked. Alarm bells started ringing in my head--this was not the kind of neighborhood you made the mistake of leaving your door open in. I twisted the handle and pushed hard, but the door wouldn't budge. It was definitely blocked by something. I knocked twice, hoping for a response, but there was nothing. I made my way quickly to the other side of the house, my heart racing as I reached the back. I froze the moment I saw the splintered doorframe.

There was no sound coming from inside, just an eerie silence. With cautious steps, I pulled out my cellphone from my bag and prepared myself for what I might find inside. I knew now that something was definitely wrong. Despite the urge to call the police, I remembered the warnings instilled in me since childhood: never involve the local law enforcement if things go awry.

I stood in the doorway of the kitchen, taking in the chaos. The fridge was pulled out from its usual spot, with its contents scattered across the floor. Dishes were broken and groceries were spilled from the cabinets. Creeping around the disrepair, I headed to the living room. Everything was overturned. Couch cushions were ripped apart and the TV screen was shattered. The loveseat frame had been torn apart, blocking the front door. As I walked towards the hallway, I made sure not to step on any of our tiny goldfish that lay lifeless on the soggy Berber carpet. Their once-golden bellies were now a pale white color.

I passed by our tiny bathroom, and couldn't help but glance inside, half expecting to find someone lurking in the shadows. Like all the other rooms, it had been vandalized - the small mirror was shattered and the curtain rod ripped from its place. I swallowed hard and quickly turned my attention away, knowing that my room had probably suffered a similar fate.

With trembling hands, I pushed my aunt's bedroom door open further, hesitant to see what lay beyond. The scent of tobacco, perspiration, and...something metallic filled my nostrils. My gaze fell upon the figure on the bed, and a guttural cry escaped my lips as I struggled to process what was before me. Her nightgown was ripped to shreds, barely clinging to her body. Her skin was covered in deep purple bruises, and it seemed as if her entire left side had caved in. I quickly backed away, bumping into the wall behind me in my rush to flee the room. I tripped twice, forcing myself to swallow back the sour taste of bile rising in my throat.

“This can’t be real,” gasped for air. My trembling hands fumbled with my phone's screen as I scrolled through my contacts, struggling to see through the blur of tears. It took me three attempts to locate the name of the one person I had desperately hoped I would never have to reach out to. It was on the second ring a fresh wave of dread washed over me.

I had no idea where my sister was.

CHAPTER TWO

present

Funerals aren’t for the dead.

Think about it. Why would the deceased care what color their casket is or how many people showed up to see them off? Funerals were nothing more than social gatherings for those of us left behind after someone passed on. Being here, this whole ordeal was supposed to offer closure, a final goodbye. To me, it felt like a cruel reminder of the void that had been left in my life. The empty chair at the dinner table, the voice that I would no longer hear.

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Advertisement Semper (Stygian Isles #2) Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/semper-stygian-isles-2-read-online-natalie-bennett Sat, 05 Oct 2024 02:30:56 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/semper-stygian-isles-2-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Dark Authors: Natalie Bennett Series: Stygian Isles Series by Natalie Bennett
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Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >140

His claim.
My undoing.

I remain captive on an island where the powerful bend reality to serve their deepest, most twisted desires, and obedience is not just expected—it’s survival.
Here, in this hierarchy of shadows, I am bound to the Devil of the Isle.
And our connection runs deeper than I could have ever imagined.
As we spiral further into the abyss of darkness and depravity, I am left with an impossible choice. Surrender to his world completely, or risk everything for a freedom I may never truly grasp.
Captor and captive.
Sin and salvation.
In the end, only one of us will emerge unscathed.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Waking up without him on top of me felt strangely wrong. It was a disruption of the twisted routine into which we had fallen. Every morning, without fail, Alexander found his way between my legs, staking his claim before the day even began. The absence of his touch wasn’t exactly a relief.

As I shifted, a dull ache in my lower abdomen pulled me back to reality, and I became acutely aware of the dampness beneath me.

Motherfucker.

No—wait, this was a good thing.

Of all the complications swirling around me, my period arriving wasn’t high on my list of problems, but in a way, it was a small victory. Alexander had made it clear he wanted me only for himself before reducing me to a barefoot, pregnant cliché. Yet, I was dutifully drinking fertility smoothies and swallowing pills every morning to increase my chances of conceiving.

And he was insatiable.

His desire for me was both exhilarating and exhausting, leaving me feeling simultaneously desired and objectified. When he wasn’t hard, he used his hands and mouth to keep my body pliant until he could fuck me again. I knew some of this soreness I was feeling had everything to do with him. The irony of the situation was almost comical, but it also made me want to cry. I carefully sat up, clutching the comforter to my body to hide my nakedness.

The feeling of stickiness beneath me only added to the grossness of the whole situation. My cycles were short and never lasted more than four days, but they always managed to be messy and brutal. Every movement felt like a chore as I slowly swung my legs over the side of the bed. The door suddenly creaked open, and my stomach pooled with a mix of dread and surprise when Alexander stepped into the room. His presence filled every inch of the space, his stature commanding as ever.

The first time I had woken up, the sun had yet to fully rise. Now, he stood before me, dressed in a tailored black suit that hugged his well-defined muscles. A crisp white undershirt peeked out from beneath the jacket, contrasting starkly against the dark hues of his attire. His tie, a deep shade of burgundy, added a touch of color to the otherwise monochromatic outfit.

His dark hair was perfectly styled, adding to his imposing yet undeniably attractive appearance. Even the faint scar on the right side of his face, which I was beginning to see as a symbol of his complex past, added to his charm.

"Good morning, beautiful," he greeted me as he closed the distance between us, his steps slowing as he studied my face. "What's wrong?" he asked, his tone gentle yet probing. I tried to respond, but no words would come out. His unwavering gaze searched for an explanation as I clutched the blanket tighter around me.

"I...um," I stammered, feeling humiliated and vulnerable. It wasn’t just the physical discomfort; it was the emotional exposure. Periods were natural—I knew that—but I’d never openly discussed them with men. I hadn’t done much of anything with men in general before all of this. Now there I was, trying to explain my discomfort to the very man who had brought me to his home without my consent.

He reached out, his fingers grazing my cheek with a possessive touch. "You're menstruating," he stated bluntly, his tone devoid of any emotion.

I flinched, both from the unexpected contact and his unnerving perception. How could he always see right through me?

His lips curved into a slight smile as he noticed my shock, his amusement evident in his eyes. "Despite everything we've been through, you still doubt that I know every detail about you?" There was no sign of mockery, just a simple acknowledgment as if this were a casual conversation between us.

I sighed softly and shook my head. “No, I guess I don’t. Or rather I shouldn’t. Sorry.”

"There's no need to apologize, deliciae. You're still learning what it means to be in a relationship like ours," he reassured me in a soft voice. "Wait there a moment." His command was gentle yet firm.

I watched him disappear into the bathroom, and moments later, the sound of rushing water cascaded into the room. Was it the shower or the bath? Either way, I was grateful for the gesture. The warmth of the water always seemed to ease my cramps. When Alexander re-entered the bedroom, he carried himself with a sense of thoughtfulness that I had yet to fully comprehend.

He approached my side of the bed, and without hesitation, I sat up straighter, keenly aware of my disheveled state. In one graceful movement, he pulled back the comforter and then, with gentle hands, lifted me up and carried me toward the bathroom.

"I-I don't need your help," I objected, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tremors of shame coursing through me.

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Advertisement Daemonium – Devil’s Playground Four Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/daemonium-devils-playground-four-read-online-natalie-bennett Mon, 23 Sep 2024 09:21:03 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/daemonium-devils-playground-four-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Dark, New Adult Authors: Natalie Bennett Advertisement

Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >72

Sweet and Psycho dig two graves...

Book three in the Devil's Playground series.
Release date to come forward.
*This is a standalone, but all books should be read in order.*

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

The scent of blood lingered in the air, a familiar odor that always made me feel queasy. It seemed to seep into every corner of the room, radiating from the pile of rags that had been dumped in a silver drum on the far side of the room. The metal arrow pulled from Mel’s chest was buried beneath them. Brody—the tall, curly-haired guy who’d driven like a bat out of hell to get her here—had shoved some type of pain pill down her throat seconds before the others had begun playing operation.

He swore they were meant to alleviate her pain. I didn’t know him well enough to take any of his promises at face value.

If being an unwilling contestant in this screwed-up game had taught me anything, it was to trust few and doubt everyone. Either Brody genuinely wished us no harm, or he wanted us dead.

I was choosing to give him the benefit of the doubt since he was the one who ultimately sewed my best friend back together with utmost care. He was also helping the guys, and they wouldn’t have let just anyone in on their plans. We weren’t even in the know. At least not fully. I looked Mel over just long enough to check if her condition had worsened. She was lying on a small loveseat that had been placed near the back wall of the warehouse. Her eyes were closed, her porcelain skin a paler shade than usual.

Brody had covered her up with his hoodie, and Maverick had replaced her bloodied top with his, so the bandaged area wasn’t visible.

She’d done an incredible job of keeping her composure once we arrived here. Other than an occasional hiss through clenched teeth and enough swearing to make a sailor red in the face, there wasn’t a single indication of how badly she was hurting. Not when the arrow was being pulled free, or as her wound was disinfected and sutured.

I hoped with everything I had that she received the healing energy I was sending, ignoring the pessimistic voice inside my head that insisted life didn’t work like that. It was the only thing I could do for her right then. As I huddled deeper into the corner of the sofa, I couldn’t remember a time I had ever felt more useless. The way I was feeling all around was foreign to me. I could barely think straight.

It had been more than twenty-four hours since I was injected with Helios. Now that the effects were fading, I was left with an empty, hollowed-out feeling. The neon-colored drug had temporarily fortified a brutal hold over my senses, amplifying everything ugly and bad just as I had begun to regain my memories.

I’d never been so angry. Worse was the raw, unyielding sense of betrayal. Helios twisted it all into a bloodthirsty rage. I got a reprieve after removing Troye Sainte’s head. That was also the exact moment I knew something was seriously wrong with me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have felt ecstatic about decapitating a man I once considered a friend.

I wasn’t here because I wanted to be. I didn’t find this thrilling or have any desire to make it my new sick hobby. I was here, forced to kill because I had no other choice if I wanted to keep me and my friends alive.

Now I had this mess in my head to deal with as well.

It all started back at the asylum. Being confined in that cramped, sterile room started to shatter a mental barrier that I didn't know existed until I was held down and injected with a drug that splintered it even further.

The inner workings of my mind were now fragmented, like a puzzle with mismatched pieces that couldn't fit together. Some memories remained clear and vivid, while others were frustratingly fuzzy.

Everything I had learned since reuniting with Liliana and Melantha left me feeling even more confused and conflicted. The longer I dwelled on these emotions, the stronger the urge became to unleash them in a loud scream.

But I couldn't do that.

I needed to keep myself together, for my own sake and for Lana, Mel, and even Dion.

So far, none of them showed any signs of remembering anything, or at least If they had they were choosing to keep it to themselves. I understood the reasons behind their silence; I was struggling with those same thoughts. I longed for clarity, but I couldn't risk jeopardizing the fragile bond that held our group together.

It pained me to have secrets from my friends, even if they were necessary in this twisted game we found ourselves in. Our group was our only means of defense against the unknown forces at play. If keeping a million secrets meant we could all survive this ordeal, then I would do it without hesitation. Their safety and well-being were all that mattered to me.

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Advertisement Monsters We Crave (Maelstrom #1) Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/monsters-we-crave-maelstrom-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:05:47 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/monsters-we-crave-maelstrom-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Dark, Mafia Authors: Natalie Bennett Series: Maelstrom Series by Natalie Bennett
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Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >30

Betrayal is the only truth, and tyrants are gods and martyrs.

In a world of prestige and darkness, dictated by the Triad—a formidable alliance of crime families wielding power through cruelty and bloodshed—adapting is not a choice; it’s my only means of survival.
But the most formidable challenge is the man who reigns above us all.
His reputation precedes him. He is said to be ruthless and sadistic, an entity of darkness. A beautiful monster masterfully playing human.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
He’s far more terrifying.
And in the cruelest twist of fate, I’ve become his.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

The stars that once painted stories in the night had vanished. It was as if they refused to shine any light on the horrors unfolding beneath them. In their absence, the sky had turned into a canvas of black, pierced only by the distant glow of burning buildings and flares for SOS.

I stepped away from the front window, leaving the fringed curtain to fall back into place.

“Are you sure you should go out there?”

“I have to. What if she’s hurt and needs help?” I adjusted my long-sleeved tunic and lifted the hood of my cloak as I walked towards the door.

“But—”

“I’ll be fine, Effie.” The reassurance came out braver than I felt. I placed my hand on the brass knob and hesitated.

“Kore?”

I forced a smile and looked over at my sister. Her deep blue eyes appeared almost obsidian due to the lack of light in the cabin.

“Remember, if anyone tries to come through this door that isn’t me or Grandma, shoot without asking questions.”

She nodded and clutched our shotgun tightly, a look of fear and determination crossing her face. I stepped into the night just as a chilling wind blew, carrying with it the acrid scent of burning wood and the unsettling undernotes of charred flesh. Every instinct screamed at me to turn back and hide away in the illusion of safety the weathered cabin offered. Thoughts of my grandmother somewhere out here alone steadied my resolve.

The well had run dry the day prior, and our stomachs echoed the same sentiment. She had ventured out hours ago to fetch food and water. Her prolonged absence grew heavier with every passing moment. I didn’t tell Ophelia, but truthfully, I had no idea where to begin searching for her. Finding her in these conditions would be next to impossible, but I had to try. I made my way to the overgrown path, grateful the soles of my worn leather boots were sturdy enough for the uneven terrain.

The haunting orange and red glow that emanated from the distant burning structures cast flickering shadows upon the ground. It was the only light I had to guide me. Fallen leaves crunched under my feet, their brittle decay a reminder of the seasons change. Gunfire echoed like a sinister symphony, punctuated by the occasional boom and distant screams—some agonized, mostly enraged. It was the cacophony of a turf war in full swing, and every gust of chilled wind seemed to carry with it whispers of sorrow and despair, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Grandma had foretold this.

Weeks before the notorious crime families began vying for power, painting the city red and cutting down anyone that stood in their way, she’d told us great change would come in the aftermath of violence and carnage. Rarely was Grandma wrong.

I had to find her.

She was my anchor in this tempest of chaos.

The thought of her being a casualty, snuffed out in this relentless quest for dominance wasn’t a thought far from my mind, but it was one I refused to accept. So I pushed onward, each step a gamble. Sometimes my boots would land on solid ground; more often than not they'd sink into a soft mound of decaying foliage, causing me to stumble.

As I continued, the nagging voice of reason grew louder. What if she wasn't even out here? What if I’d started this search too late? I tried to silence it with logic. Grandma was strong and resilient; she knew these woods like the back of her hand. But that very familiarity could be working against me. If she had hidden herself, this was truly pointless, and I would have left my sister alone for nothing.

I could’ve brought her along, but the idea of us lost together, or worse, had me deciding not to. She's strong too, I reminded myself, clinging to the belief that Ophelia could hold down the fort until I returned. The shotgun gave her a fighting chance against any threat.

It was me, wandering these endless woods with nothing but a pocketknife, who felt utterly vulnerable. Yet, I continued, making sure I stayed as far away from the menacing glow of the city as I could manage. The depth of grandma's warnings, and the way her eyes clouded with fear whenever she spoke of that place, had always kept me rooted to our sanctuary out in the woods. Her tales painted vivid pictures of a world filled with danger, deceit, and darkness. Through her words, I could almost see the feuding families, the violence that touched every street corner, and the manipulative games.

I froze, hearing the rustling of leaves and the snapping of twigs. My heart raced as I tried to pinpoint which direction it was coming from. Suddenly, a man came crashing through the trees, nearly knocking me over. He was haggard, days’ worth of stubble and dirt smeared across his face, wearing a shirt stained with blood. There was an air of desperation about him that immediately put me on edge.

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Advertisement Sins of Winter (Sins of Nevermore #1) Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/sins-of-winter-sins-of-nevermore-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:50:52 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/sins-of-winter-sins-of-nevermore-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, College, Dark Authors: Natalie Bennett Series: Sins of Nevermore Series by Natalie Bennett
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Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >27

Once upon a midnight dreary…A stage is set for the macabre.Shadows stir and darkness creeps.Lost boys whisper something strange.And I’m held captive in a tragedy.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

If there was one thing Ravenswood did better than any other town, it was the holidays. No matter how well-known or unheard of that the cause of celebration was, the community went all out. So, of course Halloween was no exception.

Ravenswood’s famed bar, The Crow’s Nest, sat at the heart of the town's festivities and, as always, it was a sight to behold. Its worn wooden floors sparkled beneath a canopy of purple and orange fairy lights, while ornate chandeliers, draped in faux cobwebs, cast shadowy figures onto the patrons below.

The windowpanes bore silhouettes of witches and bats, making the whole establishment feel like a scene out of a Gothic novel. As Mara and I settled into a luxurious nook with high-backed chairs, I found myself instinctively scanning the crowd.

Our coordinating sailor scout outfits had already earned us more than a few appreciative glances. I knew we looked good, but a little validation never hurt. Mara raised her glass to propose a toast when her gaze caught on something—or rather, someone—across the bar for the third time.

“He’s staring again.”

Following her line of sight, I glimpsed at the tall, striking man in a dark, distinctive costume. His eyes held mine with a mixture of intensity and undeniable familiarity. “Are you sure we don’t know him?”

She smirked. “No, but I wish one of us did. He has no business being that fine.”

I wholeheartedly agreed.

As if he'd heard her, a slow, mischievous grin spread across the man’s lips, that were shaped like Cupid’s own handiwork. It was the kind of smile that posed a perilous threat to the composure of any woman who valued her sanity.

With his sharp, angular jawline, jet-black hair styled in a way that appeared both effortlessly natural and intentional, and darkly shaded tattoos peeking out from the collar of his tailored Victorian-style suit, he was exactly the type of man I would fantasize about but never see in the flesh.

That wasn’t what captured my attention, though.

The feeling that he was familiar nagged at me, yet the certainty of memory eluded my grasp. Someone with his striking presence should have been unforgettable, etched permanently in my mind. And still, there was a whisper of recognition, a ghostly sense of déjà vu. Could the person haunting the edges of my recollection really be him?

Raising her glass of Lucifer Morningstar for a toast, Mara finally looked away from the alluring mystery man and shouted, “To us, baby! We kicked this semester's ass.”

“To us,” I echoed, clinking my drink against hers.

“We seriously needed this break, Winter," Mara sighed, sipping her cocktail. “I couldn’t deal with one more lecture from Professor Hargraves.”

I laughed. “Tell me about it. If he mentioned his 'groundbreaking' thesis one more time, I would’ve broken down in tears.”

As we shared a chuckle over our shared tormentor, a group of football jocks from our university approached, their costumes ranging from zombies to superheroes. “Hey ladies,” one of them said, his eyes lingering on Mara a bit longer than me. I understood entirely. Mar was stunning on her worst days. “Nice costumes. Drinks on us?”

We exchanged amused glances. Accepting the offer meant entertaining them for the evening, and I wasn’t up for that yet.

“Thanks, but we're good for now,” I replied, raising my glass slightly.

“If you change your mind, come find us.” As the jocks returned to their boisterous group across the bar, another acquaintance, Tracy, dressed as a stunning Medusa, drifted over to show off her outfit and divulge some gossip.

After a few minutes of shared laughter, she went back to her own group. The evening flew by with Mara and I getting lost in our own world, navigating between drinks and the dance floor. I was thoroughly enjoying myself, but my attention kept drifting to the familiar stranger across the bar no matter where I stood, his presence unmistakable. He was no longer alone. Beside him was a tall, athletically built guy with nearly-white blond hair and piercing blue eyes, oozing charm and confidence.

I didn’t recognize him whatsoever, or what he was supposed to be, but I hardly knew every single person in town let alone the entire student body.

As Mara and I recovered from laughing ourselves to tears over a particularly hilarious memory of her falling down the bleachers at a football game and showing half the crowd her ass as she crawled away in shame, I glanced around again, only to find the intriguing man approaching our table. Before I could react or warn Mar, he stood beside us.

“Hope I'm not interrupting.” His voice, deep and enticing, made the ambient noises seem to fade away. “May I join you?”

I squinted slightly. Now that he was right in front of me, the niggling suspicion that had been teasing at the edges of my consciousness all but solidified into certainty. Denial clung fiercely to my sound reasoning, making it hard to truly accept that he was standing before me in flesh and blood.

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Advertisement Muerte (Stygian Isles #1) Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/muerte-stygian-isles-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:57:32 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/muerte-stygian-isles-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Dark Authors: Natalie Bennett Series: Stygian Isles Series by Natalie Bennett
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Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >83

Devil's Mistress.

Evil's whore.

Kidnapped. Abducted.

I’ve been taken away to a private island that’s home to the rich and elite.

Something sinister and perverse lurks just beneath the opulence.

It watches every breath I take and notes each move I make, ensuring that the purpose in which I’m here is never forgotten.

There’s a hierarchy amongst the natives and I am now the exclusive possession of ‘Diabolus’, a gorgeous man that is esteemed as the devil.

His wishes are simple to understand, but obediently giving in to his demands goes against every ounce of human decency and morality I possess.

As we spiral down a path of depravity that leads to the darkest depths of hell, I must decide how I want this to end.

Captor and captive.
Life or death.

Do I become what he needs, or do I risk it all just to die by his hand?

Author Note:
Stygian Isles is a romantic horror series that contains various dark themes. Reader discretion is highly advised. A CW can be found on the author's website as well as the author's note inside. Each book following the main duology is a standalone with a different couple.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

There are moments in life we pass off as insignificant that later become crucial pieces of a catalytic chain. The kind of moments we look back on and only then begin to realize all the warning signs that were ignored.

Some would call this hindsight.

I had a different name for it.

Misfortune.

But before we get to that part of my story, it’s best to start from the beginning.

Everything changed the morning I walked through Millennium Resort’s arched glass doors.

I’d never seen it in such upheaval. The upscale establishment prided itself on running smoothly and efficiently. Regardless of any fires that may have needed putting out behind the scenes, the lavish resort maintained a solid front, so seeing my colleagues rushing this way and that had me momentarily taken aback.

I would have asked what was going on, but that meant stopping someone in the middle of what they were doing, and I loathed it when anyone did that to me.

I didn’t see Anya anywhere to ask her either. She was probably still in the bathroom. She’d practically sprinted inside while holding her stomach before I was fully parked. I’d told her not to eat the leftover take-out for breakfast, but she hadn’t listened and had added an entire cup of coffee on top of it. She was in for a rough morning.

Not wanting to be in anyone’s way, I focused on my own job, quickly discerning that the chaos was happening away from the guests. The upper levels were relatively quiet, to the extent that as I settled into my usual workflow, I forgot all about what was happening below.

I did one last sweep of the room I’d just finished refreshing to make sure it was postcard worthy and then went back into the hall. I got to my cleaning trolley just as Anya stepped out from her refresher a few doors down, having made it onto the clock after her rendezvous in the bathroom.

Her dark hair was still coiled in a tidy bun while mine was fighting to escape the ponytail I’d pulled it into earlier. I reasoned that was because hers was pencil straight and mine a thick mass of waves.

“Anything new?” I asked.

“No, same as usual. Unmade beds. Used towels and washcloths tossed all over the place, wet ones at that. It’s disgusting.”

“That’s why we have gloves.”

“We need hazmat suits. I think you should seriously consider attending the next staff meeting and request they put neon signs above the hampers. They’re obviously too hard to see.”

“Why do I have to be the one to do it?”

“Because you’re more responsible and well-spoken, duh.”

I breathed a laugh and slipped off my latex gloves, tossing them into my mini trash bin before scooping up the tablet I was provided to mark down my daily progress. I noted how full the resort was. More than half the room blocks were lit red, indicating they were occupied.

There must have been a conference or something. That didn’t explain the chaotic scene in the lobby, though.

Even when booked for a reception or gala, things weren’t so hectic. I quickly checked off the rooms I’d finished and then dimmed my screen.

“You know most of these people probably don’t know what a hamper is.”

Anya made a sound of annoyance as she retrieved her tablet and did the same. “Are you ready for break? I’ve been ready since we clocked in.”

“Sure.” I took hold of my cart, steering it in the direction of the staff elevators.

It was an official rule that we didn’t use the ones meant for guests. Upon reaching them, Anya waved her employee badge in front of the card reader to bring one up, allowing me to get in first. I eased my cleaning trolley all the way over, careful not to brush against the mirror that made up the sidewall. Anya backed inside, leaving a small gap between the two of us.

She jabbed the button for the floor we needed. “I still can’t believe this is what our lives have come to. Cleaning up after rich people.”

“This is way better than our last job. I still can’t look at raw chicken without wanting to vomit.” I nearly shuddered just thinking about it. “Plus, we could be making less and cleaning up after the poor.”

“Doesn’t that mean we’d just be cleaning up after ourselves?”

“Yeah, but at least then we’d know who the wet washcloths belonged to,” I pointed out as the glossy elevator doors slid shut.

We had multiple variations of this conversation at least once a week. I knew she wanted more from life. That was only natural. I did too. It wasn’t like I woke up ecstatic to go to work and toil with a bunch of strangers’ dirty linens. And I had plenty of opinions about the occasional sneer or upturned nose directed my way.

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Advertisement Twelve of Roses (Bitter & Sick #1) Read Online Natalie Bennett http://www.books2020.com/twelve-of-roses-bitter-sick-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Mon, 13 Feb 2023 18:42:23 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/twelve-of-roses-bitter-sick-1-read-online-natalie-bennett Genre: Alpha Male, Erotic, Romance Authors: Natalie Bennett Series: Bitter & Sick Series by Natalie Bennett
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Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >34

His love is not patient.
His love is not kind.
His love is sick and obsessive, just like mine.

I never admitted how much I liked the vile things he did—not when escaping him was the only way for me to live.
Leaving destroyed both of us.
Now, a ghost from my past has begun reaching out from beyond the grave, creating a trail of corpses that threaten to reveal who and what I really am.
All I have to do to stop it is uphold my end of a broken promise.
See, a love like ours fed a bittersweet infatuation that ensured together we’d rot, but the day I left there was barely one body instead of two.
And someone wants me to keep my word.
Till death, do we never part.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

ROSELYNN

AFTER HIM

Every day greeted me with bittersweet melancholy. I had no one to blame for it but myself. Paranoia and a sense of betrayal had driven me to do something I could never take back.

This hellish existence was my aftermath.

Ruins of what I wrecked beyond repair. A vibrant part of who I used to be was crushed beneath the rubble and didn’t deserve to be found. She deserved to rot there like I should have been along with my broken vows. Instead, I was waking up every day going through the typical mundane motions, living a life I didn’t want to live.

There was no tomorrow, next week, or a month from now anymore. I couldn’t think that far ahead. I got through each day and saw it as an accomplishment.

Then night came creeping in with silence that allowed echoes of the past to remind me of what I’d done and all I had lost. I couldn’t win. Whether I was dreaming or awake all my thoughts went running home to him. It was hard not to get caught up in memories of the beautifully deranged mess we were. Today was proving to be worse than yesterday, but nothing could compare to how unbearable the first seven days were.

I lifted one of the front curtain panels and peered out the window, relieved to see that the rain had finally stopped. If it had kept up for much longer, I wouldn’t have had a choice but to swap the bucket in the living room with the kitchen trashcan to catch the leakage in the ceiling.

Rubbing my temples in an attempt to alleviate the onset of a headache, I wandered into the kitchen and grabbed my phone off the counter to check the hour. It was relatively early, just a quarter past eight.

Too soon for me to try and go to bed if I didn’t want to wake up in the middle of the night. I leaned against the counter and debated on what I should do. The vodka bottle I kept for evenings like this had been emptied before noon and I was down to my last swisher to roll. I should have picked up an extra shift. That at least would’ve put me past nine o'clock.

I contemplated what to do for another fifteen minutes and finally decided it was best for me to get out of the house before I went completely off the rails. I headed upstairs and perused my closet, choosing a little black dress from the small amount of non-comfort clothes I had left.

As I was in the middle of combing out my hair after a quick shower, my cell rang. I checked the ID and picked up the call, placing it on speaker so I could still use my hands.

“Did you make it there okay?”

“Yes. I just checked into my hotel. Now you can breathe, mom,” Molina teased.

“I should’ve sent you to voicemail.”

She laughed and something clinked together on her end of the call. “What are you doing? Besides missing me, of course.”

“I’m getting dressed.”

“What? Really? Where are you going?”

“Yes, really. The spot I mentioned the other day.” I turned to check the side profile of my hair, satisfied with what I saw. I’d carefully combed it so that the slightly accentuated waves held their shape and didn’t go straight.

“Molly?” I reached for my bag of glosses and checked to make sure the call hadn’t dropped.

“Are you going alone?”

I almost snorted. “Who else would I be going with?”

“I dunno, Lillian?”

“You mean Lauren? She’s barely old enough to buy a cigarette. Why would I take her somewhere like that?”

“I don’t think you should go alone.”

“Aren’t I always alone?”

She was quiet again for a moment. “Do you still feel alone, Rose?”

I frowned down at my phone. I understood what she was asking, but it wasn’t what I had been referring to. “I meant alone as in a literal sense because no one else is home.”

“Oh, right. Sorry, I just assumed. Are you sure you’re going to be, okay?”

“I think I should call you mom instead,” I quipped teasingly as I let my towel drop to the floor. “I can’t hold onto the hand of a ghost forever.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry, Rose. I wasn’t trying to upset you. I know it’s harder for you than it is for me.”

It was a good thing I wasn’t holding my phone, or I would have thrown it across the room. “My god, Molly. It’s not a competition. Why are we even talking about that when we should be talking about what you’ll be doing tomorrow.”

“I’ve been trying not to think about it too much. I know they’re supposed to be my family but I’m having trouble thinking of them like that. We had our own family until…” she trailed off and went silent.

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