Total pages in book: 331
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
“Caught you, angel,” Kashton says.
I expect him to be smirking or laughing like the usual game we play, but he’s not this time. Instead, his pretty eyes are void of any playfulness.
I swallow nervously. My fear is rising by the second. I’m terrified. Not of Kashton, but the possibility that he won’t love me after this. What if he tosses me to the side, and I’m all alone and broken? What if this does me in, steals what little sanity I’m hanging on to, and throws me over the edge? How many times can I go crazy before he no longer cares? How far can I go before I can’t return to me? It took years to feel alive again. I may never be able to get back to this.
“I changed my mind,” I rush out. How long will they keep me there? Another year? I won’t survive again.
“It’s too late for that, Eve.”
“No.” I shake my head, taking a step back. “We don’t need the Lords to control what we do.”
He says nothing.
“We can be together, Kash. It’s what we’ve been doing.” Fuck the Lords and their bullshit rules. “We don’t need their permission,” I snap.
“It’ll all be over soon,” he promises. It’s the first time I don’t believe him.
“I’m scared,” I admit, wrapping my arms around myself. I don’t like to be vulnerable, but I can’t lie to him like he is to me.
“That’s the point.” He reaches into the pocket of his hoodie. “They want me to put you through hell. And I’m going to make sure I deliver.”
A shiver runs down my spine at his confession. “I won’t go back there.” Tears sting my eyes.
Last time I was forced. No one would go willingly. They’d have to be insane.
“Sometimes you have to hurt the one you love. It’s for your own good, angel. You’ll see.”
I spin around to run, but his hand slaps over my mouth from behind and yanks me back to the front of his body. I try to scream, but it’s useless. I feel a poke in my neck and my eyes get heavy, my hands falling to my sides.
Please…no.
When my knees give out, he picks me up, and my eyes fall closed as he carries me back toward the motel.
FIFTY-TWO
KASHTON
Ipull up to Dollhouse and see Sin’s car is already waiting on me. Getting out, I walk over to it.
“Got it.” He opens his passenger door for me.
“Thanks.” I reach in and grab the bag of items he collected for me.
He tosses his backpack over his shoulder. “I’m going to stay in case you need me.”
“No. Go home to Elli and the babies.”
“Bill is out of town this week. My mom is staying at our house to help.”
I start to tell him I don’t need him when he counters, “I’ll stay out of the way. Just know I’m here if you need me.” He closes his passenger door.
I guess it can’t hurt to have an extra person here in case something goes wrong.
“When do you have to get started?”
I push back the sleeve of my hoodie to check my watch. “I’ve got twenty minutes.”
“Is she okay?” Sin glances over at my car, but he can’t see into it because my windows are blacked out.
I sigh. “For now. I gave her a sedative, but she’ll be up soon.”
“I’ll carry your bag so you can get her.” He takes it out of my hand and follows me over to my car.
Opening up the passenger car door, I pick her up and follow Sin up the steps and into Dollhouse. The house has a haunting feeling to it. I always thought Carnage was cold, but it has nothing on this place.
“Right on time.” A Lord enters the grand foyer, checking his watch. “I was worried you wouldn’t show.”
I look over at Sin, and his jaw sharpens before he looks away from the Lord, cursing under his breath.
“Why the fuck are you here?” I snap as Eve moans in my arms. She’s going to wake up any second.
The Lord removes his suit jacket and folds it over the chair to the right. “Same as you. Got a text with instructions.”
“Why the fuck would they send you?” Sin growls. Obviously as surprised as I am to see him here.
Bill drops his eyes to Eve in my arms. “To make sure Kashton gets the job done.”
EVERETT
Thunk… Thunk…
I feel drunk. Like I’m walking through a fog on a gravel road in heels. Everything is unstable and I can’t see shit.
Thunk… Thunk…
There’s this noise in the back of my throbbing head. Repeating over and over.
I open my heavy eyes, and I see one dimly lit light after the other above me pass by.
My arms are above my head and my back feels like nails are dragging down my skin. It burns.
Thunk… Thunk…