Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Tears, real ones now, poured from her eyes. “Kash, please. Please, listen to me.”
He was done listening. “I can start right this instant. If you aren’t off my property in the next ten minutes, I’ll consider our war on. I have far more weapons in my arsenal than you do, so think about giving that interview. If I hear even a hint or a whisper of you spreading this story, I’ll destroy you.”
She turned and ran out of the room.
Kash followed her. Murdoch was standing outside the door, looking from right to left, as though he wasn’t sure what was happening.
“That’s the second crying female to come out of that room,” Murdoch said. “What’s happening, Kash? Day looked like you’d ripped her heart out of her chest. Tell me she didn’t find you having sex with that woman. She was coming to save you from that chick with the crazy eyes.”
Did everyone think he needed saving? “Tell Mr. Weston we won’t need the bodyguards anymore this evening. I don’t want to be disturbed. Do I make myself clear?”
Murdoch frowned. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I don’t like the look in your eyes, Kash.”
“Your Majesty.” Perhaps his first mistake was trying to be friendly with people. He wasn’t a person. He was a figurehead, and it was past time he used the only thing his position afforded him that was worth anything at all. Power. “You will give me my due respect or you can go home, Mr. Murdoch. I’m going to speak to my bride and I won’t be disturbed.”
Because he had a few things to work out with her. A few questions that needed to be answered. By the time he was done with her she would know there would be no more manipulations, no more pretending. He would be the head of the household in all things and she would fall in line.
He strode to the secret stairwell the servants used. He could get to his apartments without being seen that way. All anyone would say was that the bride and groom had slipped away to start the honeymoon early.
He took the stairs two at a time, eager suddenly to get this over with. He would smash this whole relationship to pieces and see what they were left with. It had never been real. Not for one moment. Day had lied to him. She’d hidden huge parts of her life from him and he wouldn’t take it. Not another second.
He opened the door that led to the hallway of his wing and was nearly shoved back. Simon Weston was sprinting down the hall.
Kash started to yell out to the man that he should be more careful, but that was the moment he realized Weston had a gun in his hand.
“Sorry, Your Majesty. I can’t let you go down there.” Murdoch had moved in behind him. He put a hand on Kash’s arm. “You’ll need to come with me. There’s a problem in your room.”
Day? What had happened to her? He started to drag his arm out of the other man’s hold when he saw her being escorted out of their rooms. She was pale, her face tear streaked. She’d been such a lovely bride, but now she looked like a woman who’d seen a ghost.
She was escorted by Rai, one big hand on her arm. He strode down the hallway with purpose.
Kash started to move toward her, the instinct to hold her almost overwhelming. She looked so fragile that all he wanted to do was scoop her up and try to protect her. That was the moment she looked up at him. When she caught sight of him, her gaze turned blank and she moved like a zombie, her feet shuffling down the hall, all of her natural rhythm gone.
She walked past him like he meant nothing at all.
He could have sworn he caught Rai’s satisfied smirk.
“What has happened?” He knew better than to go look for himself. One of his blasted guards would choke him out and he would wake up hours later looking like a fool.
That was something he did all too often these days.
Murdoch started to lead him down the hall, back the way Day and Rai had gone. “Apparently, one of the servants likes to sneak a sip of your Scotch at night.”
Seriously? All of this over Jamil’s nightcap? He stopped, forcing Murdoch to drop his hold. “If you’re talking about the old man who turns my bed down at night, I told him he could have a glass when he likes. He worked for my father. He’s been here as long as I can remember. For god’s sake, don’t arrest one of my bloody butlers over a tumbler of Scotch.”
“He’s dead,” Murdoch said, his voice flat. “He died after drinking the Scotch that was brought up this evening. Simon caught it on camera. He tried to get here first, but the queen found him. She’s very upset. Someone tried to poison you, Your Majesty. It’s time to get you out of the palace for a while.”