Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
To her horror, Bale’s car was parked in front of her gate. He had the engine running, but the moment she drove up, he leapt out of the driver’s seat and approached.
She gave the command to alert the three dogs and once again pulled her favorite pistol with the cherrywood handle and dropped her hand out of sight, but where she could easily bring it up to defend herself.
“Bale,” she greeted.
Studying him, she realized he appeared as if he’d been in a physical altercation. There was swelling around his jaw and under one eye. The knuckles on both hands were scraped and swollen. He definitely had been in a fight.
“What did you think you were doing yesterday?” he demanded. His eyes were filled with hate, with malice. “If you think you can turn my friends against me, you’re wrong, you little bitch.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Bale. I gave my regular tour. I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary.”
He stepped closer to the car and all three dogs gave a low warning growl.
“Step back,” she advised.
“Don’t you ever tell me what to do. I’m not afraid of those mangy mutts. I’ve told you that before.” He lifted two fingers as if he had a gun, aimed them at each dog and acted like he was shooting each one in the head. “That simple. They’re gone. You’re going to be running along the canal, opening your café or hiking a trail and all three will be dead in a matter of seconds.”
A chill went down her spine. He meant it. She heard the resolve in his voice. First, he had threatened to burn her café down with her inside it, now he was admitting he planned on killing her dogs.
“I don’t understand why you hate me so much, Bale. What is it that I did to you?” She knew better than to engage him in conversation. The more he talked to her, the angrier he seemed to get. Just looking at her provoked him.
“You’re one of those high-and-mighty bitches that think the world revolves around them. Look at this place.” His arm swept wildly around to encompass the high fence and gates protecting her home. “Keeping the riffraff out. Everyone you look down your nose at.” His voice got louder. Spittle burst from his mouth along with his accusations. “Born with a silver spoon in your mouth, spending Daddy’s money and teasing men with your face and body because you think you can get away with it.”
She swallowed her protest. She dressed modestly. She didn’t flirt with men. She didn’t go on dates. Sometimes she thought about it, but she knew it wouldn’t be fair when her heart was already taken. She wasn’t the kind of person who was going to fall out of love. Her feelings for Rainier had grown stronger, not diminished, even though at times, his behavior toward her hurt. She wouldn’t lead other men on. Still, she didn’t defend herself.
“Now you think you can use your body to lure my boys away from me.” He clenched his fists. “They know a little slut when they see one.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. Accusing. Certain of his facts. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out all about you? Flaunting yourself in some foreign country when you were a kid. Tempting those men. Naturally, you blamed everything on them. Daddy paid hush-hush money, but you probably ran off with some boy and got yourself into trouble. No one is gone for a year and a half unless they want to be gone. You were playing house. Or whoring yourself out before Daddy could get you back.”
Shabina froze. She hadn’t expected Bale to bring up her time in Saudi Arabia. She had no idea why she’d been that naïve. Maybe she couldn’t bear to face it, to have it come out in the open. Her father was a big deal. The kidnapping might have been kept under wraps, but the rescue hadn’t been. Once she’d been returned, reporters had gotten ahold of the story, although they didn’t know the details, only that she’d been held captive by the notorious serial killer Scorpion. There had been interviews with her father. He’d been grim-faced in front of the cameras but refused to give details, protecting her. She’d been surrounded by security and hidden away in their large estate, where no one could get to her, no one other than Rainier.
She knew she paled. She couldn’t stop that reaction, but she stayed composed. She had too much discipline to allow her distress to show.
“You may think you’re going to win, but you won’t. This is my town. These are my boys.” He hit the side of her door with his palm so hard it shook the vehicle.
Malik reacted instantly, leaping across Shabina’s body to block access to her. At the same time, he shoved his head through the open window, his teeth snapping viciously at Bale.