Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Cara - What the fuck is going on? I haven’t seen Oakley in days. What have you done to her?
Zade - She’s fine. Mind your fucking business.
Cara - I swear, if you hurt her…
Zade - You’ll what?
There’s no response and I scoff, shoving the phone back into my pocket. Cara knows we have an interest in Oakley. Hell, it’s the reason why she’s been living in that shitty apartment for the past few weeks, posing as her roommate. She just doesn’t know why, and she never will. But that doesn’t mean she’s not curious and will do whatever she can to try and figure it out, and in doing so, she’s allowed herself to form an attachment. Exactly what I asked her not to do.
Hell, it’s exactly what I asked them all not to do. First it was Dalton, and now the dickhead is practically drooling over her. Next, Sawyer, but he won’t admit it. He’s too scared of his own fucking emotions to understand how he feels, but nonetheless, it’s there. But then Cross. Fuck, that one stung. Cross was the one guarantee I had, and he went and fucking blew it. Just like Sawyer, he doesn’t realize he’s getting attached, but he’ll figure it out soon enough.
Slipping through the back entrance of Nikolai’s impressive home office, I hide in the shadows, and not a damn one of them notices I’m here. I listen to their conversation, hearing the tone in their voices as my name is mentioned. “What is all this about?” Ira Abrahms demands. “It’s three in the morning. This is absurd.”
Hartley Scott lets out a frustrated grunt as he helps himself to Nikolai’s liquor cabinet. “Too right,” he spits. “He’s a hot-headed kid, not ready to take on such a profound role. The power he’s going to wield . . . He’s going to burn this organization to the ground. Lawson would never have played these ridiculous games.”
The mention of my father’s name grinds on my nerves, and as I go to step out of the shadows, Nikolai holds his hands out in peace. “Come now, this is our future leader you’re talking about. Show some respect. You may not like him, but you will show loyalty to the blood of Empire under my roof.”
The corner of my lip twitches with a small smile. I’ve always been able to rely on Nikolai to have my back, even during the worst of times. I’ve always seen him as a father figure to me. At least, he’s who I always wished my father could have been. Maybe things would have been different. Perhaps I would have had a healthy respect for the dead bastard and the overwhelming need to slice my blade across his throat would have never existed.
Stepping out of the shadows, I let myself be known, keeping my gaze locked on Hartley Scott. I take in his tired business suit and his disheveled, messy appearance. He’s in politics and is a master manipulator of the public, but in this room with these people, he’s nothing. “Is there something you would like to say about the way I conduct business?”
Hartley’s gaze drops, and I don’t miss the way the remaining eleven members discreetly form a circle around the room. “No, Zade. Of course not. I appreciate your promptness in calling this meeting. It shows an eagerness and drive for the position you will be moving into. As part of The Circle, this is very pleasing to see. You have a strong loyalty to our traditions, and I look forward to seeing how you take on this role. However, I must admit, I am at a loss for why we are here.”
I hold his stare for a moment longer. Fucking ass kisser.
He’s a snake in sheep’s clothing. That’s all he’ll ever be.
Taking a step into the circle, I begin to pace, slowly making my way around the twelve men before meeting each of their stares.
Aleksander Torrini. Chin raised in defiance, eyes narrowed and suspicious.
Clifford Langdon. Timid and nervous, clearly has no clue what this is about.
Gideon Harvey. Tired and bored.
I keep going around the circle, taking them all in one by one. I have grown up with these men. They would frequent my home for meetings with my father. They watched me grow and mature and then watched me become cold and relentless. They know who I am, know what I’m capable of, and my bad side is not where they want to be.
“As you are all aware,” I start, my tone letting on just how serious I am. “There are exactly thirty more days until we reach the end of our mourning period, and in that time I will stand before you as the only heir of Empire and carve the still-beating heart out of the chest of an innocent to complete the leadership ritual. The woman who has been so carefully selected is Oakley Quinn. Twenty-year-old college student, recently returned to Faders Bay. However, I do not need to share this information with you as tradition dictates that all of you have personally signed off on this young woman becoming my sacrifice.”