Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” Kellan cursed when he saw a fresh wave of tears spill from my eyes. “Just let me call Ocean.”
“There’s no need to call me,” a deep voice interrupted. “I’m right here.”
Kellan and I turned toward the elevator and saw him standing there with Abel and Hunter. My bestie took one look at me and let Ocean’s hand go to rush over.
“What’s wrong?” Hunter demanded. She touched my arms, and I broke, throwing myself around her and sobbing like a baby. My big brother was dead. “You’re shaking, Coby. Come sit down.”
I let her lead me to the couch while Kellan whispered his report to Ocean. I glared at the latter, but he kept his face carefully blank while listening to Kellan and staring right at me.
The man I loved killed my brother. Where did we go from here?
I leaned forward. Hunter mirrored me, tilting her head to give me her ear. “Can I borrow your gun?”
Hunter reared back, searching my gaze as if she didn’t recognize me. “Coby, talk to me,” she pleaded. “You’re scaring me.”
I was scaring myself.
Ocean killed my brother.
But if I could still love Roshaun this much after he was gone, I could do the same for Ocean.
“Roshaun’s dead. Ocean killed him.”
Hunter visibly tensed. “What? How do you know?”
I handed Hunter my phone. Since she knew my code, she was able to get in. “Check the last text.”
Overhearing, Ocean wandered over, unperturbed by my glare, warning him to stay away.
“What the fuck?” Hunter spat.
“Let me see,” Ocean demanded.
Hunter stood and handed over my phone before I could tell him what a murderous bastard he was. I watched Ocean admire his handiwork, but his brows dipped like he was confused.
When he looked up to study me, I could smell the lies coming a mile away.
A moment later, his expression became unreadable as he called to his bodyguard. “Abel.”
Abel took one look at the photo, swore, removed his own cell phone, and stormed from the room.
Ocean’s attention returned to me, and one look decimated the wall he’d put up. Kneeling before me, he took my face in his hands when I bent my head to hide the fresh wave of tears.
“Coby, look at me, please. I didn’t do this,” he swore when I obeyed.
Before Ocean could tell more lies, Hunter jumped in. “Now let’s get one thing straight. I won’t stand here and listen to you lie to her. I told you she wouldn’t understand why Roshaun had to die.”
An invisible hand punched inside my chest and ripped my still-beating heart free.
Hunter knew.
She was probably there when it happened. I knew she hated him, but I never imagined it could be that much.
“Which is why I didn’t kill him,” Ocean denied. He was speaking to Hunter but looking at me. “I told you I would follow your lead, Vengeance. Last night, when you walked away for Coby’s sake, I did too. I swear to you, Abel dropped Roshaun off outside the city, warned him never to return, and left him there. This wasn’t us.” His pleading gaze turned to me. “This wasn’t me, Coby. I swear to God.”
“But you were going to kill him,” I said. “You both were, and now he’s dead. It doesn’t matter who dealt the blow. He’s dead because of both of you! How could you?”
I made the mistake of directing the question at Hunter. Her betrayal hurt worse.
Roshaun had taken her in. He’d given her shelter when no one else would and never asked for anything. I didn’t know what happened to make them hate each other, but I knew my brother. He wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t deserve to die like that.
Ocean’s tone was full of ice when he echoed, “How could she? No, mo aingeal. How could she not was the real question. Your brother is dead, and I’m sorry that you’re hurting, but Roshaun still got off way too easily. You were sheltered from who he was for way too long, and it ends now.”
“What are you talking about?”
Hunter was clutching her neck and staring out the window like she was considering throwing herself through it.
“I didn’t force Roshaun to give you up,” Ocean confessed. “I hadn’t even mentioned your name.”
My mouth fell open. I already knew Roshaun had sold me out, but what Ocean was implying… My gaze narrowed. “What are you talking about? You…you broke his ribs.”
“And I had three million reasons to do so,” Ocean confirmed, “but I only needed one.” His gaze softened. “I only needed you.”
“You’re saying it was his idea to use me?”
“Roshaun promised to repay every penny and offered you as collateral. I warned him that I had no intention of ever returning you if I accepted. I described exactly how I’d use you—how much I’d enjoy breaking you until I got bored and passed you along to be used some more. I had to get my money’s worth after all. Do you know what your brother did? He laughed, Coby. He actually fucking laughed and told me to consider you interest. That’s when I broke his ribs.”