Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 128356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
“Yeah, he’s such a loser anyway,” she says. “Don’t know why everyone loves him so much when the dude clearly has anger issues.”
“Hey!” Preston sits up. “Don’t go talking about shit you don’t understand. His issues have explanations.”
Dahlia crosses her arms and lifts her nose in the air. “Whatever those explanations are, they don’t give him carte blanche to unleash his rage on others.”
“I don’t agree, but he totally messed up when it comes to you, Vee.” Preston lifts a shoulder. “You should’ve been the exception.”
“I’m fine, seriously. That’s life, right?”
“No, it’s not.” Dahlia breathes harshly. “He already stalked you and pushed you into a coma, so the least he can do is treat you right and grovel for the rest of his life. That fucking brute is hopeless. Don’t worry, Vi, I’ll find you someone better.”
“Me!” Preston raises a hand. “Over here. Me, Vee! Come on, don’t friend-zone me. Let me tell you something, the rumors about my dick size and performance are absolutely true. Free trial included.”
“Oh, hell no.” Dahlia throws a napkin at him.
“Shut up, Dina. This isn’t about you.”
“Well, I’m making it about me. You think Jude will be okay with it if she switches to you?”
“Hmm. Good point.” He scratches his chin. “I suppose he won’t, but then again, that’s the whole idea!”
He takes my hand in his and interlinks our fingers, and before I can figure out what’s going on, he snaps a picture. Then starts to type on his phone.
“See!”
He shows us his phone. Preston has sent the picture to a group chat called The Vipers’ Den.
Preston
Congratulate me, motherfuckers. I have a girlfriend!
Kane
I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes. Meeting in fifteen, don’t be late.
Jude
Preston Aaron Armstrong! Why the fuck are you holding Violet’s hand?
My chest squeezes as I read his text a few times just to make sure I’m not seeing things. How did he even know it’s my hand when it’s not fully visible?
More importantly, why is he this attuned to me if he refuses to talk to me?
Preston types some more and Dahlia giggles, seeming to enjoy this as much as he is.
“Stop that, Pres,” I say pleadingly. “I don’t like playing these games.”
“Well, I do!” He waggles his brows, then shows us his texts again.
Preston
Why else? Because Vee is my girlfriend now. Finally!
Jude
I’m going to break your fucking neck if you don’t stay away from her.
Nah. Finders keepers, am I right? Of course I am. No need to answer that.
Kane
Great. He just arrived and now he took off. Count your days, Pres.
“Can’t say it was lovely knowing you, but RIP, Preston.” Dahlia laughs, clutching her stomach. “Serves that prick right. We should’ve done this before.”
“I know, right? I’m such an adorable Cupid.” Preston chuckles maniacally. “Let’s take one more picture just for fun, Vee.”
He grabs my hand, and I try to pull it away.
He pauses and pushes my cardigan up my wrist, his playful green eyes whirling with a cloud of confusion, then menace as he cocks his head to the side. “Why…do you have this?”
He lifts my bracelet with his index finger, his eyes hardening when they slide back to my face.
Dahlia has always told me that Preston is dangerous, but I’ve found that hard to believe since he’s only ever been cheerful to me and easily befriended me. This is the first time I’ve seen the version she’s talking about.
Unpredictable, unhinged, and…disturbing, even.
“It’s my mother’s,” I whisper and attempt to pull my hand back, but he keeps it in a firm grip.
“Did your mother steal it?” He frowns. “No, that’s impossible. Who gave it to her?”
“I don’t know. She just told me to keep it… Pres, you’re hurting me.”
He releases me, his jaw tightening. “Remove it.”
“What?”
“Remove it, Violet. I need to check something.”
“Hey, why are you being a dick all of a sudden?” Dahlia moves on her knees a bit in front of me. “It’s progress she’s even wearing it after she buried it in a box her entire life. It’s a family heirloom.”
“I said. Remove it before I rip it from your wrist.”
I flinch.
“Hey!” Dahlia’s shoulders square, but I pat her arm.
“It’s okay. I don’t like it that much anyway.” I unclasp it and hand it to Preston.
He flips it and rotates something that holds the plate at the back, and just like that, the plate opens.
I watch in bewilderment as the two plates laid side by side reveal a crescent moon and a sun. The same symbol Preston has on the black ring he’s wearing on his index finger.
He aligns them. My eyes widen because the ring and the bracelet have the exact identical symbol.
Preston’s fingers trace the initials carved by the symbol. W.J.A.
“Jesus fucking Christ.” He lets out in a breath. “What the fuck is this?”
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “This is the first time I’ve seen that. I…didn’t even know it could be opened.”