Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
No, that’s a wild thought! He’s a bastard!
That may be true, but it doesn’t change this attraction I feel toward him, something that’s still on my mind even as Wrath, Masters, and I are having a meeting in Dad’s study.
“You look like shit,” Wrath says.
Don’t I know it?
“You don’t look so great yourself,” I reply, since he’s not wearing bandages anymore, but he’s still pretty banged up.
“Eh, you know it’s sexy.”
He’s so full of himself, even when he’s black and blue.
I check my phone yet again for a text from Killian, but still nothing. Maybe I was too severe when I told him I would never submit to him. He seemed angered by that. The thought that I might have insulted him should bring me relief, but I worry he might not follow through with his end of the deal if I really angered him. I know that’s not true, though. He will, and this worry is a lie I’m telling myself to mask the real reason I fear he might not be reaching out.
“Why do you keep checking your phone?” Masters asks.
“You have somewhere more important to be?” Wrath teases. “Like with your future husband?” He snickers like this is all a big joke, but he has no idea what Killian’s done to my life the past couple of weeks, the way he’s stormed in, tearing apart every artificial construct in me to reveal the nature buried underneath. The dark part I try to deny exists.
I step toward Wrath, and Masters inserts himself between us. “Okay, okay. But we should discuss the situation with the Lordes.”
“What’s there to discuss?” I ask.
Masters’s brows rise as he looks at me like it’s obvious. “I assume you’re still planning to marry Killian.”
“Yes. I don’t have a choice.”
“So you’re gonna consummate with him and everything?” Wrath asks, chuckling.
If only he knew the things I’ve already done.
“Killian won’t need that,” Masters says. “I’m sure the marriage certificate is only a formality. This is all symbolic to represent the families coming together.” When I don’t confirm, Masters studies my expression. “Right?”
“Can we get on to other business matters? That’s all been settled, and we’re safe.”
Masters and Wrath exchange worried looks. If they caught on to how much I’m unraveling right now, I’m sure they’d be even more concerned.
“Um…okay,” Masters says. “We’ve been approached by the Dementes, who are interested in acting as distributor for us, with the O’Dells leaving town.”
“The O’Dells know about this?”
“No, but this will definitely increase business, be the kind of money we need to be bringing in.”
“Doing this behind their backs seems like a way to get a target on ours.”
“The O’Dells know we’re under the Lordes’ protection. That’s why they haven’t come to collect, so I think we can trust they’ll leave us alone even if they find out about this.”
“Do we really want to push our luck?” I say that, but I know the reality: that level of distribution is what we’ll need to continue to compete in the market.
I chew my bottom lip. Part of me wants to say fuck it, we’ll just do things the way we’ve always done them. It’s not worth the risk. But this isn’t an opportunity we can afford to pass up.
“What would Dad have said?” I ask the guys, and as expected, Wrath replies, “Take what’s ours.”
I nod. “I trust you both with this. Talk to the Dementes about their pricing and the details.”
“Someone should tell Killian,” Wrath says. I shoot him a look, and he raises his hands in a defensive stance. “What? I’m just saying they might be interested in knowing we’re stirring the pot and could wind up needing more protection.”
“I’ll handle Killian,” I say.
We discuss the details and some more business matters before wrapping up.
“Hey, you wanna head to the fight this weekend?” Wrath says. “Got a lot to prove, so figured I’d get back out there.”
I study him, hoping this is a joke, but his expression is stoic…until he cracks.
“Kidding. The look on your face.” He slaps my ass, which is still tender from how Killian fucked me, but I try not to let it show. “Don’t worry. I won’t be jumping into the cage again anytime soon.”
“Is that a promise?”
The way he avoids eye contact, I get the feeling it won’t be for as long as I’d prefer.
“You guys want to grab lunch?” Masters interjects.
“Nah, I’m meeting up with someone,” Wrath replies.
“You can just say you’re gonna fuck someone.”
“That’s not the kind of thing you’re supposed to talk to brothers about.”
“Why? You worried I’ll get jealous? Okay, sure. Log?”
“Maybe another time. I want to be alone today.”
“Isn’t that what you’ve been doing all week?”
“See you guys later,” is my only reply before they head out.
I retrieve my phone, pulling up Killian’s contact information, staring at it the way I have other times since our last encounter. I peruse the texts he sent me when he was harassing me before breaking into my bedroom and assaulting me. One minute he was so enraged with me not taking his call, and now he won’t even reach out. Why can’t that bastard make up his mind?