Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
My mouth drops open. My heart nearly stops. Thomas’s eyes go wide like he just got kicked in the stomach.
Did this guy really just say that?
But he’s already turning and walking to the car. I scramble after him, so grateful to be getting away from Thomas that I’m not bothering to ask the obvious questions.
Who is this guy? And am I just putting myself in even worse danger?
None of that matters. I scurry over to his side. “Thank you,” I whisper softly. “Thank you so, so much, my name is Allie, and I really—”
“No more talking.” He stops at the car and opens the door for me. I hesitate as he looks back at Thomas. “Get in and wait.”
I don’t know what to do. He’s looking at Thomas with a strange hunger. Thomas is backing off, pissed that I’m getting away, but clearly afraid.
“Better listen,” the woman says from inside the car.
I slip in and take the seat across from her. She’s got her back to the driver, her eyes glued to the screen.
The door slams shut.
Silence falls. The windows are tinted so black I can’t see out of them. I don’t know what the stranger’s doing, and a part of me realizes I really don’t want to find out.
“My name’s Allie. Thank you so much for that. Thomas isn’t usually so bad, but he just—”
“I don’t care.” She stares at me, eyebrows raised. “Truly, I don’t.”
That takes me aback. “But you helped me. I mean, Thomas was going to hurt me—”
“And that’s not slightly my problem. Find better friends.” She looks at her phone again.
“Why did you help me then?”
“Because Mass has been such a pain in my ass lately and could use a good distraction for a night.” Her lips press together in concentration. “You happen to be his type.”
Fear strikes my guts. I don’t even know what to say. That idea’s insane, like I’m being pimped out to that guy without even knowing it.
But before I can argue, the door opens. Mass gets in and sits beside me. There’s a red stain on the sleeve of his jacket and he’s wiping something off his knuckles.
I catch a glimpse of a body lying on the sidewalk before he slams the door.
Fear grips my stomach. That’s blood on his knuckles. And that was definitely Thomas, possibly beaten to death in the twenty seconds I’ve been in this car.
Who the hell is this monster?
“Did you kill him?” the woman asks casually.
“No, but he’s missing some teeth.”
“Too bad.”
“If I had more time, I would’ve been more thorough.” He tucks the handkerchief back into his jacket. His knee brushes mine and a shiver fills my stomach. He doesn’t look at me, but I can’t stop staring at him.
He’s beautiful. The powerful energy rolling off him is overwhelming. The scent of spicy cologne and powerful, masculine musk is an assault on my senses.
I know men like him. I grew up in a family filled with violence and greed. I’ve been surrounded by the New York underground since I was old enough to walk. But this stranger is something else entirely. I’ve been messing around with housecats, and he’s a lion on steroids.
“I think if you take that girl home, she’ll fuck you senseless. I would if I were in her shoes.”
“Sounds messy and complicated. I’d also miss my flight.”
“Mass, you could use a release. Honestly, you’ve been so uptight lately. Worse than usual.”
“I don’t know how I haven’t killed you yet.”
“You appreciate my candor and my efficiency. Spend the night in your Manhattan apartment. Take some of your frustrations out on this very pretty girl. Then we’ll fly home in the morning.”
“She is pretty.”
“I’d fuck her if she were into me, but you’re definitely more her type.”
“How can you tell?”
“It’s the way she’s staring at you.”
The car starts driving, and I finally find the courage to speak. “I’m right here!” I say, but my voice comes out shrill and horrified. “I mean, I never said I’d, you know, go home and—” My cheeks turn bright red.
Mass turns to look at me. He studies me intensely. My mouth clamps shut, and I’m shaking slightly as his eyes move down my body. My dress is tight and short, and his gaze lingers on my thighs and breasts before returning to my lips. Finally, he meets my gaze.
“If you come home with me, I won’t be a gentleman. I’m not kind. I’m not soft.”
The woman sighs. “You really know how to flirt.”
“Stop talking, Lucy.” Mass keeps looking at me. “My place isn’t far.”
My head’s swimming. I’m extremely grateful that he just saved me from Thomas, but this is too much. They’re talking about sex with me like it’s some forgone conclusion. Like, of course, I’d happily spread my legs and let this big, beautiful, crazy scary beast fill me to the core—