Touch of Hate Read Online J.L. Beck, Cassandra Hallman

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Dark, Forbidden, Mafia, Romance Tags Authors: ,
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Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
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The invisible knife in my gut sinks deeper.

Then it turns, sending burning pain radiating outward.

It’s enough to slow my packing as I consider what it will do to her when she finds out what I attempted. She’s more than a temptation put on earth to plague me. She’s young and stubborn enough to ignore anything she doesn’t feel like believing.

Such as the absolute futility of caring about me. It’s a waste of time. Yet she insists on doing so anyway, when she isn’t driving me out of my skull with the need to touch, taste…claim. Every kiss and caress was a mistake. At the time, I imagined the greatest danger was being discovered by her brother, who’d waste no time killing me. Now, I know I made her care more for me with every forbidden encounter.

I could have stopped things in their tracks before we went too far. At least, that’s what I have to tell myself. Memory has a way of softening things, of making me believe all of this could’ve gone differently. That I could’ve been strong. Refused her. Pretended she didn’t exist.

Reality was another story.

“Where’s Scarlet?”

This time around, it’s Xander who notices his daughter’s absence from the dinner table. She’s been gone for nearly ten minutes, which I know since I’ve checked the time more than once when she didn’t come straight back.

She would have to go and do this, wouldn’t she? It’s bad enough I’m already overly aware of her. Ever since that night with the Grimaldi family, there’s been no getting her out of my head. She’s a temptation I can’t shake.

A danger I should know better than to entertain, even when I’m alone, even when she is miles away, and there’s no possibility of us running into each other.

Even then, I shouldn’t think about her as much as I do or the way that I do. Because now, it’s become a habit, and the line between fantasy and reality blurs further all the time.

Now, when she leaves the dinner table with no explanation, I’m far too aware of her. There was a time—not so long ago—when I wouldn’t give it a moment’s thought, too busy eating and busting Q’s balls, something Luna and Scarlet love to tag team on.

Instead, every ounce of my awareness is trained on her. I take a bite of beef, but it might as well be sawdust. Where did she go? Why hasn’t she come back?

I meet Xander’s inquisitive gaze, shrugging.

“I can take a look and make sure she’s okay.”

He nods, satisfied, before returning to his conversation with my father. A quick glance around the table confirms no one thinks anything strange is going on. Why would they? I haven’t done anything wrong. Yet.

I hate the presence of that word ringing out in my head as I excuse myself from the table and begin my hunt.

Nothing inappropriate has taken place between us—yet.

Not in reality, at least.

In my imagination? That’s an entirely different story. It’s a miracle my dick isn’t permanently chafed from the attention it gets every time Scarlet comes to mind.

What is it about her? What’s changed? Ever since the night I caught Enzo Grimaldi screwing with her in the library, there’s been no getting her out of my system. Not the child I always considered her, but the woman she’s becoming. A woman I have no business going anywhere near, no matter how right it would feel in the moment to let go of my qualms.

She’s not in the hall, the kitchen, or the powder room. I glance toward the sweeping staircase leading upstairs and consider searching for her up there but hold myself back. God forbid she’s in her bedroom, where I’ve already imagined ravishing her more than once.

Another minute of searching leads me to the terrace overlooking the garden. I find her there, leaning her folded arms against the railing, gazing out at a landscape painted by the first beams of a radiant full moon.

My mouth goes dry, my heart forgetting to beat.

She’s beyond any fantasy. A vision in a blue dress the same shade as her eyes, shining blond locks hanging in thick waves that conceal her profile, adding to her mystery. I’d stand here admiring her all evening if it wasn’t for the reality of our meal waiting for us.

“Hey,” I grunt, careful to keep my distance. “You’ve been missed. Better get back.”

She turns slowly, revealing a soft, knowing smile and a gleam of wickedness in her gaze. “It took you long enough.”

“Pardon?” I choke out. That’s not how this is supposed to go. She was not supposed to be waiting for me out here.

“To find me. I’ve been waiting for you,” she whispers.

It’s a struggle to remain blank-faced. “Why?”

Why is she doing this to me?

“I wanted a minute alone with you.” Turning slowly, she smooths her hands down the front of her dress and asks, “What do you think? I bought it with you in mind.”


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