Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
“You break your promise, and I’ll return to this room. Next time, I won’t be so kind.” I snatch her white lace panties off the floor and stuff them into my pocket.
“I already told you I wouldn’t.” Her voice is softer now.
“We’ll see,” I hum.
“I fucking get it, Kade. You have all the power and control, and if I step out of line, you will do whatever you can to destroy me. Enough already. Can you please untie me?” Her voice holds her usual defiant edge, but something else is mixed in, something that sounds a lot like defeat, and I don’t fucking like it. Not that I should give a shit.
She certainly didn’t care when she smashed my fucking heart into a million pieces. With a sigh, I help her to her feet and ease her onto the bed face-first so I can undo the knot. Once she’s untied, I take a couple of steps back and wait for her to attack.
“You proved your fucking point. Now leave,” she orders, then climbs back into her bed, sitting in a normal position.
The fuck? Who does she think she is?
“I don’t take orders from you, and I wouldn’t be here had you listened to me in the first place, but like always, you’re too stubborn for your own damn good.”
All I can do is hope like hell she sticks to her word. Because next time, she might learn exactly how far Roman is willing to go to silence those who threaten his family. I can’t bring myself to think of that any more than I can think about the enormous diamond ring on her finger the other day. The sight of it made my gut churn while my blood turned to acid, eating me up inside.
“All I wanted to know was if she was okay. That’s it.” Her voice cracks with emotion, and I need to get the fuck out of here before she starts to cry. Not that I think she would let me see her so vulnerable.
“I don’t care what you want. Keep your mouth shut, and nothing more will happen.”
She glares daggers at me but doesn’t say a word. I grab my gun and wrap up my rope, then leave the same way I came, disappearing into the darkness. Even as I walk away from her, I know this won’t be my last interaction with Allie.
I’ll return to this house, to her fucking room. All for another hit. She’s a deadly temptation wrapped in sweet-scented silk. An addiction that will no doubt kill me in the end. And I am hopelessly hooked on her fear. Her dread. Having her life in my hands.
This won’t be the last time I claim her body, her mind, or her fear.
Not even close.
Chapter 6
Allie
Saint won’t message me back. I’ve texted. I’ve called. And even after we made eye contact at the rodeo, she still hasn’t responded to me. The light from my phone catches the facets in the diamond on my finger.
I hate this ring. I hate the situation I’m in. I hate not knowing what’s going on with Saint.
“Now you know for sure.” Mom glances at me from the driver’s seat of her black Escalade. She drives herself despite our money. It’s one of her quirks. Pretending she’s a normal down-to-earth person when she’s not. Anything to ensure no one mistakes her for thinking or acting like a Bishop. God forbid.
I turn my head toward her and heave a sigh that comes from the tips of my toes. I’m so tired, it’s unreal. “What did you say?”
“I swear, you might as well be a thousand miles away.” It sounds motherly, but I hear the bite under her words. She’s pissed I wasn’t giving her all my attention. I’ll pay for it later. “I said now you know Saint is alive and well.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “There’s no way to know if she’s well. Yes, she’s alive, but that doesn’t mean she’s okay. She’s married to Calder Bishop now. You don’t see a problem with that?”
Mom clicks her tongue and shrugs. “I certainly wouldn’t have picked him for a husband, but that’s me. People make stupid choices all the time, Allie. It’s not up to us to understand them. Trust me. The harder you try, the worse you’ll feel.”
What the fuck is happening right now?
All my life, there hasn’t been a bigger critic of the Bishops than the woman now tapping her horn at the driver in front of us. And somehow, she’s suddenly on their fucking side.
“I thought you cared about her. If only for my sake. What if she was forced to marry him?”
“Aren’t we being dramatic today?” she snaps, and her sudden change in tone makes me move closer to the door, away from her. “You spent over a week worrying like hell about her. I mean, you were convinced she was dead, or kidnapped, or worse. Even knowing she’s alive and well, you still aren’t satisfied?”