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)
“She can’t be happy.” Elena sounds like she knows firsthand, which I guess she does.
“She’ll be fine,” I grunt even though I don’t believe the words I’m saying. My thoughts are so consumed with her I barely taste the beef as it melts on my tongue. It might as well be sawdust. If she didn’t want to marry the prick, she wouldn’t.
No one forces Allie to do a damn thing.
“I just know she’s so nervous about the announcement at the gala next week.” Saint shakes her head. “I want to help and be supportive, but I don’t know how. It’s not like she really wants to marry the guy. She’s told me how much of a jerk he is.”
The fucking gala. Where the whole world will know some asshole thinks he can steal what’s mine. No. I can’t think like this. She’s the one who threw me away. She doesn’t want me. Likely never has. I was a source of amusement for the pretty little rich girl.
Wait, what? I jerk my head up and pin Saint with a look. Thankfully, neither she nor Calder notices because they’re too focused on their meal. “Did you say Allie doesn’t want to get married?”
Saint chews faster, bobbing her head until her mouth is clear. “No, of course not. Her mother is making her do it. I’m not sure how, as we all know how stubborn and bullheaded Allie can be.”
I gulp hard and try to keep everything racing through me from showing on my face. “Yeah, stubborn as a bronco.”
No. This can’t be right. Every conversation I’ve had with her since she’s been back flashes through my mind, and she’s never once said anything about this.
And why would she? It’s not like I’ve given her the chance to while torturing her emotionally and sexually. Threatening her and kissing her.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I contemplate getting up and leaving right this second, but it would be too obvious. I grit my teeth and sit through another ten minutes that may as well be a lifetime before standing again.
“This was fun. Let’s do it again sometime.”
“Where are you going?” Calder asks, his eyes narrowed.
Sawyer needs to learn to control his face better if he actually wants to be a fancy lawyer. But I ignore Calder.
“Don’t worry about it.” I finish my drink, then pause to nod in Elena’s direction.
She gives me the smallest, briefest smile, like we have a secret now. I offer Saint a nod too, then get the fuck out of there. I probably shouldn’t, but I won’t make it through the night if I don’t see her. I need to remind her who she belongs to.
I’ll strip her down and make her remember I’m the only man in the world who quiets the noise in her head. As she’s the one who quiets mine. Her fucking pansy-ass fiancé doesn’t know how to take care of a little filly, but I do.
Chapter 15
Kade
Ican barely see straight when I slide behind the wheel of my truck and slam the door closed. Dammit, Allie. She’s been pretending this whole fucking time. Dinner in Billings. How nice for her. For Emma, too, since she can keep pretending her life is so fucking perfect. The idea makes me laugh as I peel out, tires squealing.
Loud, pounding music fills the cab. And I twist the knob on the radio, needing to stay focused on the sharp edge of my anger. Did she smile at him tonight? Laugh at his jokes? Pretend she wants him like she pretended to want me? I slam the heel of my hand against the dashboard and push the truck to its limits, moving fast enough to make the engine roar. That’s nothing compared to the roaring in my head.
All this time, she could have fucking told me. I’d have helped her, done anything to make sure she doesn’t have to marry that asshole, even if she doesn’t want me instead.
Once I’m close to the Porter ranch, I slow down, taking the familiar dirt road I always use when I sneak in. I climb out as soon as I’ve parked alongside the fence and turned off the truck.
No way she does this to me. I won’t let it happen. I want my fingerprints on her skin when she walks down that aisle if she’s so fucking determined to play the martyr. I want the memory of us burned into her brain so it’s my face she sees when she’s exchanging her vows. If I can manage it, I want my cum dripping between her creamy thighs to stain her wedding dress.
I may not be able to brand her flesh, but I will brand her mind. She will never be free of me. That “breakup” was bullshit, and we both know it.
Once again, I use the broken lock to enter the root cellar. It isn’t as late as it normally is when I do this, but I’m not worried. With the women out to dinner in Billings, the staff seems to have decided to take the night for themselves. The kitchen is empty, the house dark.