Total pages in book: 331
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
“What’s better, Sin, huh? The world thinking she no longer exists, or the Lords regifting her to another Lord who passes her around to his friends? And what about the babies—”
His fist connects with my face before I even know he’s turned around. I wouldn’t fight him anyway. I owe him for what I did when I thought he helped take Adam from us.
“Fuck you, Kash,” he shouts, his fists slamming into my chest, knocking me back even farther. “Stay away from me and stay the fuck away from my wife.” With that, he gets on his bike, starts it up, revs his engine, and tears out of the parking lot, leaving a fresh black mark.
I make my way back up to Tyson’s office, and when I enter, their chatter comes to an abrupt stop. My eyes go to the TV that hangs on the wall, and I see they’ve got the cameras showing the back parking lot without audio. I look at Ryat, and he smirks as Tyson tosses him a hundred-dollar bill. “I bet Ty that Sin would be the first to throw a punch. The fact that you didn’t hit back tells me you deserved it.”
TEN
EVERETT
Iguess you could say that I live two lives. The one the Lords want me to have and one that they would kill me for.
It’s no secret that the Lords will fuck over whoever they can. They purposely seek out those who betray their oath. They love to make examples of them.
Punishment is key.
It’s another night, and I find myself walking up to the cemetery behind the cathedral. I’m here every night. I came to terms with my life years ago.
You’re probably wondering why I’d choose this life over death. I asked myself that same question for a very long time.
I used to pray to any god that would listen to kill me. I begged my body to give up and just let go. Certain it’d be better than this hell. Then one day, I had the opportunity to end it myself.
Eighteen years old
I’m officially eighteen. An adult. So they say. It doesn’t change who I am or where I’ve been.
Hell.
Burning in fucking hell.
My father woke me up in the middle of the night, dragged me out of my bed, and threw me into the passenger seat of a car. After he slammed the door shut, he stood outside of it, talking to a man I’d never seen before.
Now, he turns and goes inside while the guy gets in the driver’s seat.
“Seat belt,” he demands, pulling out of the gates.
“Where…where are we going?” I ask, rubbing my sweaty hands down my thighs.
The guy remains silent, which only raises my concern. My father never lets me leave home. He keeps me secluded and isolated.
My chest hurts from how violently my heart is beating. I’m shaking, my nose running, and my heart is broken. I never thought it would get this bad. A part of me knew, but I never wanted to believe it.
Why me? Why now?
No one can help me. I’m on my own.
My father expects me to just take it. Lie down and accept whatever he wants from me.
Well, lie down isn’t the right word. A woman tied down can’t run. A woman gagged can’t scream for help.
The Lords want us helpless, not compliant. No. The fucking bastards get off on the fight. They feel the most powerful when they hold you down.
“Where are we going?” I manage to control my voice better this time.
The man who’s driving begins to whistle.
Fresh tears run down my face, and my stomach knots, thinking about what they did to me. What they’re going to do to me. What else is there? They’ve taken everything I have. My mind, my body, my will. There’s nothing left for me to give.
I feel sick and need to vomit again. It’s on my shirt and my jeans. I couldn’t swallow it anymore.
I can’t do this. I won’t do this.
The man’s phone begins to ring, and he picks it up, placing it to his ear. “Yes, sir,” he says. “I understand.” He goes back to his fucking whistling.
I know what I have to do. I have no other option. My father has a tracker on me just in case something like this happens. He was afraid I’d run away, but I had nowhere to go.
So why let me leave now? I don’t even know how to drive a car to run away. I’m not allowed to have a life. No friends or family other than him. I never got to go to school. Forget college. He controls when and what I eat. When I sleep. He rules everything.
My life is a prison sentence, and he’s the warden.
I see the curve coming up ahead as the headlights shine on the road sign signaling to slow down. I take a quick look at the guy who stares straight ahead.