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)
My lungs burn, and I squirm in his grip, trying to get a breath. Where are my drugs when I need them? I try and buck my hips, but it does no good. All of his weight is pinning me to the leather cushions.
Panic grips my chest, and my face throbs from the lack of oxygen. I kick my legs, the heels of my boots digging into the couch, and try to twist and turn to get a breath, but it does no good.
His hand tightens more on my throat while he lifts his hips off my waist, and his free hand shoves my miniskirt up before gripping my fishnets and ripping them. His eyes scan my exposed thigh before he does the same to the other. Once he’s done looking at them, he places his weight back on them and his eyes find mine. My vision is fading in and out as my eyes grow heavy.
“These Lords have wives, babies on the way. And I promise, they won’t think twice about dangling you as bait to make sure that their families go untouched.” Letting go of my neck, he gets off me, and I roll off the edge of the couch, landing on my side, coughing and sputtering.
As I get to my hands and knees, he crouches in front of me and cups my chin, forcing my watery eyes up to his. His free hand gently pushes away the loose strands of hair that fell from my ponytail during our fight. “I’m the only ally you have right now, Eve. I can protect you.”
I give a rough laugh, still trying to breathe. “I…don’t need your protection.”
His eyes roam my face and linger on my parted lips. I’m gasping, sucking in deep breaths, my chest burning. “You’re not untouchable, Everett. All I had to do was get you alone in a room and wrap my hand around your pretty neck.” He gently runs his tatted knuckles down my burning throat, and I lift my chin higher at the touch. “And within seconds, you were on your back with ripped stockings. Imagine what a room full of Lords could do to you. It won’t take much for them to strip you naked, tie you down, and make you the offering they need.”
If only he knew how close he is to my past. I’ve been there, and I refuse to go back. “Are you going to protect me or lead them to me?” I arch a brow. Don’t trust anyone is what I’ve learned along the way.
“They already know where you are, angel. It’s a matter of time before they show up at your door.” With that, he gets to his feet, grabs his backpack, and exits the office, leaving me on all fours.
KASHTON
Junior year at Barrington University
I enter my father’s office to find him and his brothers all at their desks. I walk over to my father’s. “I know who I want for my chosen.”
“You don’t get to choose.” Garrett, Haidyn’s dad, speaks as if I was talking to him. The thing about the Spade brothers is that they all think they’re your dad.
My father looks up at me from his computer and sits back in his chair. “Name,” he asks, picking up his pen.
“Eve,” I answer.
His pen pauses on the piece of paper, and he looks up at me. “Eve what?”
“That’s all I know,” I say honestly.
He drops his pen. “Does she go to Barrington?”
“Not that I know of.” I’ve never seen her there before. I would have remembered her, but it’s a huge college. So it’s always a possibility.
He sighs, and I hear the others laugh. “Well…how the fuck do you know her?” my father demands.
I think about that for a second and decide I can’t lie to him. Not about this. I want her more than anything for my senior year. “During my initiation. On the Isabella.” That was last month, and I can’t get her out of my head. Where the fuck did she go? We were on a yacht. Did she jump off it after she left me? I searched everywhere for her, only to come up empty. The only thing she was wearing was my suit jacket. She didn’t even take her heels. No purse. No phone. Nothing. Did she get killed for what I did to the Lord she was with? She probably had a pimp and was punished for not doing her job.
My father frowns.
Garrett’s laugh gets my attention. “Son, if she was on the Isabella, then she’s a prostitute…”
“Meaning she’s not a virgin,” my father adds.
My teeth grind. I already knew this. All Lords get a chosen their senior year at Barrington University. After we’re initiated into the Lords. But only the Spade brothers are required to take a virgin. “I want her.” I don’t give a shit who she’s fucked.