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)
I’m a loner. I stick to myself. I’d be an easy choice, honestly. No one would go looking for me. Well, that’s not true. My dad would notice. But other than that, no one would care.
That’s why I agreed to join him for dinner tonight. Something we never do. I stay away from him because he had another family that I had to hide from. Story of my life. It never bothered me before. But now he’s married another woman and wants us all to be one big, happy family.
I pull my car up to the mansion and get out, straightening my dress. It makes me uncomfortable being here. I’m not used to this part of their world.
The money.
The class.
I’m used to the basements, chains, and blood.
I grew up differently from most of the women in the society. I’ve watched behind the scenes for years as women became chosens and Ladies. The sad part is, I was jealous.
I wanted to be a chosen—belong to one man. But I was born for a purpose that I can’t even fulfill. Not anymore. It was a decision I had to make, and I’ve come to terms with it.
The front double doors open, and I sigh when I see the pretty blonde stepping outside onto the porch. “Everett, I thought that was you. Please come in.”
Giving her a fake smile, I walk up the stone steps in a pair of black spiked Louboutins. They were a gift from my dad. Said he saw them and instantly thought of me using them to kick a man in the balls. Have to love a father who encourages your rage.
“Hello, Janice. It smells lovely,” I tell her, entering the house, though I know she didn’t make it. Her staff did. I can’t be mean to her, though. She’s been so nice and welcoming to me and the man I choose to call Dad.
“Thank you. Please make yourself comfortable. Can I get you a drink?”
“Yes, please.” I’d take a whole bottle of whatever she has, but that would make me look like a lush. One drink can’t hurt. She did offer.
Janice walks off toward the kitchen, her heels clapping on the marble floor, and I nervously slide my hand down my dress. A bad habit that I wish I could break. I hate looking weak or nervous, but I’m not a family type of girl. Yet here I am, willingly accepting an offer to have dinner with my family. At least, that’s what my dad called it when he phoned me yesterday. I couldn’t resist. He wants everything to be perfect for his new wife.
So I obliged and promised to indulge him by showing up to this dinner. I wish I had someone who cared about me as much.
The doors open behind me, and I hear laughter as I turn around to see two familiar faces. They don’t know who I am, but I know them.
“Oh, hello.” The bleached blonde smiles at me.
The man holding her hand looks me up and down with apprehension. He knows I don’t belong. That I’m no one. “Who the hell are you?” he asks. His hard tone mirrors what I’m thinking.
The woman softly slaps his chest in a warning to be nice, but I don’t act bothered. It’s only fair that he asks that question. Since this is his mother’s house.
“Everett, but, please, call me Eve.” I hold out my right hand to her because that’s what you do when you want to get to know someone.
The woman smiles, taking her hand from his in order to shake mine. “Ellington,” she introduces herself. “But you can call me Elli.” Then she places her hand on the man’s chest, smiling proudly. “This is my husband, Easton.”
His eyes narrow on mine, as if he’s heard of me. Then he looks me up and down again, but this time he’s sizing me up. Seeing how hard it’ll be for him to snap my neck. After how easily Kashton took me to my knees, I know it wouldn’t take this man much.
Elli drops her hand to her growing belly, and I look over her halo wedding ring. This is one of the families that Kashton warned me about. Easton is one of the men who will throw me into the fire to save his loved ones. I can’t blame them for that. I wish I had someone who loved me enough to sacrifice someone else.
But as I learned at a young age, not everyone deserves to know what it feels like to be loved.
KASHTON
I sit in the office with Haidyn and Saint. We’re still not on the best terms. We all seem to be ignoring the elephant in the room, and I’m allowing it. If they don’t want to talk to me, I’m not going to force them.