Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Rafe helps me detach the keys from my belt loop and unlocks the door.
“Just throw me on the bed, and I’ll be good,” I tell them.
They help me onto the bed, and Rafe grabs me a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and my pain pills from the bathroom. Both of them hover over me, staring me down with pitiful expressions.
“You’re seeing Mariella today,” Angelo reminds me.
“Fine, but don’t send her here. She won’t keep it from Gabi.”
“I’m not keeping it from Gabi either, if she asks,” Angelo says. “You know it’s only a matter of time before this blows up in your face.”
“Yeah, I got it. Can you fuck off now and let me sleep so I can do what I need to do today?”
“Call Mariella,” Angelo bites out as they head for the door. “Or I’m sending her here.”
24
GABRIELA
My day at school passes in a blur, and midway through classes, news breaks that more members of Imperium have been arrested. Mixed reactions ripple through campus, but it’s obvious the loyalists to the accused far outweigh the critics.
I’ve been the recipient of unwanted attention lately, and every day grows progressively worse.
I suspect members of Imperium have been spreading the word that I was with Nate and the others the night he disappeared. Now, everyone’s looking at me like I did something wrong, rather than the guys who have been assaulting women.
Everywhere I go, they’re staring at me and whispering. Even my classes aren’t safe. Bethany and her friends are more obnoxious than usual, and today I opened my cubby to find someone had stolen my supplies before studio. The only thing left behind was a sketchbook that didn’t belong to me.
I took it to the bathroom to open it, knowing whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. But it was even worse than I thought. Inside, there were hundreds of photos they’d secretly taken of me—each one with my eyes scratched out. They wanted me to know they’d been watching, and the scribbled observations in the margins confirmed it was meant to scare me.
We know you were there.
Your guard can’t watch you 24/7.
This isn’t over.
You should be more careful. Never know what might be waiting for you.
Nobody wants you here.
Everybody hates you.
I couldn’t read anymore, so I tossed it into the trash and cried, only to hear some of my classmates snickering outside the stall.
I felt sick for the rest of the day, and it doesn’t help that I haven’t heard from Eros either. Usually, he’d leave me a note or send me a message before I wake up, but today, I got nothing. When I texted him at lunch, he didn’t respond, and the feeling that I’m being ignored leaves a quiet ache in my chest.
I said this was supposed to be casual, but I’ve been lying to myself.
When he’s not with me, I feel his absence more than I care to admit. But there are things I’ve conveniently ignored that only complicate my feelings, like the fact that he feels too familiar. I’ve tried to write it off as paranoia or coincidence, but at some point, I’ll have to ask the questions I’ve been putting off.
Part of me feels like I should just ask Eros to reveal himself, but the other part of me is terrified. I’ve been happy with him, and once I know, it will change everything.
When Julian and I arrive home after school, my mood doesn’t improve when I find Michael waiting for me in the lobby.
He looks terrible, with shadowed eyes and a bruise on his cheek, and it sets me on edge. He never comes to see me in person, so whatever he has to tell me must be important.
Julian stiffens when he sees him, inching closer like he’s ready to protect me from my own stepfather. In the past, all my guards have been quick to show their respect to Michael. After all, he’s the one who’s supposed to hire them. But now I’m wondering if he actually did?
I’m trying to remember if he ever paid attention to who my last guard was. Would he even notice if they’d been switched? Honestly, probably not. Michael doesn’t concern himself with me unless he has to.
“Gabi.” He nods at me. “I need to talk to you for a minute.”
“Okay,” I answer nervously.
Julian hesitates like he doesn’t even want him here, but ultimately, we all pile into the elevator together and ride up in stilted silence. When the doors open and we step into the penthouse, Michael lets out a low whistle.
“Pays to have friends in high places, huh?”
He sounds bitter, and I don’t know why he cares as long as he doesn’t have to deal with me.
“I need a few minutes with Gabriela,” Michael tells Julian.
Julian seems reluctant to leave, and he glances at me as if to silently communicate he’ll be there if I need him. It’s strange that he’s so wary of Michael, but I suppose he’s probably picked up that he’s not a very nice man.