Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
“Ani,” Diya whimpered again. “No! No! No!”
Her eyes snapped open, both hands flying to the sides of her head. “Stop, stop!”
“Baby, wake up.” I cupped her face as one of the monitors began to beep. “You’re in the hospital. Diya.”
Dark, dark eyes stared into mine, her pupils so huge they nearly eclipsed her irises. “The wind chime, Tavi, the wind chime won’t stop.” She sobbed, her hands clutching at my wrists. “Please, please, make it stop! Ani, I’m so sorry! Ani!”
Chapter 58
Jocelyn
“Another loss at the tables?” Jocelyn raised an eyebrow as she put down her empty whiskey tumbler. “Tut-tut, my dear, this losing streak is starting to make you unattractive.” Jocelyn didn’t know why she was being so spiteful to Tavish except that it was a way to crack that armor of easy charm he wore like a shield.
The same things that had drawn her to him—his intelligence and composure—now irritated her, making her feel like she was on the outside looking in.
As she watched, he smiled at her. “You’re in a vicious mood, aren’t you, Joss?” Walking over, he cupped her cheek, kissed her softly on the lips. “I wouldn’t be a loser if you hadn’t dragged me deeper and deeper into the world of high-stakes gambling.”
“So it’s my fault you have no self-control and no skill?”
He stepped back, shook his head. “No. But I don’t think I can play your games tonight.” The curtains closing over his eyes, shutting her out. “I’ll see you tomorrow when you’re in a better mood.”
“Fuck off, then.” She wasn’t about to beg any man to stay. “Get out!”
He was already at the door. Opening it, he stepped out into the hallway before glancing back. “You look beautiful in that gown.”
“Fuck you!” Picking up the glass she’d just put down, she threw it at him.
It smashed against the doorjamb.
He stood there, hands in his pockets, his smile sad in a way that infuriated her. She knew all about Susanne—oh, he never talked about her, but Jocelyn had connections, had heard all about their fucking love story.
But he wouldn’t give her that, give her what he’d given Susanne Winthorpe.
Screaming, she walked over and slammed the door in his face, then kicked off her heels and poured herself another drink.
She was on her fourth one when she walked into the bedroom to find candles burning on the decorative hearth…and a neat row of brightly colored pills on her bedside table. Her mouth watered, her hand already reaching for them before she realized Tavish must’ve put them there.
“I shouldn’t have been such a bitch,” she mumbled to the room as she swallowed one dry and let the drug work its way into her system with unhurried ease.
The hit was intense when it came, made her sway languidly as she danced to inner music while the breeze from the open balcony door swept over her. She really shouldn’t have been so nasty to Tavish. He’d clearly meant for them to party tonight—even though the boy had always previously refused to sample drugs, no matter how much she tried to tempt him into a taste.
Undoing the button at the back of her neck, she let her long black gown fall to her feet, then made her way to the bathroom…to be greeted by countless other candles and a full bubble bath on which floated rose petals as red as blood.
She’d come in here to remove her makeup but now ran her fingers through the bubbles. She could’ve been in that bath with her lover right now if she hadn’t been so vicious to him.
Going back to the room dressed in her panties, she picked up her phone and called Tavish. When he didn’t answer, she sent him a message: Sorry for being a bitch. Thank you for the romance and the chocolates.
That was what she’d always called her little fun-time pills—but they were better than chocolate to her. And she couldn’t resist when they were in front of her, which was why she only bought two at a time. But gorgeous Tavish had given her five, and Jocelyn saw no reason to resist temptation.
Not when she’d fucked up her night so royally.
At least this would make her feel good.
A faraway horn drifted in through the balcony doors as the second dose made its way into her system. She danced again, but she was already getting hot as she always did when she partied. That was all right. It was why she had a balcony. She’d go out there for some fresh air after she’d indulged a little more.
Just one more chocolate, one more hit of happiness.
Chapter 59
Shumi still wasn’t fully conscious by nightfall, her body and mind trapped in a twilight space that was silent purgatory.
Her entire family was camped out in her room, but when I looked across at her mother from the doorway, I glimpsed only a kind of resigned tightness in her expression. Playing a role, being what the world expected of mothers.