Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 118333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
I showered and changed for dinner. I never once stopped moving; I paced my room until it was time to go. I couldn’t turn off my fucking head. I banged my fist against my skull just to take the memory of Adelita falling apart under me from my thoughts. Of realizing I’d just taken her virginity. Of how she slapped me, fought me, then kissed me like she couldn’t stand not to.
There was a knock on the door. My father stood there in a suit. His eyes ran over my slacks, fitted white button-down shirt, and black tie. But they fixed on the full-body tattoos that crept out from the collar and cuffs of my shirt. His lip lifted in disgust. Mine curled in victory. It was the one thing in my life I’d done against his wishes. Fucker had made me pay for it with my flesh. But it had been worth it to see his perfectly groomed heir no longer the all-American boy he wanted me to be. “True Klansmen are invisible, Tanner. They don’t wear their beliefs on their skins like heathens.” His message had been drummed into my head all my life. But when Tank left the Klan, I left the army, I spiraled, and I did exactly what the great Governor Ayers hadn’t wanted me to do.
It was the best decision I’d ever made. I wasn’t meant for political office like my pop. I was meant for war and violence. For blood and guns and glory.
I was created for the darkness.
“Let’s go.” My father led us to the veranda where dinner would be served. He leaned in close. “Keep your mouth shut. I’ll do the talking.” It was fine by me. I was useless here anyway. He had no intention of cluing me in on the contract he was building with Quintana. I was here for fucking show. And as witness.
Quintana was waiting at the table. We had only just been given drinks and directed to our seats by a maid when Quintana broke into a smile and stood from his place at the head of the table. I kept my eyes forward, I knew who had just arrived.
“Tanner, you remember my daughter, Adela.”
Clenching my jaw, I stood and reluctantly lifted my gaze to Adelita. Her brown eyes locked on mine, and I immediately saw something flare inside them.
Then my eyes fell to the man standing beside her. The man whose arm she was on. “And this is Diego,” Quintana said. “He’s my second.” Quintana looked at my father. “He will be joining us tomorrow as discussed. He’ll be heading the project with me.”
Anger burst inside me. My father saw it in my face; I knew it. I also knew he thought it was at being excluded from his meetings when this motherfucker was going to be there. But he was wrong. He was fucking dead wrong. My fury came from this dick’s arm holding Adelita’s.
“Señor Ayers.” Diego smiled at me. Keeping Adelita’s arm in his, he held out his free hand. I shook it and felt the effort behind the strength of his grip. I’d crush this fucker into pieces given half a chance. Fuck up his perfectly slicked back hair and three-thousand-dollar suit.
“Let’s sit, shall we?” Quintana said.
I did as he said, then stared down at my plate. I fucking forced myself to. But when Adelita said, “Did you have a good trip back to Mexico, Tanner?” I lifted my eyes and they locked on hers.
She smiled, but I could see her nerves underneath. I watched her throat work as she swallowed, her eyes dropping down to my chest. That fucking did something to me inside. Lit me the fuck up. I made her nervous. I’d gotten to her. I wondered if she was thinking what I was right now. If she was remembering me pushing her against the wall in the safe house, my hand on her throat. If she was remembering her mouth on mine, her teeth sinking into my flesh.
If she remembered me inside her, making her scream.
When my cock hardened, I let anger push it the fuck back down. I didn’t want this bitch. I didn’t want her anywhere near me. I had to remember that.
“Adelita asked you a question.” My eyes snapped to Diego beside her. The fucker, sitting there with his three-piece suit and his pissant dark eyes, was glaring at me. My neck tightened as I fought the urge to dive for the asshole and teach him some fucking manners.
I caught my father’s stony expression and turned to Adelita. “It was fine.”
When everyone had started eating, I looked up at Diego to see him watching me. I met his stare and let him know with my fucking eyes that I hated his spic ass on sight. And promised him that if I ever got the chance, I would fucking end him.