Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 143453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
I step back, not-so-subtly forcing some distance between us.
Creighton’s brow dips from my breasts to my waist and down to where the dress stops above my knees.
It’s a miracle I don’t catch fire under his ruthless intensity before he slides his scalding attention back to my face.
“It’s you,” I murmur.
“You expected someone else?”
I’m not ready for the onslaught of his perfectly calm, deeply rich voice. That voice does unpleasant things to me, like turning me absolutely obsessed to the point where I attempted everything under the sun just so I could hear it again.
Including watching and rewatching some old videos in which I was bugging him to speak more than a few words.
But that’s neither for here nor now.
I take another step back. “Where am I? Where have you taken me?”
His expression, cold and callous, gains a sinister edge. “Somewhere no one can find you.”
“W-what?”
“We’re on a faraway island no one can reach. Not even your father and his gang of serial killers.”
My lips quiver, but I force myself to remain calm. “Where’s Cecily? What have you done to her?”
“Probably back to catch her classes.”
“You…made her trick me?”
“No force was involved. She agreed to help on her own, though she thought I only wanted to talk to you. I told her nothing about this plan.”
My limbs tremble the more I stare at his lifeless eyes. It’s like I’m looking at a stranger, a person without a core, a heart, or morals.
A being that’s designed for vengeance.
That’s all Creighton ever wanted, and that’s the only thing he’s actively pursued ever since he found out about my family’s involvement in his tragic childhood.
I was and always will be a tool with which he’ll use to exact revenge on Mom and Papa.
And although I figured that out a long time ago, this is the first time it’s slapped me across the face with enough strength to cause a sting in my eyes.
It takes everything in me to speak in a composed tone. “I want to go home.”
“This is the only home you’ll have. Get used to it.”
“Creighton…this is called kidnapping.”
“And you shooting me is called attempted murder, but you don’t see me putting a label on that.”
I flinch as if I’ve been punched in the gut.
And it’s not only due to his words. It’s the dispassionate way he speaks with, the coldness that coats his skin, and the cruelty that radiates off him.
I don’t recognize the man who stands in front of me. He’s a mash of particles with no heart or soul.
And I need to get the hell away from him before he does something we’ll both regret.
I let my gaze stray sideways in search of an escape.
The door is behind him, and as much as I want to use that obvious option, there’s no way I’d win against Creighton in the physical department. Not only is he bigger than me, but he literally pummels people for sport.
I’m not ready for what happens next.
I’ve been so caught up in my plans to escape that I completely missed when he started advancing toward me.
The moment I look up, it’s too late.
His body traps mine and his hand wraps around my throat. He squeezes enough that my complete attention homes in on him.
The grip is firm enough to freeze me in place, allowing me only enough air to inhale him, and fall irrevocably into him.
“You don’t need to busy that pretty brain of yours with thoughts of escaping, because that won’t be happening. You’re mine now, little purple, literally and figuratively.”
My nails dig into his wrist. “Creighton, stop this, please…”
“Don’t beg when we still haven’t gotten to that phase yet.” His fingers stroke my throat with no ounce of warmth whatsoever. “I’m going to need you to be real obedient for me, can you do that?”
I purse my lips.
“Answer the question.”
“I’m not your plaything.”
“You’re more than that. You’re the subject of my vengeance, Annika. You shot me and there needs to be retaliation.”
I don’t see it, but I can hear the sound of my heart smashing to pieces. The heart that I thought died the moment I pulled the trigger is obviously not completely gone. It keeps scratching, tugging, and attempting to burst out of my chest.
So I was right.
I had a tiny hope that the time we spent together would at least mean something to Creighton, but I thought wrong.
He’s blinded by revenge and will never see anything past it.
Despite the pain that’s breaking me apart at that bitter realization, I won’t stay to find out what he has in store for me.
I stare at his impassive eyes that I once used as an anchor while my calm voice carries in the air. “You kidnapped Nikolai and forced my brother to come get him, then you made him watch his best friend get his own throat sliced. You forced me to watch you stab my only brother while I had a gun pointed at you. While I was high on emotions. I begged you to stop, I begged you, Creighton, but you made me pull that trigger.”