Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
“Something else you need?” Lyam asks his brother while he makes a turn. I’d bet good money we are heading toward the Louvre.
I learned the layout of Paris years ago and have it committed to memory. I walk the streets in my dreams sometimes.
“Just wanted to tell you I’ll be in Paris next week. Savannah’s decided she wants her prenatal care here instead of Corsica. She said —”
He keeps talking but I don’t hear a word because of the pounding of blood rushing in my ears. My cheeks feel hot and my chest, heavy. My skin prickles with awareness and fear.
My mind completely short-circuited at prenatal care.
Savannah’s pregnant? Oh my God.
Savannah’s pregnant and I betrayed her.
She could have died because of me.
I was the one that handed her over. I was the one that let their enemies in. If she’d died, her blood would’ve been on my hands.
Pregnant.
It doesn’t matter that I had no choice. It doesn’t matter that I did what I thought I had to.
“What the hell is going on with you?” Lyam asks me. I swipe at my cheeks, angry that I’ve always cried easily. I try not to, but it seems the harder I try, the harder I cry.
I didn’t even realize they’d disconnected the call.
I shake my head. I don’t want to talk.
“Did he fucking hurt you?” Lyam snaps, as he yanks the steering wheel, pulls over to the side of the road, and slams on the brake. “If that fucking asshole hurt you, you’ll fucking tell me.”
I shake my head. I know he’s talking about Claude, and I know that if I told him Claude hurt me, he’d destroy him.
“He didn’t hurt me. It’s nothing. I’m cold and tired.” I put ice into my voice to cover up the trembling and turn to face him. He doesn’t deserve my honesty and vulnerability. He had that once, and that was enough. “That’s all. Now take me back to wherever you’re taking me and do whatever you’re going to do to me already.”
Lyam grabs my chin, his eyes blazing into mine. Even when he’s furious with me, my body can’t forget what it’s like when he touches me. My skin feels warm and tingly, and my heart beats too fast.
“You think you’ll get away with stonewalling me? You think I won’t find out?”
I stare at him, unblinking. I refuse to cave. I refuse to let him have any control over me.
I know he’ll find out. I know he’ll find out everything eventually. I just need this to be on my terms, not his, and I have my reasons.
“Do you have any idea where we’re going?” he asks, his lips curving in a sardonic smile.
I know we’re not in Corsica anymore, obviously, so my fear that I’d be kept in one of the cages at Le Luxe was unfounded.
Not that he doesn’t have whatever else he needs at his disposal, wherever the hell he is.
I shake my head, glaring at him.
I can’t believe I ever thought I loved this asshole.
“Oh, I have no idea. I suppose you’re taking me deep into your lair, where no one else will ever find us.” I pretend to shiver. “A top-secret underground bunker? Oooh, maybe an abandoned warehouse with cement floors and scary rope suspension systems. No, no, I know! A hidden cave behind a waterfall!”
“You know what they say about sarcasm, darling?” he asks with his own brand of sarcasm. The coldness in his eyes makes my teeth chatter.
“What’s that?” I ask, pretending he doesn’t terrify me.
“It’s a form of contempt. A method of hiding one’s true feelings. A form of great disrespect. And you know how I feel about disrespect, Cosette.”
My eyes grow misty again. I hope he doesn’t notice.
It’s so much more difficult to harden my heart when he calls me by name.
I remember what it was like, being pinned beneath him, helpless under his harnessed weight, overpowered by him but safe in every way. I remember the way he’d give me a look—just a look to let me know I’d crossed a line and delicious punishment would follow. A fixed stare, a tight, cold expression. A raised eyebrow or a subtle shake of his head. The slightest hint of disapproval set my heart to pounding.
But he isn’t flirting with me this time.
Punishment at his hands now wouldn’t electrify my senses and end with my back arching in climax as he wrenched orgasm after orgasm from my body.
No. This time, any discipline he inflicts will be to teach me a lesson.
To remind me that my life is disposable.
No longer mine.
He doesn’t know the truth.
“I do know how you feel,” I say in what I hope is a nonchalant voice. “I know very clearly how you feel about disrespect. I know how you feel about loyalty and trust, too. And I know why I’m here, Lyam. So let’s not waste each other’s time.”