Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112449 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112449 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
“But you’re lying,” I whispered. “If you die, there’s no one to tell me where she is. I won’t be able to save her, and that’s what you want. For me to be a killer and a failure.”
“No, baby.” His voice was almost soft. “I may not have the right to say these words, but you have to trust me. I haven’t lied to you since we started this together. I won’t lie to you now.”
The truck pulled off the road, engine dying along with the music.
“Do what you were meant to do,” he said as the Bedlam Boys piled out of the car. “And you’ll be free.”
“No— Wait!”
Cairo dropped the tailgate, hopping in to shove Cavendish out into Roan and Legend’s waiting arms. The man didn’t have a strong relationship with shirts. He was bare-chested again—back rippling in the moonlight as he lifted the grown man with ease. They were all bare-chested, and I wasn’t better for it. They looked like the warriors they emulated. Strong, powerful, free of society’s morals.
Sometime during my concussed stupor, they lost Jacques and Arsenio. Maybe they’d gone ahead to prep the old run-down property for the hundreds of townspeople preparing to descend.
Cavendish didn’t make a sound as they carted him off. The same couldn’t be said for me.
“Cairo, you don’t know what you’re doing.” I scrambled to get my feet under me, desperate to chase down the one man who knew where Jennifer Wilson was. “He’s a dangerous man!”
“I’m a dangerous man.” Cairo crouched beside me. His fingers trailed the edge of my jaw, enticing a rippling shiver down my body. “He’s puffed-up trash who fooled himself into thinking the rules don’t apply to him. He should’ve known better, and you’re about to learn. I saw that video you and Jacques made. On top of defying me and refusing to share your little secrets, you’ve racked up quite a list of offenses.”
“None of that matters now,” I snapped.
“Doesn’t it? Mattered enough to get you here.”
I shook him off. “This isn’t about me and you. Please, Cairo, listen. There’s a girl named Jennifer Wilson. Maybe you know her. Cavendish kid—”
“Shh.” Cairo stuffed an oily cloth in my mouth. “Time for the king to take his throne. I’ll play court to your pleas for mercy after.”
“Hmpf!”
Hopping out of the truck bed, he closed the gate and disappeared.
Tears soaked my face. Screaming, I thrashed on the unforgiving surface, picturing with crushing clarity Jennifer trapped. Feeling the ropes cutting off circulation to her fingers. Forcing her screams through a sandpaper throat, and hearing as if she yelled in my ear, “why didn’t you save me? I died cold, alone, and afraid. Because of you.”
“You came from the strongest of people. The fiercest. People who would give up their lives before surrendering their freedom.”
I blinked, spreading tears like raindrops.
“That’s the blood that runs through your veins, Rain.”
“Fight.”
My heaving, choking sobs slowed.
I lay there in silence, finally understanding what I had to do next.
***
Cairo
“What the fuck’s wrong with him?”
Roan stopped lugging sandbags. “What?”
“Him,” I said, jerking my chin. “What’s he smiling about?”
He followed my gaze to Scott Cavendish. Except for tripping us up to let Rain get away, he’d been a model captive all night. He didn’t fight back when Jacques buried a fist in his gut—payback for getting in our way. He didn’t say a word while we hogtied and threw him in the truck. And the final indignity, prepping him for a Royale sacrifice, and all he did was what he was doing then, smirking like this was all a fun game.
Scott Cavendish noticed my attention and flicked down to me. Looking me straight in the eyes, he winked.
“He’s refused to pay since he took over,” Roan said. “Guy thinks he doesn’t have to be afraid of us. He’s still thinking it. No one gets hurt on Ruckus night. It’s all fun and games.”
I narrowed on that smile.
“He’s a dangerous man.”
What were Cavendish and my new pet talking about when we rolled up? Why was she so upset?
Why was she scared?
“All fun and games,” I repeated. “Some traditions are meant to be broken.”
“I’m all for making an example out of him.” Roan cocked his head. “It’s so much sweeter making the cute ones beg.”
“Did you get everything out of the truck?”
“A couple sandbags left.”
“I’ve got it.” I marched off, finding Rain right where I left her.
I hung off the tailgate, studying her as she studied me. Her soaked face and rag said she’d been crying, though she was done with that now. Those abnormally large fawn eyes blinked at me—light and clear. I wondered what shown in mine.
Too much if our phone conversation was anything to go by. This woman thought she knew something about me. I couldn’t say the same about her.
Spent her entire life in my town, and I never met or heard of her before that party. Shapely legs I haven’t disappeared between. Plump lips that have yet to swallow my cock. All that long, wavy hair begging to fist in my grip as I half tore it from the roots, bending her head back to take what I’d give her.