Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Don’t be offended, Clover, because it was either kill you or be sent back to those tunnels. So I wouldn’t take it personally.” When I don’t respond or move, she adds, “His killing you, I mean.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, where is he then? If he agreed to this, why isn’t he in here killing me?”
“Oh, I can’t let him do that. You’re Lowyn McBride’s best friend. And Lowyn is Collin Creed’s love interest. Killing Colin Creed’s love interest’s best friend would cause all sorts of problems between the factions. It was just a ploy on my part to see how committed he was to the idea of you.”
It takes me a few seconds to parse all these words. But even when I’m done doing that, I still don’t understand what she’s really trying to say.
Hattie raises her eyebrows at me. “You’re not following, I take it?”
I shrug. “OK. So he decided to kill me and you’re saying no. What am I supposed to do with this information?”
“You’re supposed to use it to make your next decision, Clover. That’s what you’re supposed to do with it.”
“Is there some kind of question in there? Because if so, I’m not hearing it.”
“Would you like to walk out of here a free woman?”
I scoff. “Is that a real offer?”
“‘If I’m lyin’ I’m dyin’!’ Isn’t that one of those folksy expressions you hill people like to say?”
I’m so over her. “What’s the catch?”
“The catch?” Hattie smiles. “The catch is, you leave Riggs behind, of course.”
“That’s it? I renounce him and walk out of here, free and clear?”
“That’s it.”
She’s not lying about this part. I can tell. It’s a real offer and after what Riggs told me about Collin and what he was doing all those years he was missing, it makes sense that they would not want to piss him off, even if it was in some kind of second-cousin way via Lowyn.
“What’s gonna happen to Riggs?” I ask.
“I just told you. We’re getting married.”
“That’s a lie.”
Hattie scoffs. “Yeah, it is. He hates me. And that’s fine.” She shrugs, then nods her head to the two men standing on either side of the room. “But I’ve got my share of what I need.”
“OK. You’re really not making sense.”
“The offer is real. What happens to Riggs has nothing to do with it. And why would you care, anyway? I mean, he really did accept the offer I gave him.”
“To kill me in exchange for his own freedom.”
“That’s right. So it should be an easy decision. And I would take this offer and run if I were you. Because once his father gets here, there will be no deal. If you stay, you die. If you leave, and keep your mouth shut, and forget all about Riggs Russell and the few days you spent together, then you get to live. So.” She leans back in her chair, satisfied. “What’s it gonna be, Clover? Live? Or die?”
CHAPTER 22 - RIGGS
If you kill Clover Bradley, I will save you.
Her words echo in my head as I play them back. “Get me some clothes.”
“First, you give me an answer.”
“Why, Hattie? What difference does it make if I answer you first? Are you enjoying this?” I nod my head down to my naked body, then scoff when she smiles. “Well, I’m not surprised. You’ve been after me since I was a kid. And I never wanted you. It drives you crazy, doesn’t it?”
Hattie shrugs. “It’s neither here nor there. Do you have any idea how many men I’m fucking at the moment? Sure”—her eyes linger on my body for a long second before meeting mine again—“you’re hot and you’ve got a nice dick. But I don’t pine for you or your dick, Riggs. I’ve got my share.”
“Liar. You’re a liar. You’re doing this to hurt me because I hurt you.”
“I’m doing this to save you, Riggs.”
I laugh. Loud. Because Clover’s words come spilling out of my mouth. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t need saving, Hattie. You’ve done nothing but betray me.”
“You’ve done nothing but betray the Colony!”
“Don’t act like you’re some Colony Charter patriot, Hattie. You cling to those rules because it gives you power. My fuck-ups give you power. And if the only way to control me is to hurt me, then that’s good enough for you. You’ll never have my love, but you don’t need love to thrive, do you Hattie? Because you’re not driven by love, you’re driven by hate.”
“So many words. My God, you’re dramatic.” Her eyes narrow and she stares at me. “But before you make a hasty decision, let’s paint a picture of your future, shall we?”
“Oh, I know. I know better than anyone what my future in the tunnels looks like.”
“Do you?” She scoffs. “Because I don’t think you do. I think you’ve already forgotten what it was like in those tunnels.”