Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
“You don’t look calm,” I reply.
“Where is she?” he mutters.
“We have plenty of time for that later,” I say, whisking him away from the stairs and into the crowd. “Let’s mingle first.”
“We can’t catch her if we’re not there to witness it,” he grits.
“Don’t worry about it. I got it covered.”
“How?” He frowns. “What the fuck aren’t you telling me?”
“Well, hello to you too.” Two strong hands land on each of our shoulders, forcing us to turn around and face the giant with his scarred-up face partially hidden behind a mask. “If it isn’t my two favorite Serpents.”
Apollo Torres. A monster so cruel he might even put Silas to shame. Both of them have no conscience, but Apollo? He doesn’t even get angry. Zero emotions, ever. And best of all? He’s my goddamn half brother.
He leans between us, a vicious smile on his face just as menacing as Silas’s, if not worse. “And here I was thinking you two hated the Phantom Society.”
“We do,” Silas retorts.
“I’m fine with anyone,” I reply. “As long as there’s a good party.”
“Same, bro,” Apollo says.
“I’m not here for the party,” Silas replies.
“Oh?” Interest sparkles in Apollo’s killer eyes. “Do I smell an ulterior motive?”
Silas knocks his hand off his shoulder. “Another time.”
“I’m bored.” Our other half brother, Orion Navarro, approaches while swirling a glass of wine. “Nothing fun ever happens at these Phantom parties.”
“Oh, c’mon. I know you’re just spoiled with those oversexed Tartarus House parties.” Apollo slaps him on the back.
“There’s girls, booze, music. What else does one need?” I reply, shrugging as we saunter around through the crowd.
Apollo’s smoldering laughter fills the room before he abruptly quiets and whispers, “Murder.”
Silas stares him down, not in a scared kind of way, but in a territorial kind of way. And I don’t like it one bit.
“Okay, why don’t you two just go in different directions,” I say, pushing Apollo toward the five girls in the back, who were all gawking at him and chuckling to themselves at the sight of his thick muscles.
“Why? You don’t wanna hang with me tonight? Heath …” He pretends a fake knife stabs him as he slowly walks backward into the girls. “You wound me.”
“Don’t hurt my brother like that, Heath,” Orion says, throwing his arm around Apollo.
I snort. “You act like he ain’t my brother too.” I make a heart with my hands, and Apollo winks and turns around to head to the ladies.
“Jesus Christ, I can’t believe you’re all related,” Silas says.
“Don’t offend me. I’m nothing like him.” Orion takes a sip of his wine and licks his lips. “He wishes he could be me.”
I roll my eyes. “You wish.”
“You three are fucking weird,” Silas says.
I raise a brow. “Unlike you?” I laugh. “All our fucking families are weird, Silas.”
Silas shrugs and strolls off. “Whatever. I’m going to throw out my hook. See if the fish take the bait.”
“Fish?” Orion frowns. “What kind of nasty girls is he into?”
I snort. “Metaphorically.”
“Oh …” Orion’s voice suddenly gets all dainty as he runs his fingers through his wavy dark-blond locks. “So he’s not into girls at all?”
“Oh, he is. But mostly for other kinky stuff,” I reply, clearing my throat. “It’s not my business.”
I’m not about to tell the fucking world what it is we like to do.
Orion chuckles and puts his wine down. “Well, I don’t blame him. So much pleasure in this world, yet we all hunger for more.” He sighs out loud, like he’s languishing in these bright strobe lights that flash through the dark rooms. “Man, these lights are giving me a headache. I’m going to find a private room to rest. See you later.”
“Bye,” I say, and he walks off, rubbing his forehead.
But my eyes immediately fall on the figure walking through the hallways with a giant bouquet, his brown, side-swept hair peeking out from the mask. My eyes narrow. That looks like …
Max.
Ivy
I take off this damn mask, chuck it aside, and sink to my knees in front of the mini vault in this bedroom.
Jackpot.
I slowly begin to roll the buttons around to find the combination. I don’t care how long it’s going to take me; I am going to open this thing and get ahold of the money.
Sweat rolls down my forehead, and I pray no one will come inside. The party downstairs provides so much background noise that it’s hard to focus on the task, but I refuse to give up.
This is my life.
Not just my livelihood.
My actual fucking life is at stake. And not just mine, but Cora’s too.
I have to get this money, no matter the cost.
I wipe away the sweat and keep turning the buttons.
However, a sudden squeak in the back of the room makes me turn my ears like a goddamn cat, and I shimmy away to the desk, rolling underneath it before whoever it is sees me.