Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Marvin would be the first to have the pleasure of being acquainted with who Keiran truly was.
As they walked out of the club later that evening, Keiran noticed Grant-Whatever-His-Last-Name-Was eyeing Cadence like she was a prize he'd been denied. Marvin had made no secret of his preference for Grant as a son-in-law, and when Keiran and Cadence had told them the truth about their marriage, Marvin had demanded they keep it a secret if they wanted his blessing.
'I need time to accept this' was how Cadence's father had put it, which of course Cadence had believed to be true.
But it wasn't.
Because even to this day, Marvin was still shamelessly feeding Grant's hopes about eventually winning over Cadence's heart. And the time he asked for was time for Marvin to figure out how to tear Keiran and his daughter apart.
Jealous rage simmered in Keiran's blood as he watched Marvin jovially throw one arm around his daughter's shoulders and another one over Grant's...before pulling the two close for a group hug that also happened to cause Cadence's body to press closely against the other man's.
Damn him.
Keiran had seen enough. But just as he was about to give both Marvin and Grant a taste of reality, and have them fucking enjoy a glimpse of the monster inside of him—-
We found him.
It was a text from Viktor's messenger, and tension gripped Keiran's frame.
Finally.
He pulled Cadence to the side, saying quietly, "I'm sorry about this, but do you think you can sleep over at your parents' place for now?"
"I...I could, but...why?"
"Just some business to attend to."
A weak laugh escaped her. "At ten in the evening?"
He kissed her forehead, thinking she was just being cute. "I'll make it up to you, I promise." With his mind already on what could possibly be his last mission before he could safely reveal the truth to his wife, Keiran missed the devastated look on his wife's face as she watched him drive away.
Cadence
PRESENT TIME
I'm no longer seated on Keiran's lap, but everyone is still staring. No surprise since it's obvious that the other members definitely remember my dad treating Keiran as just the hired help when we were "dating" years ago.
Michael Preston and his son James are with us. Michael, a former business partner of my dad, looks uncomfortable seeing me with Keiran. And James? Well, he's about my age and struggling not to stare at me in this barely-there red dress.
"Cadence," Michael says carefully, "are you here to represent your father's interests?"
Before Keiran can answer, I say cheerfully, "I'm just here as Keiran's lunch date."
"Oh." The weight of that single syllable is crushing. Everyone at the table seems to reach the same conclusion simultaneously: I'm selling myself to Keiran because my dad is bankrupt.
As Michael and Keiran talk business, James leans closer to me, his voice low. "So, does this mean Grant is out of the picture?"
Oh no.
I glance nervously at Keiran, but he's still deep in conversation with Michael.
Phew.
"We were never a thing," I whisper to James. "That was just all my dad's wishful thinking." I'm hoping that would be the end of it, but James proves surprisingly persistent, and he comes up to me just as we're all about to walk out.
"So..." James' gaze darts between Keiran and me. "Does this mean you two are exclusive?"
Since I'm supposed to be Keiran's mistress, I say right away, "No—-"
"Yes," Keiran says at the same time.
And that's when I realize I'm about to die if I don't figure out a way to dig myself out of this.
"No," I say again with the brightest smile I could muster. "No, as in no, you're not mistaken."
James stares at me, confused. Keiran's expression doesn't change, but the temperature around us seems to drop several degrees.
Oh, I'm so dead.
When we get inside the limo, the privacy window slides up with a soft mechanical whir.
Oh no.
"Get on your knees."
I freeze.
He doesn't raise his voice. Doesn't even look at me when he says it, his gaze fixed on the tinted window as the car pulls away from the curb.
"If t-this is about Grant—"
"This is about reminding you who you belong to."
Um, doesn't that mean the same—
"Now."
His savage tone makes me forget everything else. My hands move before my brain can stop them. I sink to the floor of the car, heart pounding as I reach for him.
His hand settles in my hair—not yanking, not guiding. Just... holding.
His other hand unfastens his belt. Moves with infuriating patience.
I don't rush.
Not because I'm teasing. But because I want this to matter.
Because I remember the way he used to look at me. Like I was the only thing in the world he wanted.
And even if this is just a way to mark me—to control me—I want it.
I open my mouth.
He groans, low and rough, as I take him in. One hand tightening in my hair, the other curling against the window behind him.