Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“Little fucking liar,” Xander spits out. “You got a lot to answer for tonight.”
I can tell from his voice he’s drunk, or at least that he’s had too many. That makes me even more scared, and my heart flutters as I wait for him to go on.
“You’re married to Xavier, aren’t you?”
I nod silently, too afraid to speak and earn a punishment.
“Willingly?”
“No,” I whisper. “I was supposed to marry-”
“Heath, I know,” he spits out. “Don’t underestimate me, Rain. I know everything that takes place in the Casa. I know your backstory, but I didn’t know who you were. Why did you lie to me?”
“To save my life.”
“Smart,” he smirks. “But now I’m going to make you pay double for being a lying little bitch.”
“Please,” I get out. “Don’t hurt me. Just let me go back to Heath.”
“And what about your husband?”
“I don’t care what happens to that monster,” I hiss. “I hope you kill him. If you don’t, I’m sure Heath will.”
Xander laughs out loud, saying, “At least we have one thing in common. We both hate my brother.”
“Please don’t send me back to him.”
“You really think I would? I don’t give a shit to my brother. He’s dead to me for years now. But now I have a secret weapon. Not only with Heath, but with Xavier, too.”
“Just let me go, Xander. Please. Heath will pay you.”
“Do I look like I need money?”
I swallow my reply, my heart beating even faster. I have nothing to say for myself, and I can tell today’s realization has hit Xander just as hard. He paces the room before me, sighing heavily as he speaks.
“You hid things from me, Rain. You disrespected me by lying to my fucking face. I could’ve helped you. And I would have, if you’d told me the truth. But you chose to lie through your fucking teeth.”
“Only to protect myself.”
“I don’t give a shit why,” he snarls. “All I know is, I can’t fucking trust you, and you need to be taught a goddamn lesson.”
“But you know Xavier,” I whisper. “You know what a monster he is. Don’t be like him. You could be different. You could help me.”
He laughs out loud as if I’ve just told a joke. “You must be fucking confused, Rain. This isn’t a fairytale, it’s the fucking cartel. And in my world, you pay for your mistakes in blood.”
My blood freezes in my veins. I’m running out of ideas on how to defend myself and play on Xander’s heartstrings. It seems he doesn’t have any, and he’s already decided I’m the enemy just because of the wedding ring I was forced to wear.
“How much do you know about your husband’s past?”
“Nothing,” I whisper. “I just know he was adopted by Heath’s grandfather.”
“Did you know he had a brother?”
I shake my head. “I swear, he never told me.”
“Pendejo,” Xander mutters. “He tried to erase me from existence, the piece of shit. Nobody even knows I fucking exist.”
“Didn’t Heath’s family know? When they adopted Xavier, didn’t they know he had a brother?”
Xander lets out a bitter laugh. “No, Xavier made damn sure they didn’t have a clue. He stole everything from me. He stole my goddamn life. It was me they were supposed to meet that day when they came to the orphanage, but Xavier tricked me and the family. They adopted him, and he left me there for fucking dead.”
“That’s awful,” I whisper.
“I don’t need your fucking sympathy.”
“But he’s done horrible things to me too.”
“I don’t give a shit,” he snarls. “You’re a pawn, Rain. Just like any other woman in the cartel. A fucking chess piece we pass around. Nothing more.”
I want to fight him on his beliefs, but deep down I know I won’t get hard by arguing with my captor.
“I’m just asking you to show me some mercy,” I whisper. “Please, I... I’m just as much a victim of Xavier’s as you are.”
“Unlike me, though,” Xander smirks. “You’re valuable to him. And I can use you to get to him. But that will all come later. First, we need to deal with your nasty lying habit.”
I swallow as he paces the room. I’m still cuffed to the bed frame and unable to move. I want to run so badly, but there’s not a chance in hell I can get away from here under Xander’s watchful eye.
“Now that I know who you are,” he goes on. “You’re my enemy too. And you must be punished. Xavier needs to be taught a lesson, and if that’s through his lovely wife, that’s more than fine by me.”
“Please.” My voice breaks over the simple word. “I don’t love him. I hate him.”
“But he cares about you,” Xander smirks. “He must. I know my brother. He must be obsessed with you to keep you around for so long.”