Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Yeah. And if Gracen agreed to be his, he knew that his protective instincts were going to roar loud and clear.
“I know, I just—”
An engine revved loudly then something smashed into the side of them, sending the car spinning. It rolled and someone yelled. The world shook around him. Screams of pain. The screech of metal.
And then something hit his head.
And he knew no more.
13
Gracen paced up and down the small living room.
She glanced over at the clock. It was eleven at night.
She’d texted Victor over an hour ago, asking him to come see her.
Nothing. She chewed her lip.
Had he given up on her? Did he no longer want her? He wouldn’t be asleep. He was a night owl.
And he always had his phone on him. Always.
Okay, this didn’t have to mean anything. He would get back to her. Or he’d turn up here. She just had to wait.
Her stomach roiled, and she knew she should eat something, but she wouldn’t be able to stomach it.
Was she going to tell him about her visit from Baldy and Burpy?
How could she not tell him? But maybe not tonight. Tonight would be about them. She’d mention it before they were supposed to come back, though.
Because she needed help, and she wasn’t ashamed to admit it. She just didn’t want him to think that the only reason she’d contacted him was for his protection.
It wasn’t.
Sitting, she turned on the television and decided to wait.
Where was he?
Worry flooded her. This wasn’t like him. If he didn’t want to be with her anymore, surely he’d have the gumption to tell her.
She stared at her phone. It was nearly ten in the morning. Over twelve hours since she’d messaged him.
Maybe he didn’t get her message. Who knew with her crappy phone?
And you should have called him.
Maybe she should give him a bit longer.
No. Screw it.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she hit his name on her contact list. It rang and went to voicemail.
She hung up, not ready to leave a message. Maybe she should, though.
And say what?
God, she hated being so indecisive. Before she could figure out what to do, her phone buzzed in her hand.
Victor.
Thank God.
“Victor,” she said quickly. “I wasn’t sure whether to leave a message or not. And I texted you last night, but you didn’t reply. Can you come over? Please?”
Yikes. That probably sounded really desperate.
Then again, she was kind of desperate.
“Hello,” a voice who wasn’t Victor said. “As you can probably tell, I’m not Victor. But I have his phone.”
She ended the call abruptly. Who would have his phone? Had something happened to him? Oh God, what if whoever had his phone had hurt him?
She didn’t even have a clue how to get in touch with his family. What was she going to do?
Her phone buzzed, he was ringing back. But she shouldn’t answer, right? If she didn’t though, how would she know what had happened?
A message came through.
Please answer my call. This is Maxim. Victor’s brother.
He could be lying. Or maybe he wasn’t.
Fuck.
Deciding to take a chance because she didn’t have any other options, she answered the next call.
“Thank you for answering my call, Gracen,” Maxim told her.
“How do you know my name? Are you really Victor’s brother? What if you’re someone who kidnapped him and now you’re calling me pretending to be his brother?”
“Uh, well. I know your name because it’s typed into his phone. As for proving I’m his brother, I could tell you his middle name.”
“I don’t know his middle name, though.”
“You don’t? Well, it’s Guillaume.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes, really. Poor guy. He got teased mercilessly when he was younger.”
“He did?” It was hard to believe anyone having the courage to tease Victor.
“Yes, by me.”
“What’s your middle name, then?” she asked him.
“Gracen, I think we better keep some secrets between us, yeah? Keep the mystery alive.”
Even though he was making an attempt to joke, she thought he sounded tired and stressed.
“It’s going to be hard to prove I am who I say. But I am Victor’s brother.”
“All right,” she whispered. “What’s going on, Maxim?” She had no reason not to believe him. But it was odd he had Victor’s phone. If he wasn’t really Maxim, if he’d hurt Victor, then she needed to know where to find him.
So she could kill him painfully and slowly.
“You’re close to Victor?” Maxim asked.
“I love him. I haven’t told him that yet, though, so don’t say anything to him, please. He and I . . . it’s complicated, I guess.”
“The best things usually are. Fuck. Victor would kill me for giving up personal information. So would Regent.”
“What personal information? Maxim, you’re really starting to worry me. Where is Victor?”
“He’s been in a car accident.”
She rushed into the private hospital.
She’d never been here before, so she paused for a moment, looking around. A security guard stepped up to her.