Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Sweat beads at my temple as I turn back to face Katsia, only I’m met with War’s threatening gaze.
My cheeks burn when he lowers it down the length of my body before resting back at my face. Over the past couple weeks, which has been since I’ve had more presence in this world, he’s been more obvious.
I hate Perdita.
I want to go home.
I take a step forward, curling my fingers around the first chair I see and lowering myself down, so I’m directly opposite Katsia. She grins up at me, the congestion melting the makeup off her flawless skin.
“You ready for the shipment?” I ask sweetly, as if I’m unbothered.
I am. Very much so.
But fuck if I’ll ever let her know it.
“Not yet.” Her head tilts back when she swallows more champagne. “Say, Halen, I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Really?” I answer, and I’m painfully aware of how all the boys are silent. For once. “I’ve not heard shit about you.”
That’s a lie. I’m being petty. It has nothing to do with the way she keeps eyeing War either.
Nothing.
War clears his throat and my jaw tightens. I’m not stupid. I know who War is and the kind of girls he has been with over the years. He’s the worst of the three. I often wonder why I found him the most attractive out of every other guy at school.
He’s nothing like my father, and apparently you seek your daddy in your partners.
He’s more like his own.
Vaden places his glass down on the desk. “We’ll wait.”
I don’t want to choose right now to ask what the fuck the shipment is since we got off the plane fast and everything happened too quickly. I knew there was a shipment because of what I overheard with Priest, but I didn’t know what.
Priest doesn’t move when War opens the door as both he and Vaden exit. I stay seated, eyes locked on her and the way she’s following War. Something is definitely there.
“Next time, Katsia?” Priest’s words are low as he rounds the bath, kneeling behind her. Her whole body changes. Her shoulders stiffen and her eyes widen as the color of her face turns ashen. It’s like watching a deer realize the lion is about to eat. “Send a text to say so.” He reaches for the wet strands of her hair, moving them gently off her shoulder, only Priest is anything but gentle and I know that the next thing he’s going to do won’t be.
He grabs her by the back of the neck, forcing her head to the side.
She winces, her fear exploited. “My time is precious, and you are not.” He releases her so hard she falls into the middle of the bath, before strolling toward the door, placing a cigarette into his mouth and lighting the end.
Finally, I stand and follow, because what the fuck is happening right now and why do I get the feeling I’ve been left out of shit that I shouldn’t have?
I don’t bother to talk to any of them as we make our way back to our cars. I don’t even know what to be angry about at this moment. And I’m not sure where my anger is coming from. The fact that I don’t know what the shipment is and that I thought this was just one of their frequent visits to ensure the island is being run right—which if I looked closer, I don’t think it is—or that War and Katsia clearly have some kind of… thing.
And now I’m angry that I’m angry at that.
Fuck.
“Halen, meet us at the Hutt.”
I open my door and ignore War, slamming it closed behind myself and blowing out a heated breath. I squeeze the steering wheel to numb the prickles of rage burning through me. When it swings open again, I half expect to see War, but instead it’s Priest.
He kneels to my eye level. “You wanna start with the diva shit, save it for when we’re back in Riverside.” I don’t bother looking at him, keeping my eyes locked ahead. “I mean it, Halen. Meet us at the Hutt and I will fill you in.”
“Will you, though?” I snap, and I hate that it comes out as bitter as it tastes. “Because the way I see it, I’ve been kept in the dark.”
“Yeah?” He raises his brows. “Of course, the fuck you have. You’re new here, remember? Back there, you’re Halen Hayes, the golden daughter and royalty, but here, you’re a fucking King. So act like it!” He slams the door in my face and I jolt in my seat.
Agh!
I slam my car into reverse and direct it out of the long driveway, not bothering to wait for any of them. I know where I’m going and I know this island.
I need a drink.
I drive toward the main street, parking my car outside the town square. Reaching for my phone, I hit dial.