Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
I’m quivering now. What a revelation. I thought today would just be dresses and some good old-fashioned mom-and-daughter time.
I can’t stop myself now. The tears fall, and they fall fast. I reach for my shirt and press it to my eyes to soak up the moisture. This isn’t how things are supposed to go. I can’t have my mom worrying about me like this. She needs to focus on herself. Her life literally hangs in the balance. And if I lose her…I don’t know what I’ll do.
“Don’t worry, Mom.” I smile, taking a deep breath. “Tyler and I will be a good match. He’s smart and successful. He’ll take good care of me.”
My mom takes a deep breath, her eyes fixed on mine. Does she know what I’m doing? Can she tell that I’m lying? If she can, she doesn’t show it. In fact, her whole body relaxes, and she slowly nods.
“If you say so, honey. If you say so.”
Great, now I’m lying to my mom. Look what this engagement is doing to my family. “So what do you think?” I ask. “Is this dress the one? Or should we try another?”
Mom laughs and throws a happy hand in the air. “Why not try a couple more? We have plenty of time, right?!”
I smile as she hands me another dress, trying not to think of the precipice growing beneath our feet.
Yeah, plenty of time…
7
FINN
I can’t wait any longer.
Four days. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen Mira. I’ve had the photo of Tyler cheating on her for five, and it’s driving me insane. Thinking about what to do with it has me twisted up, but no matter how many different ways I slice it, I always come to the same conclusion: Tyler is an unfaithful, arrogant, narcissistic piece of shit who doesn’t deserve her, and I’m sick and tired of watching the days tick by getting closer and closer to their wedding.
I’m done.
Done watching him pretend like he deserves her, done watching him drive to Lake Chelcuya to cheat on her, done playing over stomach-churning visions in my mind of him putting hands on my princess on their wedding night. Mira deserves better. She deserves to be cherished, worshipped, loved. And she sure as hell doesn’t need me standing back like a pussy just waiting for her to be sold off like cattle.
I’ve waited long enough.
My boots hit the concrete like gunfire as I stride out of the shop, my hands curled tightly around my phone. I can practically feel the energy emanating out of it. The energy of the evidence. Clear, undeniable evidence of Tyler’s infidelity. Unabashed and grinning, loving every second of his hands wrapped around the ass of the blonde he was bragging about at the bar.
Goddamn son of a bitch.
As a Heartless Bastard, I’ve seen a lot in my life—blood, bruises, fire, destruction—but nothing burns me like the thought of Mira being betrayed like that. Harmed by a man who cares only for himself. When I think of her eyes red, tears streaking down her cheeks, her lips trembling, and sobs falling from her lips, adrenaline courses through my veins, sending me straight to the edge.
I know where he is right now. He always eats at the same overpriced sandwich shop where all the rich pricks in Chesterville go like it’s their own little secret club or something. I’m not the kind of guy they’re used to seeing there, so when I park my bike across the street and start to walk over, the man watching the door instantly goes on alert.
“May I help you, sir—” he asks, his voice weak and trembling.
“I’m here for Tyler,” I reply, my voice cutting through the air like a razor blade. The man hesitates, glancing behind him.
“Is he expecting you?”
“Look at me,” I growl. “You think I’d show up here looking like this if he wasn’t expecting me?”
I watch his eyes scour my leather jacket, my torn jeans and shirt, my tattoos and messy hair. After a moment, he nods. “Corner booth in the back.”
Wrong move, pal. Bullshit like that would never get you past the door at the Heartless Bastards clubhouse. But a softie like this isn’t used to coming up against actual force. He steps aside, and I brush past him into the dimly lit space.
I spot Tyler instantly. Hair slicked back, Patek Phillipe watch shining on his wrist. You could buy yourself a car with the price of that thing. He’s cracking up to whoever he’s talking to on his phone. I make a beeline for him and slide in the booth opposite. I think I catch a glimmer of recognition in his eyes as he pauses his conversation. Maybe he recognizes me from Jayne’s the other night.
“Hey, Perry, I gotta go. Yeah, I’ll catch you later about that deal.” He hangs up and cocks his head as he looks at me, then takes a sip of what looks like whiskey. “Who the hell are you?”