Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Again.
She’s vanished right from my grasp.
Fucking again.
I came back to tell her the truth. To assure her that everything is forgiven. In fact, there’s nothing to forgive.
After last night, after the way she slept peacefully in my arms, I figured it was time to start with a clean slate. I can’t force Jude to like her, and he probably never will, but I can protect her from him.
She has nothing to do with his obsession anyway.
Her sister does, but her sister is practically dead.
It might hurt, but she’ll eventually accept that reality.
She’ll accept that I’m all she has.
The only one she can have.
But she’s not here.
She even left her phone behind.
Julian goddamn Callahan came by and talked to her, and she left with him. That’s what my mother and Samuel said.
That’s what I watch on the house’s security footage over and over again, on a damn loop. I can’t stop looking at the way she trudges behind him, her movements lethargic, her eyes soulless.
Her fire completely extinguished.
She didn’t even have that look when Grant had her chained up in his goddamn dungeon.
A dungeon I spent the last hour blazing through with a machete, as if that will extinguish the torturous memories or the image of Dahlia hanging from the chains while bleeding.
And now, Julian has taken her away.
Julian is interfering in my fucking business.
He definitely didn’t learn a lesson from Grant’s murder. If I can kill my own father, nothing and no one will stop me anymore.
Not Julian, not the rules.
Not even fucking Vencor.
My steps are wide as I walk to the secondary annex, where my father’s lackeys reside, followed by Samuel. He already informed them about their new owner, and this new owner has his first mission for them.
As we’re walking, I pull out my phone and text in the group chat.
Me
@Jude Callahan, I’m informing you that your brother is getting in my way and I might or might not have him killed.
Jude
Not before I do. He kidnapped Violet. Again.
Fuck. That must be why Dahlia went with him.
Preston
Whoa. Messing with Julian, are we? Count me out. I’m just gonna stay here and get high.
Me: Is Julian at the main house?
Jude
At his wife’s house.
Me: Even better. Remember when I said threatening him was risky? Forget about that. I’m bringing our men.
Preston
Hey…let’s take a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale.
Jude
I’ll bring the men I have access to.
Preston
Jesus fucking Christ. Slow down. You want to get killed?
I am now the head of the Davenport family, and Julian came onto Davenport property and took what’s mine. He needs to pay.
Jude
It’s long overdue. He needs to stop his fucking meddling.
Preston
Sounds dangerous. I’m in.
A few hours later, we’re all gathered in front of Julian’s wife’s house on the outskirts of town, far away from Ravenswood Hill, bordering where the poor people live in the neighboring town.
After Jude and I direct our men to surround the house, we take out the security in front and we head to the second floor, where the bedrooms are. It’s almost midnight, so the motherfucker should be sleeping.
Despite the lack of light, Jude, Preston, and I move with ease. We’ve been plunged into the darkness our entire lives. This is child’s play.
“So…” Preston walks backward in front of us so that he’s facing us. “We’re risking my precious life for pussy?”
“Shut it, Armstrong,” Jude says without even looking at him.
“I’m just setting the record straight. I’d never do this for pussy. It’s so fucking lame, I’m thinking about throwing you out of Preston’s Privileged Close Circle Club.”
“Consider me thrown out,” I say, my muscles bulging with tension.
“I never wanted to be in it in the first place,” Jude adds.
“Liars. You love me and can’t survive without me. If I were a woman, you’d be fighting over my beautiful self.”
“Fighting over who gets to chop your head off first,” I say. “Which we’re already doing.”
“I’d be playing so hard to get, Dallas would have nothing on me.” He grins, ignoring my words, then headlocks Jude. “I think I’ll still pick big man, though. His dick is bigger.”
Jude elbows him. “I’ll stab your dick if you don’t take this seriously.”
“Not my precious dick. How the fuck am I supposed to unwind?” Preston lets go with a pout and continues to walk backward. “Besides, this whole thing is stupid, and Julian will probably light our asses on fire. You shouldn’t even be this invested, Jude. Your brother would be doing you a favor if he kills that nobody.”
Jude glares at him, his eyes nearly shooting daggers. “No one but me gets to kill my targets.”
“Shh.” I raise a hand to my mouth and pull out my gun at the sound of Julian’s cool voice.
Jude motions at the door behind him, and then the three of us inch closer.
I kick the door open, gun in hand, but we freeze upon seeing Julian sitting in a chair, reading out loud from a book as his wife, Annalise, lies in bed, sleeping.