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)
She startles at the loud kick and sits up, her eyes unfocused, her face pale.
Annalise Callahan is the greatest mystery in this town. She’s barely seen, less than my mother, and rumor has it that Julian’s using her as a subject for his latest experimental drug testing.
No one really cares, though.
“Julian…?” she asks, her voice low, almost scratchy.
He strokes her hair and smiles. Didn’t know the motherfucker was capable of that.
“Go back to sleep. I’ll be right back.”
She grabs onto his shirt and shakes her head, but he releases her grip and looks at us, his smile dropping in a blink.
“Let’s talk outside.”
Preston jumps out first. “I was dragged here against my will. They did it!”
We all step out. Jude doesn’t really want to hurt his sister-in-law, and he made it clear that threatening Julian with her life is fine, but she’s not to be touched.
“Annalise is not to be harmed,” were his exact words as soon as we arrived here.
The de facto leader of the Callahan clan casts one last glance at his wife, then closes the door and runs a hand through his hair. “Now, I have to maim you.”
“Not me.” Preston raises his hand. “Against my will, remember?”
I jam my gun against Julian’s temple. “Where’s Dahlia?”
He doesn’t even flinch. “Somewhere far away from you.”
“We have the house surrounded, Julian. If you don’t tell me where she is right now, I’ll blow your brains out.”
“Be my guest. In the event of my death, my people will blow both Dahlia and Violet up.”
I freeze.
Of course he’d have such a backup plan. It wouldn’t be Julian if he didn’t.
Jude grabs his brother by the collar of his shirt. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Putting your heads back where they belong. On the game, on your roles. Without distractions.”
Preston claps. “Thank you! That’s what I’ve been saying.”
“You think I won’t find her?” I breathe close to his face. “I have all the resources to, and those promises of investment I made to you? Consider them canceled and divided between Serena and Atlas.”
“Doesn’t matter whether or not you find her. She knows everything about your involvement in her sister’s attack and how she ended up in Graystone Ridge. Poor girl was shaken at the reality that you’re the mastermind. She really tried to defend you as well. Until she couldn’t deny the truth.”
“You…told her?”
“Yes. How else would I get her to leave?”
I raise my hand and punch him in the face. “You had no right to tell her. That wasn’t your conversation to have.”
“It’s up to me how I use the information at my disposal.” He wipes his bloody nose. “As for business matters, you’ll come to your logical senses. Neither Serena nor Atlas can help you maintain the Davenports’ shaky foundation like I can.”
“I don’t need you for that. I have my uncle.”
“Kayden can’t come back so soon, even if Grant is dead, and you know it. You need to get stronger and enforce your own rules first.”
“Julian,” his brother growls. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
“You can try.” Julian stares me down. “Here’s the deal, Kane. If you manage to bring Dahlia back willingly, I won’t touch her again, and you won’t throw a tantrum regarding business matters.”
My jaw clenches.
“Now, get off my property. If you barge into my house again, I’ll kill you.”
Then he turns and goes back into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
“Night, Julian!” Preston says in a singsong voice. “Sorry for the late-night visit! Will send flowers in the morning!”
Jude strides toward the door, but Preston holds him back. “I’m not disposing of your corpses tonight.”
“Forget it, Jude.” I let my gun fall to my side. “I’ll find them myself. Even if it’s the last thing I do.”
Preston snaps his fingers in my direction. “Now, that’s the spirit. I still hate where this is going, but anyway. We’re out of here.”
He starts to drag us out, joking about how we escaped with our skin unscathed while Jude hits him upside the head.
When we’re in the driveway, my phone vibrates and I pull it out, expecting Samuel.
Unknown number.
I pick up, and as soon as I hear harsh, fractured breaths from the other end, I go still, my fingers tightening on the phone.
“Dahlia?”
“Is it true?” Her voice is weak, hoarse, as if she’s spent hours crying.
“Whatever Julian has told you is massively blown out of proportion. Where are you? I’ll pick you up—”
“Just tell me. Did you know all along about Violet? About the connection to Jude’s mother? About me?”
“It’s not as it seems—”
“Yes or no.” She speaks over me. Again.
My jaw tightens. “Yes.”
She laughs then, the sound piercing my ears as sobs echo through it.
I can’t help but remember the first time I saw her laugh.
That day, from the top of the roof.
“God, you should be proud of yourself. You played me so well, Kane. I hope I entertained you enough.”