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)
Dahlia
Thanks for the observation, Sherlock.
You hurt yourself?
You hurt me, prick. I can barely walk.
It was that good, huh?
It was THAT bad.
You came three times, wildflower. I don’t think it was THAT bad. Besides, you didn’t use your safe word.
She left me on Read.
Normally, I wouldn’t give a fuck, but I narrowed my eyes and left it alone. The following day, I started anew.
Is the limping gone?
What if it’s not? You’ll kiss it better?
I can try. Come to my place tonight.
No, thanks. I’m not in the mood to die.
I won’t fuck you. Don’t worry.
Yeah, no. I’m not falling for that.
Avoiding me is not the solution to whatever is going on in that head of yours.
Read. Again.
At this point, my eyebrows nearly shot to my hairline, but I gave her a couple of days to get over whatever got her panties in a twist.
It didn’t seem to be anything new in her life.
I know because I had my eyes on her. She’s always quite busy with classes, school projects, her part-time job, and the hospital at the end of the day. She also has this habit of staying at the lab for a long time.
Is your tantrum over?
I wasn’t throwing a tantrum, but if you want one, I’ll gladly deliver.
Deliver yourself to my place instead.
I’m busy.
Don’t make me show up at your dorm and terrorize your roommate.
It’s not open to outsiders.
It’s cute you think there’s somewhere in this town I don’t have access to.
Just leave me alone, Kane. I have to work late tonight.
Then quit the minimum-wage nonsense. I’ll arrange it so that you’re accepted as a paid intern on the medical team. We’ll triple your pay. You can start in two days.
Typical rich people. Throwing money at problems and hoping it works.
I don’t hope. I expect. Besides, didn’t you want to work with the team?
That was before I figured out I don’t want to spend more time in your company.
MVery funny. I’ll make arrangements so that you’re in more of an observant and medical log role.
Why that role specifically?
So you won’t be touching other players. I’m making your wish come true, so you should thank me.
Thanks, my liege, but I refuse. I’d rather earn my money fair and square.
I didn’t suggest you steal it. Quit the nonsense about poor people’s pride and being stubborn for the sake of it. If an opportunity presents itself, you don’t turn your back on it. You take it. I thought you didn’t want to be an outsider, but here you are choosing to be one.
You done lecturing?
I swear to fuck, you’re the most infuriating thing on the planet.
Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.
Take the job, Dahlia. Your bank account will thank you.
She left me on Read. Again.
At that point, I was frowning so hard, Jude, who was changing beside me after practice, kicked my shin. “Something the matter?”
“What does it mean if you’re constantly left on Read?”
He paused, then slowly slipped his hoodie on. “Lack of interest?”
“She used to text me first.”
“Then loss of interest.”
“It’s not that.” I slammed the locker shut and left.
It was pointless to ask Jude anyway. He’s never had a relationship—doesn’t believe in them—and is a brute with no appreciation for anything soft and delicate. Jude is the type who calls flowers grass and chocolate an unnecessary sugar fest.
Preston could’ve been more help, but he’s also allergic to monogamy and that wasn’t the right time since he was in the zone prior to the Wolves game. That he still fucked up epically despite all his continuous warnings to Jude and the rest of the team to be in their best form.
It’s been two days and I still don’t understand the reason behind her leaving me on Read. Which might or might not have affected my play tonight—or yesterday. It’s probably early in the morning now.
A noise comes from above my head, scattering my thoughts.
Icy water slams into my skin like shards of glass, seeping through flesh and bone. I grind my teeth, my muscles locking against the onslaught, but it keeps coming, each wave colder than the last, trickling down my back, soaking my jeans until I’m nothing but freezing skin and rattling bones.
The floor beneath me is slick, the frosty bite crawling up from the ground, through my feet, and into my spine. The chains rattle above me, and my wrists scream from the strain.
Until I can’t tell where the water ends and the pain begins.
All I can hear is the steady drip, drip, drip echoing in the dark.
As my hardened body absorbs the shock, thoughts of Dahlia dim to a mere strip of light in the darkness, quickly vanishing under the whips of conditioning.
However, in this moment, I make a promise to myself.
This is the final time I allow Grant’s goons to kidnap and chain me to this place.
Next time, it’ll be him dangling from the ceiling.