Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“Taking you back to your dad’s so you can give him a proper goodbye, and then we’ll pack some of your things.”
“My dad gets it, and I have my go bag.” I pat it.
“No, your dad accepts it, and we’re packing your bags so you start to get that the hiding and running is done. Over with,” he adds, making sure to emphasize that last part.
“Oh, right.” I throw my hands up. “So I can just go galivanting around life.”
“Yes.”
“That’s not how this works.” How does he not get that?
“Ellie, if you live like prey, you will always be hunted. Be the hunter, not the hunted.”
“That sounds empowering.”
“It is,” Ronan says without missing a beat. “You can pick which you are. There are hunters, and there are victims. It’s time you showed the world who you are. You take no prisoners and show no mercy. Not until people realize what you are capable of.”
“You speak from experience.” I’m not asking. I’m finally understanding. The Marinos have a lot of power and control. Hell, Ronan has it on his own. People treat his name like he’s the boogeyman, and they are too scared to even utter it.
I admit, that was one of the things that fascinated me about him. Now I'm wondering if that's because I too wanted a little of that for myself.
“And you need to also realize you’re not alone.”
“You’re going to make me cry again.”
“I never want that, little fox.” This man is too good to be true. I don’t know what I did to deserve him.
“I’m sorry for running. You mean a lot to me.”
“You love me.”
“Oh my God.” I groan, making him chuckle. “You’re never going to let that go.”
“Never going to let you go.” I smile over at him but note that he doesn’t say it back. I’m not sure what to make of that. All of his actions align with him caring about me deeply, but we have also only really known each other for a week. Sure, I’ve been stalking him for a few months, but that’s on my end. I got to learn about him. “Ellie—” There is a warning in his tone.
“What did I do now? I’m sitting here.”
“I’m not telling you I love you while I’m driving down the highway for the first time.”
“Whatever.” I fold my arms over my chest, staring out the window, feigning a smile. “Obviously you’re obsessed with me.”
“Never tried to hide it.”
“Hey, is that a hit at me stalking you?” Just going to toss that in my face.
“We don’t talk about that.”
"I'll talk about whatever I like."
"All right then. Let's talk about how you started your stalking two seconds after you ran from that department store."
"It wasn't two seconds. Don't flatter yourself."
"Fine, an hour? That about right?"
Yeah, that does sound right, but I'm not going to admit it. That whole day had been insane. I've seen some crazy shit online, and often when things are seen through a screen, you can detach from it. You have to.
But that day I’d gotten to see the Marino family in action. Even Cosima was a little badass.
We devised a plan for me to meet up with Tova and Cosima that day in the department store in secret so that I could make sure Zero wasn’t tracking everything Cosima was doing. Damn, we hackers seem to have obsessive personalities.
We didn’t want Zero to find out what we were up to. We didn’t get far into this plan before it was busted up by a psycho cop trying to take Tova hostage. That ended with Cosima stabbing him and War shooting him in the head. Ronan had stormed in like the damn Hulk, not scared of shit.
That was the first time we’d laid eyes on each other in the flesh. I didn’t think Ronan could be any hotter or more intense, but in person he definitely was. From that moment on, he became the object of my desire.
“Why do I always have to eat breakfast and you don’t?” I changed the subject.
“I planned on breakfast in bed, but it took off on me.”
I snort a laugh. “My dad would have been home,” I point out. In the evening, he’s been hanging out elsewhere. “Oh God, has my dad been staying MIA around the house because he was worried he'd hear us going at it?” That man can hear everything. In the heat of the moment last night, I hadn’t been thinking of my dad at all, obviously.
“Going at it.” Ronan shakes his head, but he’s still smiling. I’ll take it. I’m still feeling terrible that I’d hurt him with taking off.
“Do you think my dad knows we, ah…” I wiggle my brows.
“You know he’s not here, right? You don’t need to whisper.”
“He knows, doesn't he?”
“You’re a grown woman. I’m sure he figured you’ve been having sex.” I have never talked about boys in that way ever. Not until Ronan came along, Hulk-style with insanely hot thighs.