Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“I’ll admit that Vaughn is also playing a dangerous game by baiting you,” Cy continues. “But he’ll snap out of it—his kind always does—and then you’ll be the one who’s hurt. Again. You’ll be the one paying the price. Again. When push comes to shove, he’ll throw you under the bus. Just like he left you to rot and die in that cave four years ago.”
I swallow, but it gets stuck somewhere at the back of my throat.
Right.
I started this whole thing so I could mess with Vaughn’s equilibrium. Smash his attitude, ruin his life. I intended to make him lose the love of his life, then give him no other option than to move, so then I could sabotage everything else—his studies, his friend group, anything and everything I could destroy.
Revenge.
That’s what I told myself when I picked up the obsession where I left off, but I don’t seem to be thinking about that when I fixate on his replies to my videos.
He only texts once in a while to tell me either that I’m annoying, or that I shouldn’t test him, or that I’m asking for it.
Maybe I am.
You’re still texting me. I gloat, laughing like a maniac every time I see the blue ticks indicating that he’s seeing everything I send him.
Every single thing.
Revenge.
Yeah, right. I just want to fuck him.
And truly, that will be my ultimate revenge, because the idea of Vaughn losing all his precious control over me is making my dick throb.
Yeah, it’s totally for revenge.
When have I even thought about that lately?
Cy’s about to keep poking around, but I slip out of his grip. “Gotta go fight. Bet lots of money on me!”
I jog out of the room and into the tunnel. The crowd’s chants turn deafening as I head toward the ring, many of them reaching hands out to touch me in between the vigilant shoves of my guards. This place is a nightmare for my security and Cy, but everyone knows I live down here, in the underground, amongst monsters, pummeling my way to the top.
Some people do it for the glory, the power, the title of champion, but I do it for the journey itself—the actual act of violence.
The screams and shouts heighten at the sight of my opponent. Nikolai.
Of course it’s Nikolai. He’s always around here. Not as much as me, but close enough.
As adrenaline junkies, we love the fuck out of this place.
He jumps into the ring, hopping in place and punching the air. All of his weird tattoos are on display, and his long hair is held in a bun. Nikolai and I are about the same size, both muscled and big, so it’s often a close match, depending on who’s feeling more murderous.
“Ready to go down, bitch?” he taunts, circling me as soon as I jump over.
“That’s what I should ask, little bitch.” I grin.
“Oh, you’re fucked. You’re so fucked. Totally coming over and raiding your mansion later tonight.”
“Uh, just in case no one pointed this out, you kind of, sort of shouldn’t reveal your plan.”
“Well, I’m telling you, and it’ll still succeed.”
The referee announces the start, and he comes at me full force, but I put my guard up, because I’m used to Nikolai. I love how he has zero hesitation about anything. His friend could learn a thing or two from him.
Yeah, no. I’m not thinking about Vaughn when I have an eighty percent chance of being pummeled to death by this brute mountain-like man.
I hit back and we exchange some blows in the midst of the crowd’s shouts and chants.
See, I live for that fraction of a second when fists clash and bodies slam together in a beautiful manifestation of violence.
“So who will come to raid my mansion?” I ask when I hold him in a guard position.
“Me and everyone in the Heathens, of course.”
“And they’ll follow you?”
He shoves me away and jumps back. “The fuck is that supposed to mean? Of course they will.”
“Not sure I buy that.”
“This motherfucker.” He punches me, and I hold him, then kick him in the chin, sending him to the ground.
“It’s not that I don’t believe you, but…” I look down on him, adopting a sympathetic tone—yes, I learned provocation tactics from Cy. “We all know no one listens to you in that place, Niko. Jeremy is the leader, Killian and Gareth are the brains, and you’re just…oh, what’s it called? The muscle. Easily replaceable and discardable. I feel so sorry for you.”
He jumps up and hits me across the cheek. My face flies to the side, blood spilling onto the canvas. “Feel sorry for yourself, motherfucker.”
I laugh. “Listen, if you manage to raid my mansion with all the members on your side, including Vaughn, I’ll take what I said back.”
“You think I can’t?” He lunges at me again, but I stop him, the weight of my body balancing his.