Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Mario?” Oni says beside me.
“What’s up?”
“Who’s that guy? He was at the club that night. He gives me this eerie vibe. Do you know him?”
I follow her line of vision to see who she’s talking about. There is a guy not far from Juliana who has his gaze trained on Oni. I don’t know him, but I’ll be watching him for the rest of the night.
She’s right, there is something off about him. When he moves to whisper into Juliana’s ear and she nods, I narrow my eyes at the two of them. I’m definitely going to keep an eye on him.
CHAPTER 19
My First
Oni
I look across the pool and find Rico talking to Ed, but his eyes are glued on me. I try not to smile, but I can’t help myself. Rico looks handsome in a black polo, khaki shorts, and high-top Air Force Ones.
It’s a good look on him. I watch as he licks his lips, then looks away to answer Al as he walks over and enters their conversation. My phone buzzes in my hand. I look at it to see a text from Rico.
Rico: My office. Head up there in five. I’ll be ten minutes behind you.
I turn to Mario, who’s been standing beside me, talking to Corey, one of Emilia’s friends. I smile at Mario and nod my head to let him know I’m heading inside. Emilia stops me just before I get to the door to enter the house.
“Where are you going? I know you’re not trying to skip out,” she says.
“Calm down. I’m just going to the bathroom. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Good, I have some friends I want you to meet.”
“Cool, I’ll be back. Save me a drink,” I say, pointing to the one in her hand.
Her eyes look glossy, like she might need to slow down soon. She smiles and downs the rest of her drink while wiggling her brows at me. I laugh at her and shake my head.
I catch a glance of Rico and note that Juliana is all in his face. He keeps his face expressionless, but I can see his eyes scanning. Rolling my eyes, I head into the house.
Instead of going straight to Rico’s office, I head into the bathroom first. I use it quickly and wash my hands. Looking in the mirror, I smile. This little white sundress is cute. It’s a little short since we’re having a pool party, but it’s still tasteful. The swimsuit beneath is basic.
I smooth my hands over the dress and turn to head up to Rico’s office. The house is quiet, but the party outside is jumping. The DJ has a thing for EDM. Not my jam, but I’m trying to go with the vibe.
Once up on the third floor, I step into Rico’s office and look around. I inhale and take in a lungful of his scent that’s all over the room. Closing my eyes, I remember last night and smile.
Suddenly, my mouth is covered, and I’m being shoved forward. I know right away this isn’t Rico. The scent is wrong.
I bite the person’s hand and run for the desk where I know Rico keeps a few guns. All I need is to get my hands on one. As I run, I’m pushed forward and fall onto the edge of the desk.
Pain shoots through me, causing me to whimper, but I don’t give up my fight. I hold my side and stumble to the other side of the desk. As I push the desk chair out of the way, I’m grabbed by the back of my hair.
I look up, and to my surprise, it’s the asshole from the club who was downstairs talking to Juliana. He looks down at me with evil in his eyes. Panic fills me and I go into fight mode.
I swing and catch him in the face. He growls and backhands me so hard I see stars. I fall back against the desk in a daze.
He grabs me and tosses me onto the desk. I keep fighting. He blocks most of my hits, but I get in a good one upside his head. I figure if I keep fighting, Rico will be here soon.
My heart is pounding so hard it feels like it’s about to come out of my chest. He grabs my legs to keep me from kicking and steps between them. It dawns on me that this has just become the fight of my life.
I don’t have time to wait for Rico to save me. I’m going to have to save myself. I calm down enough to think. He rips the front of my dress, causing me to scream out.
I punch him in his throat and begin to reach under the desk for the pistol I know Rico keeps there. Panic begins to rise again as my hand doesn’t connect with the handle right away. Unfortunately for me, this asshole recovers and comes at me again.