Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“This is new for you, Maya. Threatening me. Who knew you had it in you?”
“Who knew you had eyes for someone else?” she throws back.
“I don’t have eyes for someone else. I will have someone else.”
“I will have her removed.”
My jaw tics at her threat. And it takes everything in me not to step forward and wrap my hands around her throat and choke the air from her lungs.
I don’t play with anyone else but Caterpillar.
Maya is playing a dangerous game, and it’s not one I like. To threaten her is even worse than threatening me.
“You should try to make an effort with me, Reon. You haven’t been trying. And I have given you space, but it’s time you see what you have and start appreciating it.”
“And what do I have, Maya?”
She dares to smirk at me. “You have me.” She turns and glides out.
Stepping out after her, I find Soren waiting for me. When did he fucking arrive? He watches his sister walk off and then turns to pin me with a stern glare.
“You visit the ladies’ room often?”
“I don’t want to marry your sister,” I declare, realizing how desperate I have become for Lilith.
He tightens the hold he has on the glass in his hand. “You will marry Maya.”
It’s a foolish thing to go against the Lord. No matter how much money and influence I think I have—and it’s a hell of a lot—Soren holds a ten-fold level of power. And we both know it.
“I’d suggest you go and make up with Maya before I do something you will regret.”
He leaves without me saying another word, and I want to follow him. Instead, I walk straight to my car and go home. And when I get there, the first thing I do is open my computer, and I search for her…
I search for my caterpillar and come up empty.
A knock comes on my door the following day. When I open it, I find Maya standing there with a suitcase next to her. Her gaze roams my chest, and I remember I forgot to put on a shirt.
“Maya.” I don’t move from the door to let her in. Frankly, I don’t want her here.
“I’m moving in,” she says with excitement.
“Sorry, I misheard you. What did you just say?” My forehead scrunches in disbelief. What the fuck is actually happening?
“I have her other suitcase,” Soren announces as he comes up behind her. Maya turns to look at him, and I can already see the hard glare he is pointing my way. “Do you plan to let us in or block the door?”
I step to the side and let them both enter.
“Smart choice,” he says, pushing past me. “Maya, go to the car and collect the other bag. I want to speak business with Reon for a moment.” She nods and happily obeys him.
Once she’s gone, Soren shuts the door. Dressed in his black suit and ready for work, Soren embodies a business mogul. He runs a media empire, and his presence exudes power and authority. His stride across the room is purposeful, and it’s evident he commands respect from the confident set of his shoulders and the unwavering focus in his eyes. His every movement is deliberate, and every gesture is calculated, getting ready to make the next strategic move in his relentless pursuit of success.
“Respect. It will be given to Maya.”
“Why, because you say so?” I ask, crossing my arms over my bare chest.
“Reon, I respect you. I do. It’s why I thought you would be the perfect match for my sister. Do you think I would have given her to anyone?” I say nothing. No, I don’t think anyone would have been good enough for her. “You’ve been off for at least a year, Reon. Off your game. Just off, period.” He shakes his head. “People are noticing. You haven’t participated in a Hunt for a while. Why is that?”
The Hunt.
We are assigned a target and a set of instructions. Then we hunt them and kill those who are chosen. Sometimes in teams, sometimes as individuals. It’s a game. The game is strategic, so it shows our loyalty to the Society and creates a bond—because killing someone with others creates a trust that can’t be broken. Most of the people who have been killed are chosen because they’ve done the Society dirty in some way or another. It is also about manipulation because when it comes to killing for game, if trust and loyalty are forgotten, blackmail will always win out for the Society.
“I’ll be at the next one.”
“You’ve missed both this year,” he states, clearly not impressed.
“I was busy.”
Soren shakes his head. “You and I are the same, Reon. We both crave the Hunts. They are exhilarating, and most of the time, we are the winners. Your absence has been noted…” He runs a hand through his hair. “Frankly, I’m tired of it.”