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)
“Please don’t.”
“I want you to stay.” He lifts his hand and covers mine where it rests on his bare chest, giving it a slight squeeze. “Stay,” he says, a hint of desperation in his voice.
“No, I have to go. I need…” I shake my head. “I have to go.”
Reon nods and drops my hand—“I’ll have security watching your place,”—grabbing my hips and pulling me to him. “Come back. Please, say you’ll come back,” he whispers.
“Is that new for you?” I ask.
“What?”
“Saying please. Do you say that often?”
He leans down, his lips touching my ear. “Please, Caterpillar.” Shivers race all over my body before I pull back.
“You have my number. Don’t come over. Call like a normal person,” I tell him, and he nods. Still in pain, I push away from him, grab two cupcakes, and head to the door.
And I feel his stare as I hobble out.
THIRTY-ONE
REON
“Did you even give her the ring?” Abigail asks around a mouthful of pizza.
“No.”
“Did she even remember you said you got married?”
“I don’t know.”
“Reon, does she know you’re married?”
“To her. I’m married to her,” I tell Abigail.
“When was the wedding? Come on, Reon, stop this and go after her and tell her.”
“She knows. She seemed to forget, which is fine, considering everything she went through.”
Abigail stares at me, her eyes boring into mine as she eats her pizza. “It’s a fucked-up situation you have right now.”
“I have to get dressed. I have a meeting with Earl.” I stand and head for my bedroom as Abigail yells out, “I’ll come. I miss Earl.”
I don’t tell her she can’t. Earl likes Abigail, probably more than I do. Abigail is set to inherit everything if I die. She’s my only living blood relative and has been the only woman in my life until recently.
My cell hasn’t stopped all morning, with texts and calls flooding in. But when I walked into my room and saw her sleeping peacefully, I took my shirt off and climbed in next to her.
It was the best sleep I’ve ever fucking had.
Lilith made weird noises, and I was careful where I touched her as she was terribly bruised. Hopefully, the IV we gave her helped a little. I disconnected it before I slipped into bed with her.
After quickly throwing my clothes on, I leave my bedroom to find Abigail waiting for me as she slides on a pair of heels.
“Ready?” she asks, and I nod.
We’re quiet on the elevator ride down to the parking garage, but she asks for the keys when we arrive at my car.
“I told you I would buy you a car,” I say on a sigh.
“No, it’s too much fun driving yours. And what would my colleagues say… that I have a sugar daddy?” She scoffs, getting into the driver’s seat and starting the car.
“You could just tell them who I am.”
She laughs as she reverses out of the parking spot and squeals the tires. “Yeah, that’s a no. The world knows who you are, but let’s keep me a secret so I can go on living in my bubble and stealing all your shit when I come to visit.”
I chuckle and give her directions.
During the drive, she tells me that she and Hannah have moved in together, and that they are doing well. I’m happy for her. Abigail has always known she wasn’t interested in men. On the other hand, Hannah was with me for a good few weeks before meeting my sister. I have no bad blood over it. Hannah and I were never meant to be, and she fits with my sister; they complement each other well.
“Um, seems we have an audience today.” She nods to a car I know very well. “Is that Soren?”
“It sure fucking is.” I shake my head.
“Deep breaths, Reon. You can’t kill him. Do you want to end up behind bars?”
“He knows better,” I say. Getting out of the car, I hear Abigail call out from behind me, but I walk straight into the restaurant and over to the table where Earl sits opposite Soren. Maya is with them, holding a glass of champagne in her hand.
“You’re better?” I ask, and she nods, then looks away. Turning my attention to Soren, I force a smile down at him.
“Why are you talking to my employee?” I ask him. Earl says nothing, watching our exchange.
“Just a friendly chat, Reon. You know how business is.” Soren smiles up at me as he reaches for his drink. Staring at me over the rim of his glass, he takes a sip.
Turning to Earl, I wave him off. “Give me a minute, Earl. Please, get Abigail a drink.”
As Abigail walks in, Earl nods and smiles at her, then gets up and walks to the bar. Maya watches with narrowed eyes, having no idea who she is.
I take Earl’s seat opposite Soren and lean back in my chair. “Did you proposition him?” He goes to open his mouth, but I hold up a finger. “Think really hard about your answer, Soren.” Soren smirks, and my fingers tap the table, one pointing to Maya. “I’d hate to cause anyone heart failure,” I add.