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)
“Why do you care, and why are you asking Arlo?” Reon questions, trying to pull me back to him, but I don’t move. I can’t. I’m stuck on the spot.
Arlo doesn’t respond, and I need him to answer. This can’t all be fake, can it?
“Caterpillar, why do you care?” Reon asks again. His gaze is locked on me, and I’m so stunned I have to try to get the correct words out.
“Kennan is my father. You took my father from me. You took him away from me,” I scream.
Reon steps back, putting distance between us. “No. Keenan had no family but a sister and a niece,” he says, brow furrowed.
“No, he has a sister and a daughter… the daughter being me,” I say, pointing to myself.
Reon shakes his head in denial. “No. No, that’s not right. I looked. I know.” He eyes me as if he’s seeing me for the first time.
“Did you?” I question.
“Yes. He has no other known relatives. Your birth certificate doesn’t mention a father.”
“Yes, this is true,” Soren breaks in from behind us. “Sneaky, right? Protecting her from the time she was born. Where were you all that time?”
“She was with her aunt.” Arlo finally joins the conversation, and all eyes turn to him.
“You knew?” Reon asks, incredulous.
“Of course, he knew!” I scream at Reon. “Why the fuck did you set up my father?”
“We already went over this,” Soren adds.
“Soren wanted to be Lord, and at the time, I thought it was a good idea,” Reon explains, looking at Soren. “I was a fool. You are more power-hungry than even he was.” Reon turns to me. “Caterpillar, get in the car so we can talk.” When I don’t move or answer him, he looks me dead in the eyes and says with desperation, “Get in the car, Lilith. You’re my wife,” Reon growls.
THIRTY-SEVEN
REON
“You love her?” Soren says, surprised, as my caterpillar stands there.
“I sure as shit don’t marry just any fucking woman now, do I?” I tell him, even though he should know that.
He glances at the axe still in my hand, then back at me.
“Are you sure you aren’t merely fascinated with her? I mean, I get it. She is appealing.” He looks her way, and I can’t help the noise that leaves the back of my throat at his eyes on her.
“Watch how you talk about my wife,” I growl.
“She needed to know. And, clearly, you did as well. I only found out after I left, so I came right over.”
“I bet you were very happy when you found out. So, what was your plan?”
“Just to inform you about whom you married. It’s what we do, Reon. You should know that.”
My grip tightens on the axe. “If Lilith doesn’t forgive me, if she decides not to be with me, I will hunt you down. I will take off your head while you sleep, and then I will do the same to your sister. Do you hear me?”
“I didn’t think you loved her,” Soren says.
“I breathe for her,” I admit.
My caterpillar looks at me. I reach for her, but she brushes me off.
“Take me home, now,” she demands.
I lean in, but she pushes back.
“You don’t have a home, Caterpillar,” I remind her. Her shoulders drop a little, but I nod anyway. “We’re leaving,” I tell Soren. Arlo shakes his head, but I keep my focus on Soren.
“Go, it’s done, it’s ended,” Soren says.
“What the fuck!” Arlo bellows.
“You don’t want to kill her, so why the fuck are you still going on like this?” I ask him as I hear her get into my car.
“Everyone is breaking the rules.” Arlo waves to Soren and me. “We invented the rules for a reason. They create order. Order is good.”
“Goodnight,” I say, shaking my head, and then walk to the car. I don’t need to hear how upset he is; I couldn’t care less. My main concern is the woman waiting for me. She doesn't look my way when I climb into the car, not even when we drive off.
“Caterpillar?” I reach for her, but she brushes my hand away.
“I’m tired,” is all she says in return.
I start driving toward my apartment, but she directs me somewhere else.
“I don’t want to stay at yours,” she says as we approach an older house. The front door opens, and Keenan’s sister steps outside, hugging herself as she peers at the car.
“Don’t get out. Come with me,” I plead.
“No,” she replies, sounding exhausted. She opens the door and gets out. When she looks back at me, those chocolate eyes are so sad, and I feel it breaking my fucking heart. “Don’t follow, Reon, I mean it.” She slams the door shut, walks straight up to her aunt, and they step inside.
I sit there for way too long, even after the lights go off in the house.