Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“But in order for all of that to happen, the Knights have to leave first,” I say.
I can’t believe I never noticed this happening. Although, local politics were hardly an interest of mine.
Annika nods. “And they’re slowly freezing us out.”
“Because he’s bribing them.”
“With that stupid green space. But it’s a lie. I don’t think for a second it’s true. Boney is a slimy ass.”
We reach the end of the street and stop, both of us looking at the rows of stores with the anti-biker sticker in the window.
“What do we do now?” I ask.
Annika thinks for a moment, probably weighing up if she wants to start something with any of the store owners. But then she blows out a deep, shaky breath. “We go buy cupcakes.”
We cross the road to The Emporium and step inside the massive department store, which feels unusually quiet.
Annika disappears to the back of the store where the cupcakes are kept, while I wander around the store and try to figure out why I feel such an overwhelming sense of injustice over what just happened.
I’m still trying to figure out how I fit into the bigger picture. I mean, these people are a part of the problem for me. Their leader kept me prisoner in a room for two days. Is forcing me to marry him. And they’re all complicit.
I should be cheering on the people trying to run them out of town.
Yet, I can’t help but feel like I am a part of them. I belong with them. Which is insane. But from the moment I arrived in the clubhouse, it’s felt so familiar.
Annika appears with the box of cupcakes.
“Don’t they look great,” she says, opening the box so I can see. “Rina is going to love them.”
She’s right. They look good. Six to-die-for cupcakes with thick icing and sprinkles.
And now I want to eat my weight in cupcakes.
The doorbell chimes, and Annika stiffens beside me.
When I look up, my breath gets stuck in my throat and my heartbeat pounds like a drum in my ears, because standing in the doorway is Gaston.
I exhale roughly and start to shake, because the way he looks at me takes me back to that night and reminds me I’m in danger.
His black eyes burn with lust and deviance as they roll up and down the length of me.
“Well, well, well…” he says as he moves toward us. “It looks like my day just took a turn for the better.”
He licks his lips. In another life, Gaston is handsome and charming and popular with the ladies. But in this one, his good looks are tinged in evil and he’s clearly psychopathic. I wonder how many people have fallen for his looks only to feel the sting of his cruelty.
Annika turns to me like she doesn’t see him. “Come on, Belle, let’s get out of here.”
But Gaston steps in front of us.
“Aren’t you going to say hello to me, Annika?” Gaston says, then adds. “Ah, that’s right, I’m a Nameless Man now.”
His eyes slide to me, and he licks his lips.
“I’ve been waiting for us to meet again,” he says darkly.
Annika puts herself between him and me. A wall of protection from the man who has already caused so much damage in my life.
She grits her teeth as her gaze meets his. “You stay the hell away from her.”
Gaston’s grin drips with evil. His dark eyes gleam. But he doesn’t respond with words. Instead, his fist flies out of nowhere, and he strikes her against the side of her face, knocking her to the floor.
I gasp and take a step toward her where she’s lying bloody on the ground.
But he shoves his hand out to stop me. “And where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
“She’s bleeding.”
He steps in front of me, and I can feel the menace radiating off him. His scent peels back the memories in my brain to when he had me bent over the table and was about to rape me.
Barely able to breathe, I take a step away from him, but he comes closer until I am pressed up against the counter. “Stay away from me.”
He reaches for a lock of my hair and twists it around his finger. “We got interrupted the last time we met. I’m looking forward to finishing what I started.” He brings his face closer and whispers in my ear, “I’m going to enjoy defiling Beast’s fiancée.”
My heart pounding, I reach out and grab the closest thing I can find to arm myself. It’s a bottle of wine. I smash it against the counter and shove the jagged glass dangerously close to his jugular vein.
“Whoa there, baby girl,” he coos, like we’re having a lovers’ spat, and he expects to talk himself out of the situation. Desire flares in his black eyes. He’s fucking enjoying this. Instead of repelling him, the psychopath is getting off on me pressing a broken bottle to his neck.