Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 176345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 882(@200wpm)___ 705(@250wpm)___ 588(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 882(@200wpm)___ 705(@250wpm)___ 588(@300wpm)
Lana
I run as fast as I can, my heart racing in my throat as I make my way from street to street. But every time I glance over my shoulder, there he is, in his slick black suit, catching up with me fast.
Fuck.
I never imagined I’d be sprinting in these heels in the middle of the night while getting soaking wet from the rain, but here we are. I wish I’d put on something easier, clothes that didn’t stick to my body and heels that didn’t make it tough to run.
I cut a corner and speed across the pavement.
CRACK!
One of the heels breaks underneath me, and I struggle to stay standing. But when I look back and see it lying on the sidewalk, Kai appears from beneath a shop, his dark figure looming over the heel as he picks it up.
Fuck. I can’t run like this, but I have to, so I kick the heels off and carry them in my hands while I rush into the nearest alley. It’s a narrow road with high buildings on each side, and there’s a turn on the back end. I wonder if it leads to another road.
I know this city, but I don’t know each nook and every cranny. I haven’t studied the maps enough to know every inch. But what if he does?
My heart races in my throat as I come to an abrupt halt in the middle of the alley.
Because in front of me is a giant wall connecting the two buildings, preventing me from running any farther.
Shit. Shit. Shit!
I turn.
Too late.
Through the pouring rain, a figure appears, casually tossing a knife up and catching it. My eyes follow the blade glinting in the only streetlight that illuminates the street at the edge of the corner.
I swallow, bundled nerves coaxing out a fear I’ve never felt.
Is this what my victims feel when I hunt them down to make them bleed?
Will I be the next corpse to litter the streets?
“No more hiding, little kitty … I’ve found you now,” he murmurs under his breath, a wicked, almost sinful smile appearing underneath that red mask he’s still wearing.
The knife in his hand travels along the wall, the screeching sound it creates making all the hairs on my arms and legs stand up.
“What the fuck do you want from me?” I yell.
“You’ve asked that question so many times before, and the answer will always be the same, Lana.”
He says my name like it’s never been spoken out loud before.
As though he’s the one who fucking gave it to me.
And that alone makes my bones quiver.
“You,” he finally answers, the knife creating sparks against the wall.
I walk backward with each step he takes.
“Why? You don’t even know me,” I retort.
“I’ve seen enough to know that I want you,” he replies, his voice dark and ruffled with messed-up desire. “The way you kill, the way you fight, the way you bleed …” A tormented groan leaves his lips, and the sound reverberates in my soul. “I want to own all of it.”
When he lifts the blade from the wall, I suck in a breath. “I’ll fucking fight you.”
“Good.”
God, the confidence in this dude is making me want to sucker punch him and, at the same time, drop to my knees. How is this normal?
I have to stop this. Fuck, I should’ve brought my knives, but I thought I’d be safe at a Rivera club.
“I’ll kill you,” I blurt out, hoping it’ll keep him at bay.
Suddenly, in the back, two more figures appear wearing red masks, one with short red-dyed hair, the other half-long blond hair, and my boisterous courage wanes quickly.
Milo and Nathan.
Three against one is a tough win, but I can try.
Then Kai says, “Give us your worst.”
When the two boys approach from the side, I step back farther until my back hits the wall, and I have nowhere left to go but right at them. Fuck. Guess it was always unavoidable that we’d clash again.
I stare at those haunting eyes, one white, one green, sparkling with so much thirst they make my heart throb, and I fucking hate it so much I feel the need to lash out. “Do you see so little through that eye of yours you have to bring your buddies to a fight to make it even?”
“Oh boy, not the eye …” Milo mumbles at Nathan. “He’s not going to take that lightly.”
Kai’s face darkens, the smirk dissipating, making place for disgust. “You think insulting me will get you out of this mess?” His fist tightens. “I’ll make your mouth pay for that comment.”
I snort. “I’d love to see you try.”
The confident smirk returns on his face. “Watch me.”
Nathan groans. “Fuck, this is getting exciting.”
“God, I can’t fucking wait for a taste of that pussy,” Milo says, getting closer than the others.