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)
When I try to slap him again, he grabs my wrist midair. “You can slap me all you want. It won’t change what’s going to happen.”
“Oh, do fucking enlighten me,” I grit.
“You’ll be a good girl and give me the money I told you to give me, and I won’t release those pictures.”
“Fuck you,” I say. “Why are you so desperate, huh? Don’t you fucking have enough? Your parents are the wealthiest—”
“My parents are in jail,” he roars, tears suddenly staining his eyes.
My eyes widen, and he releases my wrist.
“And whether you are willing to give it to me or not, I need that money. And I’m going to get it.”
“Why?” I ask. “Give me one good reason.”
He clutches the glass so tightly I’m almost starting to wonder if it will crack beneath his fingers.
“You can’t … because you don’t want to,” I scoff. “Penelope was right. You’re just a fucking bully.”
“Penelope?” he grits. “You think she’s telling you the complete truth?”
I shove my finger into his chest. “You bullied her sister. Damn right I know she’s telling the truth.”
He grips my finger. “You have no fucking clue …”
“Did you do it or not?”
His face darkens. “I had no fucking choice.”
I snort. “No choice … no choice but to bully someone? Sure.”
He roars out loud and smashes his glass against the wall. “I was fucking forced to do it!”
I frown.
Who would force a guy to bully someone else?
“Why?”
“Ask your brother, he knows the fucking truth,” he grits. “If I didn’t oblige, my parents' fraud would be exposed to the police. Did you think I wanted to be responsible for them going to jail?” he says, closing the gap between us. “I did what I had to for my family.”
“By breaking another family apart …” I mutter.
His face contorts with regret and guilt. “You don’t know the pain I went through for them.” His hand rises, the missing finger a thorn in his side. “I paid the price.”
“And all that bullying was for nothing because they’re still in jail,” I say through gritted teeth. I can tell from the look in his eyes my words are like tiny knives jabbed straight into his heart. “Just like you trying to threaten me with pictures will be all for nothing.”
“Lana, give me the money,” he says, his voice gravelly, too serious to ignore.
“No,” I reply, jerking my hand free from his grip. “You won’t even give me the reason. You’re fucking evil.”
“Just give me the fucking money, goddammit! The reason doesn’t fucking matter. Just give it to me, and I promise to keep the pictures safe.”
I step away from him. “You don’t want to tell me, do you? You can’t even face the girl you’re trying to extort.”
His face is marred with disgust and hatred, but I don’t know if he feels that way because of me or himself.
“It’s a matter of life or death,” he says through gritted teeth.
I tilt my head and smile wickedly. “Then die.”
And I walk off, sticking my middle finger in the air while I glance over my shoulder just to watch him seethe.
Nathan
I check my watch, the ticking making me anxious. I need to get there on time. If I don’t …
My heart beats in my throat, and I push the thought away.
I grab my bag and count the cash again, but I’m still short. They’ll never accept this.
“Damnit!” I slam my fists against the steering wheel.
Someone knocks on my window, and when I look up, Kai’s smiling at me. I don’t know what he’s smiling about.
I lower the window. “What?”
He pushes a wad of cash inside. “Here.”
I frown. “Wait …”
“I sold one of those stolen bags,” he says. “Found it in the closet underneath some shoes.”
I count it, and it’s the exact number I need. But it’s more than anyone would’ve given for that bag we forgot. “You added more. Did your mom give this to you?”
He shrugs. “No, but I figured it out on my own.”
My eyes flicker down his body to the hand that just gifted me the money. The ring that usually adorns his finger is missing.
When he sees me looking, he retracts his hand. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks,” I say, tucking the money into the bag.
With this, I’ll have just enough to settle the score.
“This means more than—”
“I know.” Kai interrupts.
I return his smile and put the bag aside.
He taps the top of the car and then walks away, but within seconds, he’s opened the passenger side door and sits down beside me.
“What are you doing?” I don’t want him to get the wrong idea. “I don’t want you to be in danger.”
“I don’t care,” he says, leaning in. “You know I’d go to war for all of you fuckers, right?”
“It’s just a simple deal. In and out. That’s it.”
“And I’m coming with you,” he says while I put the car into reverse. “Now go.” His eyes flick to my watch. “It’s time.”