Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 94874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
The two girls loitering at the Dairy Barn window swing around and gape as they watch the scene unfold from a safe distance. Kingsley turns toward the oncoming threat and squares up. The last thing I need is a fight breaking out between them. Austin can’t afford any more trouble.
In the blink of an eye, my twin eats up the distance between us with long-legged strides. When he pulls his arm back, I leap between the two, pressing my palms against my brother’s chest. It takes all of my strength to knock him back a few steps.
“What the fuck are you doing with him?” Austin growls, not taking his gaze off the other boy.
I gulp as my mind races, trying to come up with a plausible explanation that will diffuse the situation. “Kingsley drove me home from school and we stopped for ice cream.”
Austin’s gaze flickers to mine. “I thought you were sick.”
“I felt better, so I went to school for the afternoon.”
“Why didn’t you drive yourself?” he shoots back suspiciously.
I don’t know how to answer that question.
Before I can blurt out another lie, Kingsley interjects, “I stopped at home to pick something up at lunch and saw that she was leaving, so I offered her a ride.”
Austin glowers before shoving me behind his body. “Why would you do that? Aren’t you the same asshole who had his fucking hand wrapped around her throat last week?” His voice grows steely as he steps forward. “Maybe she’s forgotten about that, but I haven’t.”
I peek around Austin’s arm, trying to gauge Kingsley’s reaction, but his gaze becomes shuttered.
The memory invades my brain and I swallow thickly. It’s almost as if I can feel the unrelenting pressure of his fingers pressing against my windpipe, closing off airflow. Bruises had decorated my skin for days. Makeup had been necessary to camouflage the marks from my parents and while at school.
“It’s not that deep, bro,” cruelty flickers in Kingsley’s bottomless depths as he smirks, “don’t make more out of it than what it is.”
The carelessness of his words cut me with the precision of a scalpel. Whatever fragile bond had been reestablished between us is once again destroyed. It makes me question everything. Maybe I was right the first time, and it was all a giant mindfuck. Not only did I allow him to touch my body, I let him create havoc inside my head.
I’m such an idiot.
How many times do I need to get burned before I learn my lesson? Kingsley is not to be trusted. No matter how much he resembles the boy from the beach, they aren’t the same guy. That boy doesn’t exist.
The smirking son of a bitch standing before me is the real Kingsley Rothchild. I can’t allow myself to ever forget that. Nausea rushes through me. My fingernails bite into my brother’s bare arm to pull his attention back to me. I need to escape Kingsley’s insufferable presence before I become physically ill.
“Please,” I whisper, “take me home.”
As if hearing the pain riddled through my words, Austin’s concerned gaze flickers to mine. Not wanting to make eye contact with Kingsley, I keep my attention focused on my brother. Stifling waves of tension blanket the atmosphere, making it impossible to breathe. Any moment and I’ll start gasping for air.
“Go wait in the car, Summer,” he mutters from the corner of his mouth as his gaze shifts to Kingsley.
“Come with me.” If I walk away, the situation will only escalate. Clearly, I can’t read Kingsley, but I know my brother. He’s spoiling for a fight. And one way or another, he’ll find what he’s looking for.
“Go,” he snaps when I don’t budge from behind him. “Rothchild and I need to have a little chat.”
My shoulders slump under the heavy weight of the situation. Even though I refuse to glance in Kingsley’s direction, the heat of his gaze drills into me.
“Please,” I moisten my lips, “don’t do anything stupid.” We both know it’s a warning that will go unheeded.
It’s only after I’ve slid onto the passenger seat of the Mercedes that my attention is drawn back to the boys. A shudder slides through me as I cringe, holding my breath. Austin has already advanced on the dark-haired boy and is shoving him in the chest. A low rumble of words is exchanged but I’m too far away to hear them. It’s better that way. Anything that comes out of Kingsley’s mouth will be specifically designed to inflict pain. I can only hope he doesn’t throw our agreement in Austin’s face.
It was a mistake to walk away and leave them together. I knew Austin would lose his temper. He’s been simmering for weeks. Actually, he’s been a powder keg since we found out about the move. The start of school, the hazing, and the subsequent suspension have driven him to the tipping point. It was only a matter of time before he exploded.