Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
I stroked her hair with my free hand, wishing Philomena and Cooper – whoever he was – would leave already so I could gather their daughter in my arms. Briar Rose squinted real hard and quivered behind my palm, her mouth prying open, begging to cry out. She tried to unplaster my hand from her cheeks, but I held it firm.
I shook my head, pleading her to keep silent with my eyes. I wouldn’t put it past Philomena Auer to one-up the evil grandmother from the book we’d just read. There would be punishment if she discovered her daughter here. No question about it. I couldn’t risk it.
“Shh!” Philomena slapped Cooper’s chest with her purse. “Are you nuts? Someone could be listening.”
“One could only hope.” He raised his voice with purpose, pausing to take another drag of his cigarette. “Briar Rose is mine. I want to get to know her. I deserve to form a connection with her. I want to be a part of her life.”
“She was made in sin.”
“She wasn’t the one who sinned. We did. So why should she bear the consequences?”
“She’s a bastard.”
“So is that husband of yours.” He tossed his cigarette to the ground, twisting it beneath his heel. “I see how he treats her. How you let him. It’s disgraceful. Jason’s an abuser.”
Jason. Did he know he wasn’t Briar Rose’s biological father? He must’ve known, or he wouldn’t be such a douche canoe to her.
Cuddlebug’s whole body trembled behind my palm, her teeth still in my flesh. Blood, hot and thick, rushed down her chin, dripping on her dress. I closed my eyes, quieting my breaths, pushing through the pain and fury. In another world, one without courts, cops, and consequences, I’d storm out there and give that woman a piece of my mind.
Never in my life had I exercised so much self-control to remain calm. But Briar Rose didn’t need a hot head right now.
I tipped her chin up, forcing her to snap out of it.
Please, I mouthed the word, careful not to make a sound. Stay calm for me.
Cooper’s silhouette glided to Philomena’s, stopping mere centimeters away from her face. “I want to be a part of that girl’s life.”
“It’s a done deal.” Philomena pushed away from him and began tramping about from side to side, clutching onto that empty head of hers. “The girl isn’t staying with us. We’re leaving her in Switzerland and moving to Argentina. It’s better that way.”
“Better for who? She’s living the life of an orphan because you’re too proud to let me take over.”
“You will not mess this up for me. Jason is finally moving on from my little indiscretion.”
He kicked the barn wall, sending echoes our way and eliciting a sloppy snore from Sebastian that Philomena’s shriek drowned out. “Your little indiscretion is a child with wants and dreams.”
“A by-blow.” She scoffed. “An illegitimate spawn – and an ungrateful one, if I may add.”
“You won’t leave her in Switzerland alone. I’ll take her.”
“Like hell you will. And create a scandal the size of Russia?”
I couldn’t believe that’s what she cared about right now. Briar Rose must’ve gotten her brains from Daddy, because her mommy had none.
Rivers of blood snaked in and out of my fingers. Briar Rose collapsed against my palm, sobbing into it. They’d hear her if I didn’t stop her tears. I racked my brain for ideas.
“Just be honest and admit it.” Cooper’s voice fell to a whisper, “You want to get rid of her because you’re jealous of her. Because her exquisiteness outshines yours. Because you see someone good and pure, and you know that you are neither.”
Philomena snorted. “I am not jealous of my own daughter, you fool.”
“You are. You cannot handle her beauty and grace. You’re banishing her from your kingdom to feel better about yourself. Quite sad, really.” He paused. “You’re Maleficent. Ferocious. Vindictive. Past her prime.”
“I—” Philomena stopped. “What was that?”
Briar Rose.
Weeping into my palm.
A breath away from full-on sobs.
Shitfuckdamn.
Philomena gasped. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
Shit. I had to do something. I didn’t have a choice. Before I could second guess myself, I removed my hand from Briar Rose’s face, rocketed forward, and crashed my lips onto hers in an urgent, suffocating kiss.
It wasn’t hot, or steamy, or skilled. Neither full of desire nor the love snowballing inside me for the last couple years. No, this kiss bore the angry signs of desperation, and angst, and worry. Of an attempt to suck away the pain from my favorite person in the world and swallow it as my own.
The coppery tang of my blood passed from her lips to mine. She choked into the kiss but didn’t break it. Instead, she grabbed my shoulders, pulling me in, clinging to me like she was dangling from the edge of a cliff and I was the rock keeping her alive.