Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 65041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
The hair supplies.
The makeup.
Down to the hairbrush on the sink.
I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling of being watched for God knows how long. I wanted to cry and fall apart again, but it was pointless. This was now my life, and I had to embrace it, but it was still so surreal to be in a life-and-death situation. I kept praying this was a nightmare I’d soon wake up from. However, it wasn’t.
This was my new reality.
I was nothing more than a target to play with.
A toy.
Exactly how my parents and Deacon, or whatever his name was, treated me.
The longer I was in there by myself, the more I thought about how foolish I’d been in believing what we had was real. I thought he loved me, and that was a massive hit to my self-esteem and dignity.
I truly was just a naive girl looking for love in all the wrong places.
How did I not see through his façade? How could I have been so fucking stupid?
He was such a good actor, and I believed everything he told me.
Hook.
Line.
And sinker.
Once I was done changing, I walked back into the bedroom to find Jace wearing a black tuxedo. Looking like he just stepped out of a James Bond movie. Despite hating him, I couldn’t help but be attracted to him.
He was devastatingly handsome.
His dirty-blond hair was pulled back, only emphasizing his bright-blue eyes that felt as if they were staring into my soul. His beard that had a little gray in it merely added to his sex appeal.
This man was twenty years older than me, he could literally be my father, but you wouldn’t think that with how my body responded to his intoxicating presence and demeanor.
Jace Beckham was sexy as sin.
I wish I could tell you he was gazing at me with the same infatuation, except he wasn’t. The expression on his face showed me nothing. Not one damn thing and I despised that more than anything. Tears of anger burned in my eyes as bile rose in the back of my throat, loathing how he had the power to make me feel so much without even trying.
“Come here,” he ordered in that voice I detested.
With one foot in front of the other, I walked toward him until I was standing right in front of him.
“Good girl.”
Two words that should have triggered more disgust, started stirring this satisfaction deep inside me and the bastard knew it too. The truth was, Jace could read me like a fucking book.
When did that start happening? How long could he see through me?
“Turn around,” he demanded next.
I gave him a questioning glare before I did what he wanted.
“Relax, bunny,” he rasped into my ear as he wrapped what felt like a necklace around my neck.
The overwhelming emotions welled up inside me, threatening to spill out as I caught my reflection in the floor-length closet mirror. Right on cue, I watched as Jace attached a chain to the gold collared necklace he just wrapped around my neck.
Wait a second…
I wouldn’t cry.
I couldn’t.
Because I was suddenly this pet…
He just leashed and collared.
Jace
I never thought I’d be leading my little sister’s best friend into such a dangerous and seedy world, but this night would be the ultimate test on whether she’d be able to pull this off.
We’d both be playing a role this evening. Except I was the only professional who knew what they were doing. She looked fucking gorgeous dressed like the vixen I wanted her to appear to be, but I kept my mouth shut. I couldn’t give her any compliments she deserved to hear. I’d only confuse her more than she already was if that were even possible at this point.
She stared out the tinted window of the chauffeured SUV driving us to the event. I knew her mind was racing with endless questions, one right after the other. I felt every last one of them coursing through my veins like I was the one thinking them instead.
Unable to continue this way, I demanded, “Ask me, Cove.”
She glanced over at me. “Where are we?”
“Saint Martin.”
“Well that explains the beaches.” She hesitated for a moment. “Can I ask one more question?”
“If you must.”
“Where are we going?”
“To a party.”
Her eyebrows pinched together as I added, “No more questions.”
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to a port, and I handed her a black, lace bunny masquerade mask.
“What—”
“Put this on.”
When she realized what it was, she acknowledged, “A bunny?” with wide eyes.
I ignored her remark. “Unless I tell you otherwise, you speak to no one tonight. Understood?”
Fear crept through her face, and I gave her some reassurance.
“I’ll never leave your side.”
She immediately let out a visibly relieved breath.
After I put on my mask, I grabbed her hand and led her toward the boat waiting for us at the end of the dock. The ride to the secluded mansion on a private island was invite-only. You couldn’t get to this estate without one. The only access to the property was on this boat they provided.