Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
That doesn’t make sense. Bastian wouldn’t buy a girlfriend. He’s handsome, rich, and heir to the biggest media conglomerate to ever exist. Women, for as long as I can remember, have worshipped him. My brother’s dated socialites, influencers, athletes, celebrities, pop artists, and even a model or two. The guy’s not hurting for a selection of girlfriends.
Suddenly he’s with Megan?
Plain, shy, small-town Megan.
My thoughts drift to Michael. On the outside, he’s successful, rich, and handsome. And that sicko paid over a million dollars to have Solomon bring him a made-to-order sex doll. Is that what Bastian did? Did he put in his order with the Crownes and get exactly what he wanted?
The questions keep piling up, but no answers come to mind. I know I could grill Caius, yet that would mean speaking to him, which I don’t want to do. What I want is to fall asleep for a long time and wake up in my dorm room, realizing this was all a dream.
I hear a click of a door shutting.
Did Caius leave?
After listening for a beat, I pull the covers off my head to search for him. He’s turned off the overhead light and only the desk light illuminates the space. His laptop and bag are gone. Off he went for another clandestine meeting.
Is he getting chummy with Ted again?
Maybe he’s blowing off some steam with Ava.
Worse, he could be enjoying a little after-dinner treat with Michael and Solomon.
My stomach churns, dinner not settling well as I think about poor LuLu.
I have to do something. Crying in bed over my brother’s involvement won’t solve anything, especially not for LuLu or the other girls.
Not crying is easier said than done, though. In my heart, I’d like to believe Megan will tell Bastian we spoke and then they’ll both feel bad for me. My brother will find out where I’m at and come pick me up. There will be some huge explanation for all of it.
A gnawing sensation in my gut tells me no one is coming to save me.
That means I need to pull on my big girl panties and figure out this situation. There are people here who need my help.
Caius is not that person.
I may be on my own.
The yacht slows its speed. I slide out of the bed, shakily making my way over to the window. It’s snowing like crazy outside, but beyond the flurries of snow, I can see lights in the distance.
Being this close to the window, I can feel the cold and it wraps its icy claws around me. Shivering, I cross my arms over my chest, hoping to bring some warmth to my body. Grabbing the blanket off the bed would be smart, but I don’t want to miss this.
Something is happening.
The shipping facility?
Are they doing the trade for the girls now?
I’m too late.
Frantically, I try to calculate how to help them. I’m severely outnumbered by evil people on a boat I’m unfamiliar with in the middle of a snowstorm on a lake I’ve never been on. How exactly do I plan to rescue four girls and myself before the yacht docks at the port?
Answer is, I can’t.
I’m a lot of things, but I’m not stupid.
It’s impossible.
Filled with despair, I watch as we approach the dock. Sure enough, colored shipping containers stacked as high as the eye can see become my view. The place is lit up with streetlamps and a big spotlight set high on one of the container stacks. A bundled-up man waits at the dock.
Someone knocks on the door.
What if it’s LuLu?
I race over to the door, hoping that the girl has come to me with her friends. Maybe we can throw on our outer gear and somehow sneak off once we’re docked. The second I open the door, though, I regret it instantly.
“Gareth,” I say with a groan. “Bye.”
Before I can close the door, he places his thick black boot in the way to stop it.
“Wait,” he says, voice soft. “Ro, please. Can we talk?”
“No.”
“I want to…apologize.”
Not falling for it this time.
“I was worried,” he continues. “I saw my brother… Did he, uh, touch you against your will?”
I detect sincerity in his tone.
Could be another lie.
“I’m coming in to apologize and explain what happened to Emma.”
My interest is officially piqued. “Fine. Hit me again and I’ll tell Caius.”
I’m not sure Caius would be my savior, but I think Gareth believes this. He grunts in agreement. Moving away from the door, I allow him entry. The lamplight casts a golden glow on his handsome features that are pinched with regret.
“You’ve been crying,” he utters, motioning to my face. “You have black shit all over your cheeks and your eyes are red.”
“Captain Obvious.”
He smirks and I’m reminded of the man I somewhat trusted once before. Now that I know his true nature, I don’t warm up to him.