Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
I was surprised by the nagging little voice telling me to pinch her, pull her hair, do something to hurt her. I could still manage to resist it, but still, the feeling was strange and unfamiliar. I’d never wished Harlow bad before. That is before she stole my fucking man.
Once she was fast asleep, I walked out of the room and shut the door behind me despite Harlow asking me to leave a crack open so some light would fill the room. Oh well, it wasn’t the worst thing I could have done.
I went to my own bedroom and decided to prepare myself for the next thing I was about to do. I put on a silk nightie, paired it with a kimono robe, and fluffed my hair. Then, I walked into Daddy’s study in the apartment which had been strictly off limits since I was a little girl. But that night, I didn’t care about any of those rules.
I sat down in my father’s chair and twirled around, a bright smile on my lips. Then, I picked up the phone and dialed the number I’d memorized.
“Hello?” a terse voice answered, and I smiled to myself, knowing that for once, the ace was up my sleeve.
“Hello,” I said sweetly.
“Are they with you?” the voice barked. “We’re on our way.”
“No, they’re not with me,” I lied smoothly. “But I know where they are. I want to speak to him.”
“You don’t get to ask for that,” Pia snarled at me.
I could sense the animosity in her voice but I didn’t really give a shit. I was finally going to get what I’d wanted all along. I’d been waiting long enough, after all.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to divulge Harlow and Amber’s location to you,” I told her in my best fake polite voice. “I’ll only speak to Thorn, so please put him on the phone.”
A long pause followed and my heart beat erratically in my chest. Then, I heard the phone being snatched away from Pia as a male voice answered.
“Hello?” he growled. “Carina?”
Just like always, I melted at the mere sound of his voice. He was addictive, delicious, dark and depraved but oh-so-wonderful nonetheless. Exactly what I was missing.
“Do you know where they are?” he asked roughly, and I let out a sigh of annoyance.
He was supposed to be wondering about me, worried about me. Why was he still on about Harlow? Hadn’t she proved how fucking disloyal she was by running away from him? It seemed like Thorn would never learn his lesson when it came to my friend, though I was more than willing to help him get there.
“Maybe,” I purred seductively.
I could practically see his knuckles turning white around the phone. He was angry with me, but I didn’t give a shit. I held the power, and we both knew it.
“I know where you live, Carina,” he growled. “I’m in London already. We’re going to drop by the studio tomorrow.”
“Don’t bother,” I said cheerfully. “By the way, the girls told me all about you. You sure do seem like a monster. I didn’t want to believe them at first, but after everything I’ve heard, I guess they must be right.”
He didn’t respond, probably too busy grinding his teeth together. But all I did was smile sweetly before going on.
“So, will you work with me or not?” I asked.
“Listen, you stupid little girl,” Thorn growled down the line. “I know where you live. I know who your parents are. I could have all three of you dead by the morning. Do you understand?”
I didn’t respond, just smiling to myself as I waited for him to go on with his stupid threats that meant nothing to me.
“I mean it,” he went on. “Don’t think I’ll stop at hurting you, you little-”
“I know you mean it,” I went on sweetly. “I know you do. But you know, I’ve been thinking about the same thing! Isn’t that funny?”
“What the fuck do you mean?” he growled. “What the fuck are you on about?”
“I was thinking,” I went on excitedly. “How easy it would be to hurt Harlow.”
A silence lay between us and I giggled before going on.
“We have lots of sharp objects around here, you know,” I sighed, twirling a letter opener between my fingers. “I could slit her throat just like that, and it would all be over. You don’t want to push me over the edge now, do you, Thorn? You don’t want me to lose my patience? I’ve been so very good to you, haven’t I? I’ve been waiting like a good girl…”
“What do you want?” he ground out, and I smiled triumphantly.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to play him forever. My window was small, but I intended using it to my advantage. And while Harlow was under my roof, I was free to feed him lie after lie until he gave me what I wanted.