Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I didn’t waste another second. I scrambled to my feet and took off. Their screams and angry shouts jangled in my head long after I couldn’t hear them.
MY FEET DRAGGED UP the path, moving as slowly as the tears streaking my cheeks.
Four in the morning, I was back at Adonis’s place and what did I have to show for myself? Scraped knees, a sore shoulder, no Everleigh, and no father.
Wilder waited for me on the porch. “I’m guessing you went through with it.”
I looked at him and burst out sobbing. “The w-way he looked at me, Wilder.”
There was only ever one choice when Wolf said they were going to use me to kill my father. Making a deal with that guy was never going to happen. He’d figure that out when I didn’t show up at midnight with the laptop. All I could do was make Alistair leave, so the days of our family being used against each other finally ended.
If only I didn’t know in my heart that he wouldn’t go for anything less than the extreme.
“It’s not fair. I just got him back and now...” I trailed off, shaking my head. “I said so many horrible things to him.”
Wilder gathered me in his arms, holding me tight. “When this is all over, you’ll apologize. He’ll understand, Luna. He loves you.”
I buried my face in his chest and breathed him in. Wilder always smelled like sunshine after the rain. The hope of something wonderful.
He didn’t judge or try to talk me out of it when I told him I wouldn’t hand over the laptop and would instead send it and my father out of Regalia.
“Did you run into Saylor after?” he asked. “You’re banged up.”
I hesitated. I didn’t want to lie, but I also didn’t want to tell him I acted alone again and got hurt again.
“I went searching for Everleigh’s cabin after.” I’d always choose the truth. “I lost it, Wilder. I was— I am so angry I can barely think. I thought I found it, but it ended up being the home of a random couple who really didn’t appreciate me bursting through the window and threatening to burn them alive.”
Wilder’s brows rocketed up his forehead.
“The guy tried to bash my head in with a fire poker and I kicked him in the balls.” I clicked my tongue. “The cherry on top of a hellish night.”
A strange noise erupted from Wilder, shaking his chest.
Oh my goodness, is he... laughing?
“I’m sorry. I’m s-sorry,” he said, straining to keep it in. “It’s not funny, but... you kicked him in the balls? Damn, Sinclair. You’re spreading that bad night around.”
“It’s not funny. I busted their window with a rock,” I cried.
He snorted, losing control.
“Then I yelled, surprise, bitch like I was some kind of badass. They were definitely surprised.”
Wilder straight howled, laughing so loud he probably woke the house.
A smile tugged on my lips. Before I knew it, I was howling along with him. Every time I said, “surprise, bitch” we laughed louder.
“Only I can get into messes like this. It’s my curse.” My smile faded. “Always wrong. Always running. Always late. Always hurting the people I care about.”
Wilder lightly kissed the tip of my nose. “That’s not how I see it. You’re always doing what you know is right. You’re always running toward the people who need you. And you’re always doing whatever it takes to protect the ones you love. We will win this fight, Luna. Fuck if I know how, but we will.”
“Everything’s changed now that your brother is working for Everleigh. Because that’s exactly what he will do when I tell him to go fuck himself. He’ll never get his hands on Alistair’s laptop.” I sighed, collapsing against him. “We don’t have a plan. We don’t have my father. We don’t have the Gallery. We don’t have access to the T.O.D. Club. In one day, everything went to shit. I’d call that unlucky.”
“We’re not unlucky when we work together.”
I almost smiled. “Never thought I’d hear my suspicious love say something like that.”
“I couldn’t trust anyone before I met Rafael, Lucien, Cato, and you. Now I know what family is supposed to be.” He dropped a kiss on my crown. “We’ve got this, Luna. From the minute you set foot in Regalia University, you didn’t doubt that you’d get revenge for your sister. Don’t tell me that girl’s gone?”
Something in me sparked, lighting a fire in my belly that chased back tears. I glared at him. “Hell no.”
“Good.” Wilder smirked. “Then, let’s go inside, have sex in the shower, then make a new plan.”
“You might need to hold me up for part two, then plan with my unconscious body for part three. I don’t even know how I’m standing right now.”
“Say no more.” Wilder scooped me in his arms and carried me into the house. “I’ve got you, Luna. Always.”