Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“Blaise is dealing with that. He said he would, and once we have the info we need, then we will move. Right now, however, the daughter of the future governor of Georgia is in danger, and you are the one she’s supposed to be engaged to. Worry about that.”
I inhaled sharply, trying not to lose it. “Rumor has been locked away long enough. I want the Insantos dealt with, or I’ll do it myself.”
A hard laugh came through the line. “Remember who you are. What we are. Rumor is under our protection because Blaise agreed to help her. We never had to save her. We never had to bring her here. It was her husband we were after. Not her. But we did. She’s safe and alive and not being tried for murder because we made sure of it. She’s not our priority. We are powerful because of our connections. Who we have in our back pocket. You know this, King. Getting Jefferson in the governor’s seat benefits the family. The family always comes first.” My father sighed. “Now, Scotlin May is our priority. You’re engaged. Act like it.”
“Rumor is my priority,” I snarled, hating the words coming out of his mouth.
“No. She’s not. The family’s priority is your priority. Jefferson May is a fucking Republican. When shit starts being dug up about him and the fact that his nineteen-year-old daughter had an abortion comes out, we will need the man who’d knocked her up to be by her side. Showing the voters of Georgia that you are a united front.”
“This shit ends once Scotlin’s stalker is found. That was what I was told,” I reminded him, my chest growing tighter by the moment.
“It ends when Blaise says it does. Not a moment before. Do your job, King.”
He ended the call before I could respond.
“FUCK!” I shouted, throwing my phone across the yard and slamming my coffee cup against the fence beside me, causing it to break in two.
“Guess you’re going shopping,” Storm said beside me.
I turned and stalked back to the stables without responding. Right now, I needed Rumor. She was the only thing that could ease the violence pumping through my veins.
• Fourteen •
This puts a spin on things.
Rumor
It was strange how the light of a new day seemed to make everything seem brighter. The darkness faded away so easily. You could accept the things you’d never imagined you would. Like the fact that the man you loved had held a gun on his friend over a hoodie.
Standing in front of the mirror, I worked a comb through my unruly curls and looked at the woman staring back at me. She was different and not just because there was no bruise she was hiding or fear curling in her chest at what the day would bring. The woman was happy. As messed up as it all was, when I really thought about it, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
King filled every void that had haunted me my entire life. He made me feel wanted, special, as if I belonged. I felt … needed. Cherished even. Violence had shattered me once. I’d even believed it had taken my soul. Which made the fact that the man to save me, heal me, was more violent than Hill had ever been.
“I was hoping you’d still be in bed.”
King’s voice startled me, and I spun around to see him leaning against the doorway of the bathroom. I wondered if the sight of him would always affect me like this. The way his smile captivated me. It took all other thoughts away and replaced them with him. He was my happy place.
“You weren’t there,” I replied, returning his smile.
“My mistake,” he said, shoving off from his relaxed stance and walking over to me. “I left so that you could rest. If I had stayed, I’d have woken you up with my head between your legs.” He slid a hand around my waist and pressed his palm against my back, gently nudging me closer. “I’ve had my coffee, but I was coming back for my meal.”
A laugh fell from my lips as I tilted my head back to look up at him. “I don’t see any food.”
He brushed the pad of his thumb over my mouth. “I’d be happy to show you where it is.”
A sigh of pleasure escaped me, and he smirked as he continued to caress different areas. My cheekbones, jawline, the side of my neck. He seemed lost in deep thought as he silently went about touching me with reverence. I trembled slightly as I stood there, watching him.
“Are you cold?” he asked in a low voice just above a whisper.
I shook my head. This had absolutely nothing to do with being cold and everything to do with him.
“You’re not scared of me, are you, sweets?”