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)
“She’s just a job,” Sebastian said near my ear.
I nodded, wanting to act like I believed that. But she’d been so close to him. They’d looked happy. Like they fit. Two beautiful people in a world that I didn’t belong in. I swallowed hard and fought off the urge to run. At least no one was aware of my reaction. Just Sebastian. The others were drinking, enjoying themselves. I wasn’t their concern.
Could I do this? Setting my glass back down before I dropped it, I clasped my hands in front of me so that Sebastian didn’t see them trembling. Falling apart right now was unacceptable. I had to act fine. Convince Sebastian I was okay too.
“Rumor,” he said, leaning down close to me, “he wants you. I swear.”
I nodded, but couldn’t force a smile. Not when my chest wanted to crack open. The sight of them was going to haunt me. He hadn’t called me but once. Seeing him with her … I wasn’t stupid.
I turned my head so that I could look into Sebastian’s eyes. Read his answer even if he didn’t tell it to me. “Are they sharing a hotel room?” I asked him.
There it was. The barest flicker in his irises that told me the truth.
“Never mind,” I replied. “Forget I asked.”
I didn’t want to hear him lie to me. I’d had enough lies. I didn’t want to know I’d been told another one.
“He isn’t sharing a bed with her. That I can fucking swear to you.”
No, he couldn’t. No one could. No one knew what happened behind the closed door. She was stunning. Absolutely beautiful. He was a man used to getting what he wanted and when. He liked things I had never given him, and now, I couldn’t. It would be dangerous to our child.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply. I could survive this. I had to.
• Twenty-Two •
You weren’t supposed to fucking shoot him.
King
The Derby had always been a good time. The energy, excitement, thrill of the win. I’d grown up loving it. Yet right now, I fucking hated every minute. Standing here with my hand on Scotlin’s back while she continued to flirt and cling to me. I had to smile. Pretend I enjoyed it. Wanted this. I deserved a goddamn Emmy for this performance.
I just had to get through this party. Pretend like I was celebrating our wins today. Manage another night in that fucking suite that smelled like the overpowering scent of Scotlin’s expensive perfume. Then, I was moving into another room and surviving one more day here.
“I’m getting a drink,” I said, dropping my hand from hers.
She turned to place her hand on my chest. “Oh, would you get me a mint julep?”
“Of course,” I replied, holding my smile. Hoping it looked like one a man gave his fiancée instead of the disgust that I actually felt.
Part of me had started to believe she had set this all up. Made up her own stalker or paid someone to do it. Just to force this. It was ludicrous, but I wanted out, and if I could prove something like that, I’d be free of her.
Getting distance from her, I took long strides toward the bar, needing to get away. Fresh air. Needing … fuck, I needed to bury my face in Rumor’s hair and inhale. Run my nose along the soft skin of her neck and soak in the sweetness. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone to see if she’d responded to my last text. Still nothing. I’d sent her four texts and called every time I got a chance today. Maeme had assured me she was fine, not to worry. But I was about to call her again and make her put Rumor on the phone.
Why was she ignoring me? Had they put some shit on TV about me and Scotlin and Rumor had seen it?
My hand tightened on the phone as my head began to pound. This was bothering her. I hated it. I despised it. That hatred and fury were hard not to take out on Scotlin, especially when the world was watching. Just thinking about Rumor being hurt, I wanted to throw Scotlin away from me, demand she stop touching me.
“What can I get you?” the female bartender asked, leaning forward with a bright smile.
I wanted to roll my eyes.
“Maker’s and a julep,” I replied, looking back down at my phone.
I’d text her one more time. Check on things. Make sure she was okay. Just see her response. Know she was fine. I’d be back soon. Just one more day. Whatever was upsetting her, I’d fix it.
Texting out the words, I reread them twice, then hit Send. Just as I lifted my head, I felt it. The warning. The shift in the room. Something was off. My eyes scanned the room, then went to the entrances. The gunshot was followed by the sound of glass shattering, then screaming. Frantic people dropped to the ground, yells, shouts, then running.