Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
“You’re going to blink, and someone will be gone—who did it?” the voice declares.
I shove the stray away as my eyes search around the place in a panic. Swiping my phone unlocked, I hit dial on Evie’s name as the familiar sound of tires tearing up the asphalt screeches over Slipknot’s “Wait and Bleed.”
Of fucking course.
Priest has his dumped-out 180SX on the skid pad, smoke building around his tires. His window is down, a hoodie shadowing his face, but when his eyes land on mine, they flash with cadaverous indifference.
If eyes are the window to your soul, then Priest Hayes simply doesn’t have one.
“What have you done?” I whisper as my heart beats to a precarious tune. Drunk people cheer him, and the music once again becomes louder.
My phone lights up and I tap the message.
We said she’s fucking fine.
That time it’s War.
“Dude!” someone calls out from behind me, and I turn back to face him.
Instastray stumbles forward, clutching his stomach. I try to adjust my vision through the smoke, when blood spills from between his fingers as he slumps forward, collapsing into my arms. Unable to hold him up, we both topple to the ground.
Moving his hands out of the way, dread fills me.
I don’t question it, because I know.
I hold his blue eyes, placing his hand back over the wound. This one is deep. So much deeper than Caden’s. This wasn’t a warning cut; this one was made with intent.
“I’m sorry.” I stare blankly down at him. Blood sets to slime on my hands, but I stay there, silent.
Someone screams, and people start running, scrambling. Chaos erupts as doors close in the distance and tires skid to leave.
The music continues to play, the smoke unrelenting.
Instastray coughs loudly and blood sprays over my face. I hold him until he stops moving, and then I slowly lay him flat on the ground, standing on shaky legs. I already know everyone would have left. That there would no doubt be police, and parents asking questions about tonight. Questions that will always be taken care of.
The music stops, and I swear all I can hear is the loud beating of my heart.
“I want to know why the fuck you all decided it would be a great idea to start this!” I yell out into the veil of smoke, knowing they can hear me.
Heavy footsteps thud behind me. I don’t have to turn to know who it is. Call it twin sensitivity, but I know when my brother is nearby. Or when he has caused chaos.
“You already know why this happened. You all want to be Kings? Then you’ll play like a King.”
My mouth closes and I grind my teeth. I peer up to my brother. “I am a King, Priest.” I tilt my head at him. Priest has been following in Grandpa’s footsteps since he knew how to walk. Could it be possible that he’s influenced by the notorious Mad King?
Priest shrugs. “Sorry, sis. You know the rules. Evie is home. Now you can go too.”
“So, why?” I ask, my arms flying around the place. “What has this boy done to any of you?”
“Mmm…” War breaks through the smoke, swiping the blade over his shoulder. “We can start with the obvious if you want, Halo. Like for one?” He’s so close I can feel the heat from his body penetrating mine. He presses the blade to my lips and flattens it until they’re glossed with blood. “Ask me.”
“War…” Priest warns, but War doesn’t back down. His jaw locked on me.
“Go on.” His eyes flash a menacing shade of rebellion. “Ask me.”
“Why.” I angle my head up to him but he’s way too fucking tall and large. “Why’d you kill him?” I bring my hand up to his chest to push him away but end up resting it there instead. I’m aware of everyone around us right now, but I can’t seem to care.
He presses his thumb against my lip.
My eyes narrow. “Are you fucking joking?”
This time I do shove him away.
He laughs, his head tilting back enough for me to see blood splatter all over the tattoo on the side of his neck.
His eyes come back to mine, and I hate how they always look lazy. High. “Am I? Why don’t you kiss someone again and test that?”
He breaks the tension with a single step back.
Fucking. Lockjaw.
When I find Priest, he’s staring right at me already. It’s deep enough to leave a scar. Shit.
My fingers fly over the screen of my phone to distract myself, and hopefully Priest. I don’t know how War can get away with killing someone, yet I’m the one getting fucking glared at. “I’ve dialed it in. They’ll fix all of this.”
“Fix?” My brother finally speaks, but his tone is flat. It’s not when he’s angry that you have to be worried.