Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 123212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Word has quickly spread and the press has been stationed outside the big iron gates since the early hours of the morning. It’s a fucking shit show here. It’s one of the biggest stories to hit the media in a long time and somehow, I ended up in the middle of it. From now on, my every move is going to be scrutinized, along with the other staff and Colton. As if I wasn’t already dealing with enough shit.
Milo’s phone cuts through my thoughts and I glance across to find him standing by the window, staring out at the pool. He answers his phone and as he talks, I'm distantly aware that night has fallen.
When the hell did that happen?
It’s been the longest day of my life and while I’m thankful for Milo and Eli spending their day trying to keep me distracted, at some point, I need to face the music. I have to walk into that house and I have to check that Colton is alright.
Every inch of my body is telling me to stay away, but I can’t. I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame and despite all his attempts to push me away, I just keep coming back.
Milo ends his call and as he turns to face me, I give him a small smile. “Hey, babe,” he says, speaking before I have a chance. “That was my dad. I have to go. Will you be alright here if I take off? I can tell him no if you need me to stay.”
“No,” I say with a relieved sigh, happy to not have to be the bitch who kicks him out. “That’s fine. I was just thinking that I should go and check on Mom and Maryne. I’m sure it would have been stressful in there today.”
He raises a brow and stares straight through me. “By your ‘mom and Maryne’ what you really mean is go and check on Colton.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t need to, babe. It’s written all over your face.”
Fuck.
“It is not.”
Milo rolls his eyes and slips his phone back into his pocket before striding over to me and wrapping me in a warm hug. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” he says. “Do you need a ride in the morning?”
I press my lips together and think about it for a second. “Can I let you know? I’m not really sure if I’m feeling down for school right now.”
“Okay, sure. Let me know when you know,” he says, stepping out of my arms and walking over to the door. He steps out and just before the door closes behind him, he looks back with a smile. “Let me know if you need anything.”
With that, he’s gone, leaving me truly alone for the first time since sitting out by the pool last night. I’m left with my own torturous thoughts and as every shadow begins to turn into a threat, I know I won’t survive here by myself.
Chapter 3
I hurry out of the pool house trying to figure out how the hell I'm going to sleep tonight. I wonder how mom will feel about me bunking with her, though that's going to bring questions and I'm not sure I have the strength to tell her about it yet. Maybe I'll just stick with the good old 'leave the bathroom light on' trick.
I reach the back door of the mansion and slip in through the staff quarters before coming to a standstill. I’m not used to it being so damn quiet here. There’s not a damn sound. No water boiling on the stove, no washing machines running, no vacuums, or the soft music that plays through the chef’s radio.
The cops are gone and the surveillance monitor by Harrison’s desk is showing that most of the press from the front gate have started to leave, clearly realizing that they’re not about to get any information out of us. Though, it won’t do them any good. No one knows anything.
The dagger has been on my mind all day. I don’t know if I should go and talk to Colton about it or leave it for a few days. It’s a lead and a starting point for the cops to begin searching for whoever did this, but it’s also a wound that I’m not sure I’m ready to tear open. Dad only died five months ago and it was horrific. I don’t think my heart is ever going to heal.
Desperately needing to get my mind off dad, I start walking through the main part of the house, listening out for Mom, Maryne, Harrison, or Colton. Though, if I was to run into Colton, I’m not sure what might happen. I don’t know if I’m ready to face him yet as I know he’s going to push me away again, but a part of me is desperately needing to make sure that he’s alright.