Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Anya having a man in her life is obviously frowned upon. It’s viewed as a weakness, and I have my work cut out for me helping her unlearn all the conditioning that has kept her safe in this world for so long.
Those gorgeous eyes glare at me through narrowed lids as she says, “This is over. You didn’t accept payment, and I owe you nothing.” She turns to open the car door without waiting for me to speak.
I grab her wrist. “You do, Anya. You so fucking do.”
“I don’t get it with you. I’ve attended your business meetings, so all that’s left is to fuck. You say you like the taste of my pussy, but what? Can’t you get it up to fuck me?” Her face goes solemn. “Are you using me to get to Vance and Clay? Is that it? Because I’m totally okay with you fucking them as long as I can watch.”
I grab for her cheeks, but she slaps my hands away. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
A lock of hair falls out of her tight bun, and she pushes it to the side to ensure her immaculate appearance doesn’t have a fault.
I want to smack the brat out of her. She has no idea how much of a chokehold she has on me. Has had from the very first day. I’ll play this game for as long as I have to until I finally wear her down. Until, little by little, she lets me in and sees me as her equal. I want to discover every bit there is to know about this woman and her beautiful, powerful mind and body.
I lick my lips. “Do you know what I want, Anya? The real you. Not the woman you present to the rest of the world. Not just parts of you. All of you. And not just for sex.”
She scoffs and then looks at me again. A cynical expression crosses her features, and I notice Vance approaching the car in the glow of her front porch lights. “You can’t be serious, River. It was only ever a business deal. Don’t tell me you’re actually falling for me?”
“What if I am?” I ask pointedly.
She laughs, deranged and lethal. “I don’t do this shit.” She waves her finger between us. “I do sex, money, drugs, auctions, and everything between. But a relationship? You’re out of your goddamn mind.”
“You’re the only one out of your fucking mind, Anya. You’re crazy and beautiful and intelligent. And icy as all hell, but I fucking love those things about you.”
Silence fills the car, and she turns a paler shade. I realize too late what triggered her.
“Anya, I said I love those thing about you, not that I—”
She lifts her hand up and points her finger gun at me as I reach for her, and I can see Vance pull out his gun and aim it in my direction. “Don’t touch me, River. You don’t know me. And if you won’t fuck me, then there is nothing else between us,” she says in a clipped tone.
“I won’t abandon you like your brother. If you’ll have me—” I cut myself off abruptly. If looks could kill, I would be dead.
“You have no right to speak of my brother. We’re done.”
She opens the car door, and I reach for her again. “Anya, stop being a brat and let’s talk about this like adults.”
She slams the door shut, and my knuckles turn white over the steering wheel. I’m so furious with myself for being open with her. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. What’s even more infuriating is how powerful this woman is, yet how quick she is to crumble with the thought of what others might think if she were to give us a chance. No, not others. Meredith.
I roll my window down. “I’m not done with you, Red.”
“Get off my property!” She plucks the gun from Vance’s hand and points it in my direction.
I’m livid as I carve up the stones on her driveway when I start to pull away. Then I hear a bang, and my tire pops before another shot goes off.
Fucking crazy bitch.
She’s my undoing and everything I still fucking want.
I drive, swerving uncontrollably down her driveway.
I’m fucking furious as I grab my phone and send a text to Will.
Me: I want everything on Meredith Fork. Hurry the fuck up about Alek Ivanov as well. I’ll double your payment.
I don’t like the old bitch who was able to crumble my she-devil, whether Anya likes to admit it or not. Something is fucked up about this foster shit, and I don’t think it’s dumb luck that the two were taken in by someone as cunning as Meredith Fork.
CHAPTER 28
Anya
Ihaven’t heard from River for a week, and I’m grateful for it. I’ve concentrated on my work and finding Alek, which should be my only focuses. Not entertaining some gun dealer.