Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
My tears fall harder. How could I see a person so wonderful in such a vindictive man? “I hate you.”
“Good! You should.” He releases me and steps away, his chest heaving and eyes wild with anger. “Leave. Don’t come back. This arrangement is finished.”
I flinch as if he hit me. That’s how powerful his words affect me. I want to attack him. Use force and hurt him the way he hurt me.
I can’t breathe.
“Damien, are you coming back?” We both turn to see Sylvia standing some feet away, her robe open and body on display through the see-through lace.
“You! Get the fuck out of my club!” Damien barks from behind me. I run down the hall and take the stairs two at a time to the first level. I make it to the side exit and bust through the door landing in the alley. A cab light is lit at the end of the street, and I book it, throwing open the passenger door.
“Jensen, fucking wait.” I turn to see Damien running after me. I can’t. I won’t have him beat me down with his insults. I climb into the cab.
“Hurry, please,” I beg the driver. Damien is screaming my name, but I don’t look his way as the cab pulls away. I use the last of my energy to give the man my address, then throw myself against the backseat, and sob.
Why did I have to fall for a man so out of my league? A man who was never going to want me fully? I hate myself for being so naïve.
And fuck Sylvia. I tighten my fists and slam them onto the seat cushion, more tears pouring down my face. Why couldn’t she just leave me alone? I was a nobody. She was the one who had it all, why did she have to take the one thing…
Red and blue lights flash behind me, and I spin as the cab pulls over to the side. “Why are we stopping? Are we getting pulled over?”
The driver rolls down his window. “Yes, officer, is there a problem? I wasn’t aware I was speeding.”
The officer glances at the driver, looking uninterested, then casts his gaze to the backseat. Right at me. “Miss, can I have you please step out of the vehicle?”
“Who, me?”
“Now, please.”
Oh, crap. What if he saw me run out of the club and knows I’m underage? “Officer, I’m not sure I did—”
“Now, miss.”
He opens my door and I scoot out before he can drag me out. He shuts my door and addresses the driver. “You can go. Have a nice night.”
“Wait, what? No!” I plead, and the cab driver, that jerk, nods and pulls away. “I didn’t do anything!” My heart begins to pound as my mind races through the number of scenarios of what could happen next.
Headlights speed toward us, and I’m forced to shield my eyes, but when the vehicle pulls up to the side, I understand.
Damien climbs out of his car and storms over to us. “Thanks, Jerald. I’ve got her. I’ll make sure to let Commissioner Stephens know what a fine officer he has on his staff.”
The officer nods. “I appreciate that, Mr. Cross. Have a good night now.”
My mouth drops. He didn’t. “You—you son of a bitch!” I scream. I turn to throw a closed fist his way, but he’s faster, angrier. His palm stops my swing, and he pulls me away from the street into the alley.
“You asshole! You can’t just—”
“Shut the fuck up and listen,” he barks, caging me against the cold brick building.
I push back, using all my force to fight him. “You have nothing I care to hear. You think I’m just a useless toy. How could you do that? Why her? Make a fool out of me, fine, but her? Do you honestly think that low of me? Am I truly just a game to you?” I hate myself for crying, but I can’t stop.
“I don’t. Just…fuck. Listen to me.”
“No! Let me go! Game’s over. I’m done being some meaningless toy for you.” I yank hard, freeing my hands. They slam against his chest, shoving him, to no avail.
His hold on me only tightens and he presses me harder into the wall. “Dammit, you’re not a game. Stop saying that.”
Lies.
“No, I won’t fall for your lies again. This is what you’re good at.”
“Oh, give me a break,” he scoffs, taking a step back. His hands are in his hair, tugging at his long strands. He looks maddened. Wild.
I shake my head. “You may think I’m dumb, but I’m smart enough to know when I’m being played. I no longer want anything to do with this. With you.”
His eyes dart to mine. “Bullshit, you’re not done. You’re just as much into this as I am,” he says as if challenging me. But I’m stronger than he thinks.