Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 137654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 688(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 459(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 688(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 459(@300wpm)
Kellan snorts. “Surprise, surprise. The princess doesn’t want it.”
“That’s blood money,” I snap.
“It’s whatever you wanna call it.”
“It’s illegal,” I argue with him.
Cole reaches down and picks up my envelope.
“What you did to get laptop was illegal too. Or did you forget that?” Kellan arches a brow in challenge.
I look away from him.
“That’s what I thought,” he adds.
“Find anything else on the laptop?” Cole asks Bennett.
He shrugs. “Nothing useful. The guy is in some pretty sick shit when it comes to sex. But besides bank accounts, there was nothing useful.”
“What about cell phone records?” I ask.
“What about them?” Kellan snaps.
Everyone’s eyes turn on me. “What about them?” Deke asks in a much nicer tone.
“A lot of people don’t like to log in every time they go to a site they frequent often, so they keep their passwords remembered. If you knew his carrier and typed it in, maybe it will still have him logged in. You could go through his phone records. See who he has spoken to.” They all just stare at me, and I shrug, feeling awkward. “It could be nothing …”
“No. It’s a good idea. I’ll check into it,” Bennett says.
I nod once.
Cole takes my hand and turns us to face Kellan. I square my shoulders, knowing what is about to happen. “She’s not pulling out of the group,” he growls.
“Who said she was?” Bennett demands.
“Kellan.” Deke crosses his arms over his chest.
“What?” He and Shane both speak at once.
Kellan’s jaw sharpens, and he narrows his eyes on me. “Even if you could retract your dare, which I knew you couldn’t, I still wouldn’t pull out.”
Cole surprises me and jerks me to face him. His hands go to my hair, and his lips crash down on mine. My lips part on a gasp of surprise when his tongue slides into my mouth. His hands tighten in my hair, and my eyes close on a moan. My hands grip his shirt as he kisses me like he’s desperate for me. Needs me. He tilts my head to the side, and I allow him to take my breath away. The man could kill me if he wanted as long as his hands were on me at the time. My pussy tightens, and my legs threaten to buckle as he fucking takes what he wants.
Giving Kellan a show.
My eyes slowly open as he pulls away. His blue eyes look over my shoulder, and he smirks. “And she’s mine. Stay away.”
The room falls silent as I regain myself and pull out of Cole’s hands. I turn around to face them. Kellan glares at me, but his brown eyes start to burn brighter as a sinister smile spreads across his face. He takes a step toward me, and Cole yanks me back by my shoulder, ready to jump between us.
His eyes go to Cole. “If this is how you guys wanna play it.” Then he walks past us and out the door.
_________________________________
Monday morning, I walk into the Reynolds house and see Lilly already coming down the hallway toward me. She wears a pair of jeans and a pink shirt that has a kitty on it, and her blond hair is in pigtails. She opens her arms. “Austin,” she squeals and jumps into mine.
“Hey, princess. You ready to go to school?”
She nods excitedly.
“Do I need to pack you a lunch? Or do I need to give you lunch money?” I know Blanche is away this week, and I’m not all sure what she eats for lunch. Cole didn’t give me any instructions.
“Cole made my lunch this morning before he left. It’s already in my backpack.”
“Awesome,” I say. “Let’s get going then.”
“Austin?”
I look up to see a man coming toward me, and my eyes widen at how much he resembles Cole. He has his blue eyes, a straight nose, and high cheekbones. His broad shoulders fill his expensive looking charcoal suit, and he’s smiling at me. “It’s been a long time.” He looks me up and down, and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand at the way his eyes linger on my legs.
“I’m sorry. Do I know you?” I ask. Even though I know who the man is. I’m not sure what he means by a long time.
He reaches out his right hand. “Liam Reynolds. Cole’s father.”
I got that much. He looks just like him. I shake it. He tightens his grip to the point it’s painful, but I don’t flinch.
“Good to see you again.”
“Again?” I ask, sliding Lilly to my left hip. She’s heavier than she looks.
He nods, placing his hands in the pockets of his dress slacks. “Yes. I believe the last time I saw you, you and Cole were seven.”
I frown.
“Your father and I have been best friends long before he … dated your mother.”
I almost snort at how he chose dated to describe their weekend hookup in a hotel room in Reno.