Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“Kaius should be here any minute.”
“So, just to clarify…” My eyes move to the rearview mirror, where a set of headlights beam onto my face from behind. Kohen and Dove wait in their vehicle. “It’s been you and Kaius working behind Midnight Mayhem all along. You worked with Patience until we killed them. You did all of this for the chance to rewrite Midnight Mayhem and make it—Patience two-point-oh?” I shuffle around to face her. “Why, Delila? And what about Dominic and Bam Bam?”
“Ahh…” She reaches forward and her long, pointed nail grazes over my arm. I yank away from her. “Sweet Bam Bam. He always did have such a soft spot for you, didn’t he?”
Past
The door swung open, and a man stood on the other side. He wore an immaculate suit, had perfectly styled hair, and had the most perfect features. He was beautiful.
Kenny stopped, his head jerking up to see who had entered. “What are you doing here, Bam Bam?”
Bam Bam? I thought to myself. What an interesting name.
Bam Bam slowly made his way into the room, his eyes shifting from me to Kenny and Kaius. “I’ve come to let you know that I will be doing her training for this during year two.” Kenny slowly shuffled off my body, and as soon as his weight was off me, I could breathe a little more. “And I’m sure I do not have to tell you what that means, Kaius?” Both men stared at each other in silent conversation.
Bam Bam pointed to both of them. “Let this be a warning. I do not like my toys played with. If you ever touch her again, I’ll cut both of your eyeballs out and stitch them back in after I’ve swapped them.” His mouth was wide when he smiled. “Do you understand the words I’ve just said?” His demeanor was cool and calm. He could have been talking about the weather and not about mutating two men.
“Understood, Bam Bam.” Kaius was the first to agree, tossing a sheet onto my body. “I have to ask, though. How did you get this gig? This is for Kiznitch only. I can’t imagine Delila allowing you in?”
Bam Bam’s grin widened farther as he reached the end of the bed and took my hand with his. “Don’t you worry about that, Kaius.”
Present
I swallow the memories of Bam Bam saving me from Kaius, but welcome what year two brought me with him. I spent the entire year living under his roof with the false pretense of learning sexual manipulation of the mind, body, and soul, but instead, Bam Bam saved me. He allowed me to be a teenager. Live my life while providing me with core fundamental values that I would need when I got out. I owe Bam Bam my life.
“Yes, and I him,” I say, straightening my shoulders. “You know he’s a King, don’t you? And that he posed as Kiznitch after seeing Kaius and Kenny hurt me. He was there for a job that night. Do you know what that job was, Delila?” I hold her stare, but she doesn’t back down. She continues her same smug smile. “It was to assassinate Kaius. He wanted to, but he wanted to save me more.” I shifted in my chair, watching the rearview mirror. “Do you know why Eli was with Dominic, Delila?” I keep my words slow and shallow so she can keep up. “Because after Bam Bam failed his mission, I was supposed to be the cost of that. To live with Dominic and dance for him. Dominic came to collect me, but Eli stood in for me instead, until he figured out why Dominic wanted me so bad. I mean, sure, annoying that Bam Bam hadn’t killed Kaius, but why would he want me?” I click my fingers together. “Then it hit me. You had Dominic under your thumb all along, like you did me. Like you did The Brothers. Like you did Kissime.” Her face finally falls and I see the exact moment she knows I’ve worked her out…
Past
Kissime
The day I was saved. I often think about the moment he pulled me from the lake and breathed life back into my lungs after my own mother took them out. After breathing in water for minutes on end, she thought I was dead. Success in her need to kill me, she shoved my head beneath the water and left me there to decay.
But I didn’t.
Because I was pulled out with a grip around my neck, lips on mine, and life given back to me. I remember waking and looking up at two dark eyes hidden behind a curtain of wet hair that fell over his forehead. Who was this beautiful creature, and was I dead? I wasn’t sure.
“What’s your name?” he huffed as if he’d just swum a marathon, and maybe he had.