Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 106292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
One of The Circle members stands with a gun in his hand. “She’s only the heir if she’s the oldest living child,” he says. “I say we put a bullet through her head and finish this now.”
Without hesitation, Zade lifts his hand, and I barely see the flash of his gun before the bullet is flying from the chamber, the loud BANG reverberating through my chest. The bullet slams into The Circle member’s shoulder and the asshole goes down with an agonized roar, blood seeping between his fingers as he clutches his wound.
“Anybody else feel like questioning me?” Zade asks, his voice booming through the church as my hands shake. The overwhelming need to stand and declare myself takes over my every need and desire.
My knees bounce, desperation pounding through my veins, fueling my every thought.
Go, Oakley. Tell the world who you are. Put an end to this. Save yourself.
Zade meets my stare, his eyes widening with just a hint of fear, and it’s as though he has a window straight through to my thoughts. He subtly shakes his head, warning me not to do a damn thing, but I have to do it. I have to give myself a fighting chance—even if it means taking away every last one of Zade’s hopes and dreams.
I have to do it.
Swallowing hard, I throw myself to my feet, my head raised high, and without a second to even figure out how this is going to go down, I push forward, hastily making my way toward the dais. My heart pounds, fear and determination blasting through my body.
Just one more step. One more breath, and I’ll give myself the freedom to live another day.
Eyes begin to turn toward me as I hold Zade’s stare, taking in his raw fury, but not even he can stop me now. I’m seeing this through. I’m telling my truth, and I’m claiming back what’s rightfully mine.
I am the rightful blood heir, and I’m going to steal it back in the same way it was stolen from me.
Check-fucking-mate, Zade DeVil.
Power rocks through my veins, and as I go to position myself in front of the church, ready to face the people who will be mine one day, a strong hand locks around my arm, yanking me back against a hard chest.
I go to let out a squeal when Easton’s hand clamps down over my mouth, dragging me back before a single word can even come out of my mouth. “Don’t be fucking stupid,” he growls in my ear, dragging me to the very edge of the church as Zade meets Easton’s stare, giving him a firm nod. No matter what bullshit comes out of their mouths, they will always value Empire’s fucked-up laws and rituals over my very life.
My chest aches with hopelessness, feeling my only chance slipping through my fingers as Easton pulls me back behind a velvet curtain, masking us from the men and women of Empire.
I claw at his hand, seeing a side exit that Easton leads me to when I hear Zade’s booming tone on the other side of the curtain. “Let us commence,” he says, his tone lowering again. “Repeat after me. I, Cara Maisie Thorne, stand before you with the blessing of the brotherhood to make the sacrificial oath of servitude to our people.”
There’s a short pause as we reach the side exit. “I, Cara Maisie Thorne,” she cries as Easton drags me kicking and screaming through the side exit, “stand before you with the blessing of the brotherhood to make the sacrificial oath—”
Her words cut off when Easton slams the door closed between us, and without a moment of hesitation, he drags me back out to the Escalade, throws me in across the backseat, and slams the door behind him as rage blasts through my veins.
Chapter 32
OAKLEY
Cara is officially the twelfth member of The Circle, and the twins are not fucking happy about it.
We stand in the same storeroom I’d been in during Empire’s annual ball all those weeks ago, the first time I’d let Easton and Sawyer touch me. Fuck, I’d give anything to go back to that—to a time when I thought a few strange guys in a secret society was as bad as life was going to get.
A huge celebration rages just outside the doors, and despite the booming music and noise coming from the eager partiers, all I seem to hear is the arrogant, brutal argument tearing through the storeroom. And fuck, you better believe I’m getting in on the action.
My hands shove violently against Zade’s chest as I get right in his face. “YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE,” I roar, tears stinging my eyes.
His jaw clenches, coming right back at me, but Sawyer cuts in, his fist flying toward Zade’s jaw just as Dalton’s arm locks around my waist and hauls me out of the way, shoving me back behind them as a brawl breaks out. “You’ve known for four fucking days, and you didn’t say a goddamn word, you fucking bastard,” Sawyer booms as Cara squeals, desperately trying to grab Sawyer and haul him back.