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)
Cross closes his eyes, knowing damn well it’s true. “No. I won’t believe she’s dead until I see a fucking body,” he says. “This ain’t over yet.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Shoving my hand against the door, my plan is already set in stone. Benny and Cross follow me out, and I nod toward Benny. “Finish your sweep. I don’t want to hear from you until you know exactly how that note got inside my hotel.”
Benny nods and turns to the left while Cross sticks right with me. “Hope you’re fucking ready, man,” I warn him. “Heads are about to roll.”
Chapter 3
OAKLEY
“I hate that you’ve been dragged into this,” my father tells me, gripping the cold, rusted bars and staring at me as though he still can’t believe I’m right here in front of him. “If I knew they would hunt you like they did me, I never would have—”
“Never would have what? Had me?” I ask, my eyes widening.
“Still not capable of allowing someone to finish a sentence, I see,” he laughs. I roll my eyes as I sit cross-legged on my bed, wondering how many before me have laid on these very sheets, slept on this very pillow. “What I was going to say is that I never would have introduced you to Empire. I would have hidden you away, but you were born before I knew what blood ran through my veins. I had no way of shielding you.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him, hating that we’re spending what little time we have left under a cloud of darkness, just waiting for the storm.
“It’s not okay,” he says, giving me a hard stare.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I drop my head into my hands, knowing just how right he is. “What are we supposed to do?”
“The only thing we can do—tell me about your life, how you were raised, and by who. I want to know it all. If we only have limited days left on this earth, then I want to know all there is to know about you, Oakley.”
I glance up at him, giving him a sad smile. “You’ve been down here for twelve years. I highly doubt your days are limited . . . just mine.”
Dad scoffs. “Zade DeVil will find you. Believe it or not, he’s coming for you, and he won’t leave a single stone unturned in trying to find you. So if he’ll go to all that effort to find his sacrifice, don’t you think he’ll put a bullet between my eyes when he realizes I’m right here? If he’s anything like his father, there’s not a damn thing he wouldn’t do to claim power. Even if it means eliminating every fucking threat that comes his way.”
I shake my head. “He thinks you’re dead. If you could find a way out of here, you could be a free man. Disappear and live your life.”
Nikolai lets out a frustrated sigh from his cell, his elbows braced against his knees, looking as though he’s deep in thought. “No one breaks out of here, child. If there were a way, don’t you think the desperate men in these cells would have tried? Surely if there were a way for your father to have broken free to get to his only daughter, he would have.”
My head drops, knowing he’s right, and I can’t help but feel for Nikolai, knowing he’s got Sawyer and his daughter at home. “I’m really not your biggest fan,” I tell him. “But for what it’s worth, Sawyer was a mess when he found out you’d been put in here. He beat the shit out of Zade and then took off to tell his mom and sister. I know I’ve only known him for a few weeks, but I’ve never seen such a broken man. The thought of losing you was eating him alive.”
Nikolai is silent for a moment before I hear a heavy sigh from deep within his cell. “Sawyer will be alright. He’s a strong man, raised to lead. He’ll fall into his position within The Circle and he’ll enforce the much-needed change Empire has neglected over the years. He’ll be good for our people.”
A sad smile lingers on my lips. “From what I understood, Sawyer wasn’t thrilled about becoming part of The Circle.”
“No, he’s not,” Nikolai says, almost as though fondly remembering the million arguments they’ve surely had over the years about it. “However, he has learned to put duty before selfish needs and desires. He’ll do the right thing.”
I arch my brows, not sure I truly believe that. After all, Sawyer was more than happy to double team me with his friends until I screamed, and something tells me that goes directly against this whole putting duty first thing.
“Nikolai,” I say, getting up off my bed and latching onto the bars. “Can you tell me exactly what’s going to happen at this ritual thing?”