Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Connor. Do me a favor.” Carlos reached in his pocket and took out a lighter.
Diego kept me locked to his chest, his arm crushing my breasts. Connor walked over to us and took the lighter.
“Grab the photos on the floor,” Carlos ordered.
Connor did.
“Burn them.”
Connor flicked the lighter and held the picture of us to the flame. There was no hesitation. No reaction to what he did. They were just pictures. But this was way more than that. This was Connor burning our past.
The flames ate away at the paper. At us. Then Connor threw it in the trash can with the rest and flames took hold, crackling as black smoke billowed.
Carlos held the SD card up for me to see then he tossed it in, too.
I sagged in Diego’s arms, eyes closing as my heart burned with the memories.
It was three in the morning when I opened the balcony doors, slipped outside and peered over the edge. There was a bush beneath my window that would softened the landing and it was only two stories.
I had to see him. It had been four days since my meltdown and Carlos had kept me locked in my room, but today he let me out. I still wasn’t taking the chance anyone would see me go to the pool house by walking through the house.
I climbed over the railing, the tips of my toes balancing on the tiny lip. I shuffled my hands down the thin pillars as I crouched and then slid my feet off the edge.
The weight of my body jerked on my arms as I dangled from the balcony. I peered over my shoulder to make sure none of the patrolling guards were around then let go.
I dropped into the bush, the tiny thistles scratching my skin. I was in my nightgown just in case I was caught then I could explain that I was unable to sleep and came outside to get some fresh air.
Crawling out of the bush, I crept under the veranda, avoiding the lights and staying in the shadows as I made my way toward the pool.
Footsteps.
I held my breath and pressed my back against the wall. The scent of cigar drifted into me and I knew who it was… Diego. He smoked cigars all the time. He also rarely slept.
He walked along the path on the opposite side of the veranda, stopped briefly and puffed on his cigar. The lit end glowed and heated then a small tornado of smoke lifted and dispersed into the air.
He glanced in the direction of the pool house then walked away, disappearing on the other side of the house.
I sagged against the wall. This was a bad idea. If Diego caught me, I don’t know what he’d do or more accurately, what Carlos would do.
But I had to see Connor.
I waited a few more seconds to make certain Diego was far enough away and then raced across the patio stones around the pool to the pool house.
When I stood in front of the door, I raised my hand to knock, and paused. God, what if I failed? What if he told Carlos I came to see him? No. Connor would remember me. He’d—
The door flew open.
“Better have a fuck of a good reason why you’re standing outside my door at three in the morning.”
My eyes widened. “I ah… I have to talk to you.”
“Why?”
“Please, can I come in?” I glanced over to the main house, praying Diego wasn’t back.
“No.”
Shit. “Please. Just for a minute.”
His eyes ran the length of me before he stepped back, his arm holding the door open. I ducked under, feeling as if I were the rabbit stepping into the wolf’s den.
The door clicked closed. I shivered, rubbing my arms up and down while biting my lower lip. Was this a bad idea? What if he told Carlos I was here? But the question was, did it matter anymore?
Connor was the last piece of my life that had been untouched by Carlos. I survived, knowing he was living his life, helping kids, his country, surrounded by people he loved. And, yeah, I prayed he’d found a woman to love. I wanted that for him. He deserved that.
But now that hope had been ripped from me and I was drowning in despair with nothing left to cling to. Connor had to remember. He had to get out of here and away from Carlos and Vault.
He moved past me and I turned to follow him with my eyes. I noticed the bed hadn’t been slept in and his bag sat on the island in the small kitchen. It was unzipped with a few pieces of clothing spilling over the sides.
There was nothing of the man I knew standing in front of me. Physically, he was the same and his scent… his scent was what told everything inside me that it was him and not a twin brother I didn’t know about. “What did they do to you?”