Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“I loved her first, I saw her first. But she didn’t see me. Fuck! She never saw anyone but you.”
“You hated me because she loved me.”
I nod my head. He gets it now. It’s not just that he had everything. He did, and I should have been where he is right now. Father didn’t choose me, he picked him.
“I’m sorry, Cane, I really am.”
He steps up close to me. It’s then I see it, right as the knife touches my own throat the same way I had hers.
Ryken Lord is his father’s son.
And I am no one.
One last breath is all it takes for him to slice my throat from one side to the other.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Saskia
Waking up in a bed next to a girl I hardly know is new to me. Sitting up, the television is still on from last night, and the sun’s now shining through the windows. How long did I sleep for? I remember the doctor assessing me then giving me something to sleep. That’s the extent of my memories before I passed out. I stand slowly, carefully, so as to not wake her.
“I’ve been awake for ages.” Sabrina’s voice shocks me, and when I turn around, I see her watching.
“I didn’t know.”
“You were having bad dreams, and you wouldn’t stop moving.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugs her shoulders.
“Is everyone still here?” I ask, looking at the door.
“Quinn, Michael, and your man are here. Yes. He came up to check on you, but you were knocked out. He’s been up every hour.”
“Thanks,” I reply, heading to the door. Pulling it open, Michael’s sitting on the floor reading a magazine.
Michael looks up at me then stands. “You’re awake.” I’m not sure how to take him, so I just nod. He looks down the stairs then back to me.
“Is Ryken here?”
He nods and walks down the stairs. I follow him, and that’s when I see Ryken. He’s sitting on the same couch Cane and I were on, and he’s talking to Quinn. They both look up as we walk down.
Ryken stands and comes straight over to me. Ryken’s hands wrap around me, and he pulls me to him tight, locking me in his grasp. He makes it almost impossible for me to move, but then his hands drop from me, and he steps back, looking at me. “Barbie...”
My hands come up and run down the length of my arm, hugging myself. I look up to him. “Is it safe for me to go home now?”
Ryken bobs his head. Unsure of what to say. So am I, to be honest, I’m a little lost myself.
“I want to go home.”
He steps back and reaches for the keys. “I’ll take you.”
My arms go to push him back but I take a step back. “I don’t want you to take me home, Ryken.”
“I’ll take her.”
We both turn to see Sabrina walking down the stairs, and as she reaches Ryken she takes the keys from his hand and continues to walk out the door. I go to follow her, but Ryken grabs hold of my hand, pulling me back to him. “I’ll be there later, okay?”
I shake my head, his hand dropping from me. “Not today... not today.”
“When?” he asks.
This time I shrug my shoulders. “I need... space.” Walking out the door before he can grab me again, Sabrina’s already in his car, the same one he tried to give to me, and she’s ready to go.
She takes off with a tire squeal and drives fast, and all the time there’s a smile etched on her face. “He fought for you, I heard?” I look at her thinking she’s not speaking to me. But of course, she is. My head isn’t on right, at least right now. “It must feel good to have someone want to fight for you.” I look down to my hands.
Can I feel bad about everything when she’s had it worse?
“What’s with Quinn?” I ask her, changing the subject.
“He’s not a good man, but so far he’s been good to me. That’s the least I can ask for. Even if he decided, well and truly later, that we’re right for each other.” She laughs. “I mean, he couldn’t have decided that when he collected me? He had to send me to that hell hole of a place?” She shakes her head, and a frown appears on her face.
“How do you feel though, knowing what they do?” Sabrina comes to a stop, and I realize we’re home.
“I mean... it bothers me. But I can’t really change him, can I?”
“I guess not.”
I open the door, and her hand comes to my leg. “If you really can’t handle it, tell him and leave him. He clearly would do anything for you. But asking someone you love to give up something they love isn’t fair... at all.”
“For a trailer trash girl, you have some good insight,” I say to her with a smile.