Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” He shook his head. “Of course you don’t. Tell me right now where that boy is hiding.”
The darkness in his tone sent spears of ice up her spine. Still, it wasn’t anything she’d not gone through all her years growing up. Not giving any outward sign of the fear coursing through her as his anger rose, she blinked once.
“I was supposed to meet him at Hallelujah Crossing but your men retrieved me before I could make the connection.”
He narrowed his eyes on her and walked around the desk, his white shirt stark against nearly coal black skin. The sleeves struggled to contain his arms. The tailored four button vest fell perfectly against his toned torso. His suit coat was hanging on the tree in the corner of the room. Reclining against the top, he hooked his ankles, bringing her attention down to the large feet which were encased in brown shoes.
“They said you were having sex with his brother.”
Ryker.
Fuck, even thinking about him and his touch sent her body into overdrive. The deep voice as he praised her for giving him what he wanted, for taking his cock so well, for coming when he commanded. She swallowed and fought with everything inside her not to squirm at the memory.
“Did they lie?”
“No.” She wouldn’t be shamed for taking her pleasure when she could have it. Lord knew if her father could find some asshole to marry her just to get in his good graces, he would do so. All she was to this man was a commodity.
His wide nostrils flared and she struggled to remain relaxed. It wouldn’t hurt as much if she didn’t tense up prior.
“He could ruin me.”
Whatever he has on you is your own fault. “I don’t know where he is.” Tone calm and modulated. Just what she was hoping for. She held no illusions about her old man. He had mistresses and didn’t bother hiding them from his wife. To be fair, her mother had men of her own.
Nothing about what they had was attractive to her. Rayla longed for something true. Something real. Not simply for ratings or votes.
She wanted Ryker and the emotions he evoked in her. But even he had used her for her father’s connection. To protect his brother, it appeared, but still. She was the casualty and frankly she was tired of being one.
“I know you’re disappointed in my behavior, Father and I would apologize but we know it won’t matter.” He rose from the desk and stepped toward her. “I have to get going, I’m heading to Alabama.”
That stopped him. “Why do you think I’ll let you go to Alabama?”
“I have a job at DarkStrike Security.”
He uncrossed his arms and settled back, palms against the desktop once more. “Xavier Strauss’ company?”
“Yes sir.”
She could see his mind working on how this could benefit him and she didn’t care. Hell, she would beg for one in the mailroom if it would get her out of here.
“I’m supposed to start in the middle of August.”
“And you were in that Podunk town for what?”
“Meeting him there to wrap up the final details.” She figured there would be photos of her talking to him that her father would be able to get his hands on, and if she knew him, he would be looking.
His smile predatory as he walked toward her. “Guess you should be getting packed.”
“Yes sir.”
He moved by her and she sighed, relaxing a tiny bit. The blow was unexpected, she’d made the mistake of thinking she was in the clear. It knocked her out of the chair, pain blooming up from her ribs, the site of the strike, and into the hardwood floor.
“Find out what happens if you cross me again. You’ll be lucky to wake up.” He bent over her. “A child in a coma is a great heart tugging vote getter.” Then he was gone.
And she welcomed the swarming darkness.
Hello darkness, my old friend…isn’t that how it goes?
* * *
Late August wasn’t an ideal time to hang out in Birmingham, Alabama but it had taken her that long to make her way there. She’d been a prisoner in her father’s home, not being seen by any of the other family members. Rayla had no doubt they knew she was in residence but they weren’t risking her father’s wrath by speaking to her.
They’d drunk the Kool-Aid.
Luckily, in college, she’d managed to get her own account set up, strictly online and using her middle name she had plenty of money in there to get settled. She’d left her bag at a hotel and stood outside the tall building which housed Xavier’s business, gearing up to walk inside and ask a man she knew in passing to give her a job.
Women in tight business suits and men in powersuits moved by her with a confidence she no longer had. Somehow she felt a shell of the person she used to be. After all her years of swimming in the political shark infested waters, she felt like chum. Uneasy and frightened.