Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
But this wasn’t normal circumstances, and no one could look in Levi’s dead eyes and see a child. I wondered what I’d see the day I finally looked in the Phantom’s eyes.
“Is there anything you can do to help me? I’ve been looking for something called the T.O.D. Club. Have you heard of it?”
Something flashed in his eyes. “Why ask me? If you know of the club’s existence, a member must have told you about it. Ask them.”
“That member died before they could give me any details, so I’ll ask you.” I peered at him through my lashes. “Because if you know of its existence, that makes you a member.”
Leon shook his head. “Not quite. I know it exists because I know a lot of things about a lot of things. It’s one of Regalia University’s old secret societies. I also know the member list doesn’t include graduates. Grown men don’t play truth or dare.”
I inclined my head, accepting this. Not even I could picture Saylor’s, Everleigh’s, or Piper’s parents sitting around, taking payments to play vicious pranks and spread sex secrets. There was something very college about this stupid club. Make that high school.
“What can you tell me?” I asked.
“I can tell you that you’ve entered the arena, Miss Sinclair-Bowden. The lions have been unleashed, the audience is braying for your blood, and you have no weapons.” He pinned me with a look. “But you do have my sons as a shield. I’d be very careful of your next moves from here on out. There’ll be casualties if you self-destruct.”
“That’s why you wanted to see me.” I finally poured honey in my cooling tea. “To warn me off Rafael and Cato. I wouldn’t have expected that.”
“It surprises you that I’m a concerned parent?”
“You cut them off and kicked them out of the house at eighteen.”
“Naturally,” he drawled. “A man cannot build an empire on his father’s shoulders.”
“Okay, but you raised them to build a specific kind of empire. The outside-the-law kind,” I said. “You know a lot of things about a lot of things, so you know how they got the name Rogues. Between Rafael blowing things up and Cato being Cato, you haven’t seen the need to play concerned parent.” A slow smile spread across my face. “Begs the question, why are you here now? Checking me out, seeing what I know, and warning me that I’m starting a war that’ll be dangerous for your sons. More dangerous than all the other wars they’ve started all on their own.
“You do know the secret,” I dropped. “You know who came after Winter, and that child or not, they’re dangerous. You can’t have your sons in the middle of their war. Tell me who it is.”
Mr. Dumont drained his cup in no kind of a hurry. “Oh yes,” he said, matching my smile. “I see why my boys like you.” He stood up. “I’m afraid I must get going.”
“No, wait—” I jumped to my feet.
“It was lovely to meet you. I hope we do this again soon.”
“No!” I seized his arm, heart rocking into my throat when he slowly turned and zeroed in on my grip. I held on tighter. “Please, Mr. Dumont. She was my sister. My sister. I will never give up on this. I won’t stop until everyone who hurt her feels what she did before they die! If you care so much about your sons, you’ll help me end this war quick and quiet.”
I glared into his eyes. “Because my way is going to be messy.”
“Compelling argument.” Dumont peeled me off of him. “But I know nothing that can help you.”
“You’re lying.” No wonder Wilder thought I had a death wish. Watching the hit man’s face harden, I asked if I did too. “But what would I expect from someone who won’t even help his sons find their mother’s killer. Their own mother. You’ve sent them off to fight that war alone too. You’re just like every other Royal in this hellmouth. Nothing matters more than your secrets.”
Frost darkened his green pools. Closing the distance, Dumont shrunk me where I stood. Oh yes, I was trying to get myself killed.
“This, Miss Sinclair-Bowden, is why in my eyes you’re no more than a child. You hear that I refused to give my sons the list of suspects in their mother’s murder and think I’m a monster. It never occurred to you that I refuse to tell them the many ruthless, unstable enemies I collected in my youth because I know they would run straight at them with the same recklessness. I’ve already lost my wife,” he hissed, getting in my face. “A true monster would risk the two most important gifts she ever gave me.”
My lips parted and nothing came out. He was right. It didn’t occur to me that... he was protecting them.