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)
Rafael leaned over the table. “Luna, we want the same thing—”
Knock. Knock.
“—this any-means-necessary shit isn’t—”
Knock.
He twisted around. “What the fuck? Is someone knocking on our door? Have they lost their mind?” He no sooner finished his sentence when there was another knock.
I was the first one up and out of my seat. “It must be Katie. I told her I’d meet up with her to check out the security footage. She’s never been the patient type.”
The guys relaxed, returning to their seats. I walked out into the hall, feeling lighter than when I entered the kitchen. The conversation wasn’t over. Rafael and Lucien had plenty they wanted to say to me. It was written all over their face. Even so, they couldn’t deny I was right.
My Rogues were brilliant. Their plan to drive those bastards insane with fear and paranoia was genius. Getting them to turn all that on Ashton—the worst among them—was so masterful, I’m pretty sure I fell half in love with them right then. It wasn’t that I thought I could do this without them, or even better than them.
The simple truth was I couldn’t take down every Royal from the very top of the kingdom to the bottom from the shadows. They’d figure out it was me... because I wanted them to know. They underestimated Winter, me, and every so-called Dreg. It was in the damn name for crying out loud. They walked around literally calling us worthless. So little did we matter that our lives were something to play with like a children’s game.
Bringing Regalia to its knees would be my grandest accomplishment. I wanted the whole world to know.
Skipping into the hall, I threw open the door. My greeting died on my lips.
“About time.” Victor tossed his duffel bag over the entryway, bugging my eyes open. “Which room is mine? I’ve got more stuff in the car.”
I SAT ON THE COUCH, legs jiggling and sweating like a criminal in an interrogation room with the prime piece of evidence in my pocket. Victor reclined next to me, sipping an ice-cold Malta of all things. I didn’t give it to him. His butler/mover kept it chilled while he helped him get his stuff as far as the living room.
Lucien, Wilder, Cato, and Rafael towered over us. In Cato’s case, he crouched on the chair arm, rumbling a low, steady growl that didn’t concern Victor as much as it should.
“You’re not moving in here, Wilson,” Wilder gritted. “Tell your errand boy to pick up your shit and walk it out the way you came in.”
Victor took a long pull and smacked his lips. “Correction: I am moving in here,” he breezed. “Luna invited me.”
I jerked as four pairs of eyes flew to me. “I did what? That never happened!”
He heaved a sigh. “You said you wanted us to start over, get to know each other, and do this right for the first time since we met. I already invited you to live in the mansion, and you said no. So obviously that leaves me moving in here.” Victor tipped his head to the ceiling. “What’s the bathroom situation like? I’ll need my own.”
Wilder advanced on him.
“Okay, wait,” I cried. “There’s been a misunderstanding. Victor, I meant it when I said I wanted us to start over. This...” I drifted to my Rogues. “This wedding is happening. It has to if I’m going to stay in Regalia U, but I truly believe we can have a relationship that works for both of us. Getting there doesn’t mean moving down the hall. I was more talking about—about—walking to class together and having dinner once a week.”
“We tried that. Didn’t work. This isn’t about being boyfriend-girlfriend. It’s about being husband and wife. I’ve got to get to know you for real, and I’ve got a feeling you’re not your real self when you’re on your best behavior for my parents, or hiding your contempt for everyone on campus.” He swept out his hands. “You feel comfortable here, don’t you?”
“I... yes.”
He jerked a nod. “Then, this is where I should be. Getting to know the real you and...” I didn’t like the smile on his lips when he turned to Cato, Rafael, Lucien, and Wilder. “The guys you want me to share you with.”
“See, you almost talked me into it until that last sentence.”
“Didn’t talk me into shit,” Rafael said. “This is our place. Luna lives here because we trust her—”
“She’s ours,” Cato sliced in.
“—but we don’t trust you.”
Victor shrugged. “I don’t care if you trust me. You four are holed up in here, scamming on my fiancée and dragging her reputation to the bottom of the dumpster fire where all of yours are. Still, I’m willing to give this freak-ass situation a try.”
“Are you?” I asked, rubbing my temple. “Because your word choice says differently.”