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)
He put his hands up in surrender. “Fresh start, Luna. We do this or not?”
I looked from him to the guys.
“No.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“He’s working you.”
Cato jumped off the armchair, tackling and flipping me. I shrieked as I suddenly found myself three feet away from Victor and secured in his arms. The man didn’t need to say much. He got his point across just fine.
Dusting himself off, Victor got to his feet. “I’m not here for a debate. The decision is yours, Luna. Either you were serious about that fresh start, or you weren’t. If you are, I’m either moving in here or you’re moving into the mansion. What’s it going to be?”
I poked my head over Cato’s arm. “Victor, you dropped this on me before I even had my breakfast. Just give me a minute to talk it over with the guys, okay?”
“Cool. I’ll check out the room situation.”
“The fuck you will,” Wilder barked, stalking him out of the room.
It was just Rafael, Lucien, Cato, and me.
“He can’t live here, Luna.” Rafael didn’t let his voice carry. “You know what I keep in my room. You know what Wilder keeps in his. A Royal tromping around the Gallery? We might as well get fitted for silver bracelets now.”
“If he did that, it’d be over between me and him. I’d never forgive him. Victor knows that.”
“But does he care?” Lucien crouched beside me, the glow from the neon lamps reflecting off his sharpened canines. “You said this wedding has to happen to keep you in Regalia U. You need him, but he doesn’t need us.”
My lips parted, but nothing came out. Lucien was right. Victor made his feelings about the Rogues clear. He saw them as a bunch of criminals, paranoid delusionals, and nuts that went around destroying people for money and conspiracy theories. What would he do if he popped his head in Rafael’s bomb-making factory? Not to mention if he ever saw what Wilder kept in his second room.
“But I told him I wanted to make a real go of this,” I said. “What do I tell him now? You can’t live here because there are two hundred kinds of illegal activity going on?”
“You stop after he can’t live here,” Rafael stated. “He doesn’t need more than that. No one invited him here in the first place.”
“But...”
“But what, Luna? It wasn’t twenty minutes ago that you were plotting to burn down Regalia and everyone in it. Think your Royal fiancé is going to sit by quietly and just watch? If we’re going to do what we need to do, he can’t be here.”
“I know,” I cried, trying to get up. Cato held me tighter, rubbing circles on the skin above my waistband for good measure. I forgot why I wanted up. “I know. Everything you’re saying is true, but I can’t help thinking that if by some miracle I survive this, don’t end up in prison, and this wedding goes ahead, there will still be you.”
I reached out, taking Lucien’s and Rafael’s hands. “If Victor can’t accept you guys and your place in my life now, he never will. I want to be with you guys more than anything, but I gave my word that I’d marry him. Victor’s right,” I said, dropping my gaze. “I’d hate him if he forced me into a marriage where he fucked someone like Everleigh on the side, and I had to shut up and take it.
“I won’t be a hypocrite. I asked him to try and accept that I have feelings for all of you, and... he came here, Rafael. He took the first step when he could’ve stayed holed up in his mansion—pissed and taking it out on me forever.” I relaxed, resting my head on Cato’s head. “I’m just afraid that if I turn him away now, he’ll be done trying. Then, I really will be using and hurting him,” I whispered. “Forcing him into an unhappy, loveless marriage—knowing he can’t leave without losing everything.
“I’m not so far gone that I could be okay with stepping on his throat to get my revenge. If I’m honest, I feel differently toward the Wilsons now that I know John punished the first T.O.D. Club and warned his son from getting involved with them. I want to bring it all crashing down around the Royals, but not around the Wilsons. Not around Victor.”
Rafael carded his fingers through his hair, frustration battling a dozen other emotions in his eyes. “I hear what you’re saying. I really do. I hated seeing that ring on your finger before we were even together. If I was the one that put it there, I sure as hell wouldn’t share you with Victor Wilson. He’s trying to give you the relationship you want. I respect that.
“But there’s about to be a war.” Rafael’s gaze pinned me through. “We’ll have to choose sides. Us, the Royals, the Dregs, Katie, and Victor. All this has been his life for eighteen years, and he just met you.”