Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
“He fucking paraded her around on purpose, to show that he could because the timer was up.”
Priest moves the branch away so we can see the girls clearer. “Let him have it. The only reason why Halen did it was because she doesn’t know who he is.”
“And who’s gonna tell them?”
Vaden steps up behind me. “Why we standing here creepin’?”
“Because this asshole was.” Priest finally turns and we follow behind him as he disappears farther into the forest.
One of these days, we were going to get caught. We just have to hope that when we do, it’s after the ritual and we’ve taken the place of our fathers.
I pull into the driveway of the Castle, resting my head against the back of the chair.
“Just crash here.” Priest rolls out of the car as the sun rises up from behind the sharp ceilings of their mansion. The royals have nothing on the Hayes. “War… you need to fucking sleep.”
I turn the car off and stumble out. Bloodstains litter my jeans and hoodie as we climb the one hundred steps it takes to get to the front door. The halls echo as they widen.
Bishop is leaning against the stairwell when we enter, sipping his coffee. He’s suited already, the buttons undone to expose his tattoos. Bishop is everything you’d expect a ruthless leader of a macabre, prestigious order to be as a father. I’d heard he’s different than his dad. Since Hector and Priest are like two unhinged maniacs, I’d say something skipped a generation.
“Busy night?” Bishop gestures to both of us. His hair’s damp, and his tie rests casually around his neck.
“How are you awake?” Priest shuts the door, scrubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
“I hardly sleep. Your mom and I are heading to Brazil this weekend to prepare for the ritual.”
“Yeah, okay. Anything else?”
He looks between the two of us, running his hand through his beard. “Do I need to be worried about this here?”
“No, sir…” Priest answers flatly.
I shake my head and flash him a grin. “Nah, Unc. Nothing to stress about.”
“War. Who your father is, is exactly why I’m worried about this.” He gestures to our clothes. No doubt the blood.
I sidestep him and follow Priest up the stairs.
“Did you at least clean? Or do I need to call it in?” He doesn’t turn when he asks the questions.
“Yeah, Dad… we did.”
“I need names, Priest. We cross-check. If anything is left behind, I can call in the Skull Keeper.”
“I’ll send them to you, B,” I answer Bishop as we hit the top of the stairs. We take a right, down Priest’s side of the second level. “You need to cut your old man some slack. He has a point. Vaden having to go off and decompress is enough to prove that. A bunch of fucked-up individuals.”
“Hell no. Pop said they never gave him a break when they were young.” He stumbles into his room, and I stand at the threshold. This level is for the twins. Half for Priest, and the other for Halen. Their bedrooms take up the whole space of this level, so that’s enough to know how big they are. Bishop and Madison stay on a different level and whole other side of the house. Madison’s logic when she built this was to keep them as far away as possible, since she knew what she was in for. Smart. Gotta give her that. And since their house is a literal fucking castle, whenever we throw parties on this side of the house, they never know.
Not that they care.
My heart rattles my rib cage the longer I stand here. Finally giving in, I turn toward Halen’s side of the hallway, her door directly at the end.
What the fuck was she playing at last night, and why did it piss me off so much? Over the years, especially after her little fuck-me antics when she was fourteen, I’d squashed every thought I’d have that would surface about her. But it was hard to deny… I mean… they all were attractive young girls.
Except River. Distant cousin aside on Stella’s part.
Halen was a brat, though. She always got what she wanted. Except me that night.
I chuckle. She hated that…
“I’m gonna crash in the Lighthouse.” Priest was already out by the time I closed his door, and I make my way back through the house and to the entrance. Crossing the garden to the tower that stands off the side of the Castle, I tap the elevator button and step inside. It reaches the top and dings open as I stumble through the familiar space.
Encased with windows that overlook Riverside, I punch buttons on the control screen until blinds drop to cover the glass.
My brain fades in and out as fatigue takes over.
I barely hit the California king when I’m lights out.