Total pages in book: 331
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
He knows exactly why I’m here. “Everett Sinclair.”
He frowns and relaxes into his chair. “What about her?” He didn’t say anything to me when I took the photos with the family, but he knew I was there with her. He didn’t seem all that surprised that I’ve claimed her as mine.
“What do I have to do to make her my Lady?”
He sits up straighter and glances at Adam. Does Bill know that Adam and I have talked about her? That I’ve been following her? That I’ve inserted myself into her life? “I don’t know why you’d come to me—”
“You once told me and my brothers that you could be whoever you need to be. I can too.” His face sharpens. “I want her. Tell me what I need to do.”
“Kashton, this isn’t something that can be negotiated.”
“Bullshit.” I slam my hands on his desk. “We all know that you’re her daddy. I also know you have influence. I’ve seen you pull strings. Otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to make a deal with Adam. So make one with me.”
His eyes narrow on mine before he rises to his feet. After a second, they slide to Sin, who still stands off to my left. Bill turns, giving me his back, and shoves his hands into the pockets of his dress slacks.
“I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” Adam says.
I snort. “I don’t need your permission or blessing to marry Eve.” I didn’t come here to speak to him.
Bill’s shoulders rise and fall on a heavy sigh. “She’s been through hell, boy. Why would you willingly want to put her through that again?”
“Kash?” Sin grabs my arm and turns me to face him. His eyes search mine before he says, “They will make you hurt her.”
“She can handle it.” Eve is the strongest woman I know. Whatever it is, we can get through it. It might take a couple of days of sitting on the floor with her cradled in my arms, but I’ll pull her through it.
“But can you? Look.” Sin drops to a brown leather couch. “I was like you; I thought Elli could handle it. I took a Sharpie to her body, making tallies right before she was to have her pretend wedding to Chance. Told her that if he found out she was cheating, he’d make her an offering. My sister found her on the floor in her shower with bleach.”
“Sin—”
“My wife was going to douse herself in bleach to try and erase what I did so another man wouldn’t see that she had been with me.” He swallows and looks down at his wedding ring. “Putting her through that was hard on her, but it was also hard on me.” He looks up at me. “Bill is right. They will make you break her.” He stands. “What if you go too far and she’s not the same person? Or worse, what if she can’t forgive you?”
I run a hand down my face. “What if you had broken Elli?”
He doesn’t hesitate. Instead, he gives me a soft smile. “Wouldn’t have mattered. She was going to be mine no matter what, and I still would have loved her just as much.”
“This situation is not the same,” Bill says, and my jaw clenches. “Everett is a founder.”
“So is Ellington,” I argue.
“Eve—”
“Is different,” Bill snaps, interrupting Adam.
“I’m not sure why you make the fact that she’s a founder sound like a problem.” I act like I have no clue where he’s going with this.
Bill sighs. “They won’t give her an assignment because they can’t punish her if she fails.”
“I don’t understand,” I continue to play along.
“She can’t have children.” He squares his shoulders and shoves his hand into his pocket. “As a founder, if she fails her assignment, she will become a breeder. But that’s not possible for her.”
“If she fails, I’ll take her punishment.” If for some reason I don’t get to marry her, then nothing else will matter anyway.
“What?” Sin spins around. “Kash, that’s not—”
“You’d do it for Elli,” I interrupt him, and he curses under his breath, knowing I’m right.
Bill growls my name. “Kash…”
“Adam showed me the police report. I know they are trying to frame her for the deaths of those women. I’m the only other option she has for protection.” If he knows how serious I am, maybe he’ll think twice the next time he suggests shipping her off. Adam said she had resources, and Bill is it.
Bill glares at Adam, who shows no sign of remorse. “He’s not wrong,” Adam agrees.
“Why would they want to pin Everett for the murders?” Sin wonders.
“We don’t know.” Bill falls into his seat and buries his head in his hands. “But I think it has to do with Adam.”
I turn to face him. “Why the fuck are the Lords targeting her for you?”