Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Benny shifted his neutral expression back to one of joy. His eyes brightened and mouth widened, showing his teeth. That was never a good sign. It was always the moment right before he yanked out the normalcy. The little hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention.
I’d seen him smile just as wide and displaying all his teeth, long ago. When he’d done it, he’d broken a teenage boy’s legs minutes later. Both of them. One at a time. Just cause the boy had been caught sneaking into Vivian’s room.
Chase clapped and I jumped. “Each time I meet you, Benny, you reach a new low. I think I’m going to stand back and let you continue to sink yourself. Just let you show Jasmine how much of a monster you are.”
I’ve already seen how much of a monster he is.
Several men in black masks and plain tuxedos appeared and surrounded us. Each one held a gun that was targeted right at Benny’s head. There must’ve been ten of them. A few of the guests gasped. Many moved out of the way.
“You even have your guards masked tonight?” Benny glanced at one of them. “They look like Batman’s rejects.”
“They are his rejects,” Chase said. “I picked the best for you.”
“They won’t shoot me in here.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because this is your precious event to showcase my daughter as your newly bought item. You wouldn’t want to cause a scene.”
“I wouldn’t care if a scene is made, as long as you’re dead.”
I waved my hands. “Both of you stop. No one has to die tonight. Please, let’s figure this out right now and just try to get over it all. We’ve been through enough. Don’t you think?”
Neither answered me.
One of the guards tapped me on my shoulder. “Ma’am, you’ll need to come with me.”
I shoved his hand away. “I’m staying right here next to Chase.”
“But, ma’am—”
“Leave her alone.” Chase kept his focus on Benny. “Go ahead as planned.”
All of the guards raised their guns a bit higher like they were better positioning their target.
I touched Chase’s hand. “What are they going to do?”
He didn’t respond.
I whispered to him, “Please, don’t kill him. I ... I can’t watch Benny die. I’m already trying to forget about everything else. I can’t take anymore.”
Chase raised his hand and flicked one finger in the air. The guards lowered their guns.
Footsteps pounded around us. More men appeared, but these weren’t Chase’s security. They had to be Benny’s. They all gathered around us, too—huge men with scars on their faces and death wrinkled around their eyes. None wore masks, although it would’ve been more soothing if they had. I would’ve given any amount of money to cover up those terrifying glares.
“So ...” Benny cleared his throat. “You have guns and now I have guns. Initially, I was bored out of my mind at this gala. I’ve never much liked frilly men in masks.” He placed his hands in his pockets. “Masks hide things. I prefer everything to be out in the open.”
“This ends tonight.” Chase raised his lip in a sneer. “All of it ends this evening. We walk away and we both agree that—”
“No, I’ve told you over and over with each head. Stay away from my daughter.”
“Benny, stop it!” I yelled over the violin’s melody. “I choose who I want to be in love with. Not you.”
“He’s too dangerous,” Benny said. “Pick someone else. This guy is broken.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” I countered.
“This is true. But I do have the will, and the power, to take that man’s life.” Benny removed his hands from his pockets and pointed at Chase. “Tonight is the last time you see him. I won’t bother you anymore this evening, but after that, I’ll leave Chase alone, if you do.”
Chase spit the next words out like they were bile on his tongue. “Get out of here now. You don’t dictate our relationship.”
“Is that your final answer?” Benny asked.
“Yes, I won’t stop seeing Jasmine. Fuck off, before you die in front of her.”
“Oh well. Some people are visual learners.” Benny rubbed his hands together. “So I’ll show you what I mean, instead of tell you. This is a perfect time, too, now that we have all of that craziness out of the way. It’s time to give you my present.”
Screams blared from the dance floor.
Benny clapped again. “I think someone just found my gift to you, Chase. What do you think? I hung it up near the dance floor.”
People cried and yelled out all around us, “Help!”
“Oh God!”
“Is she dead?”
“Is that real!?”
“What is this?!”
The lights turned on. Instead of the dim glow of candles all over the ballroom, a white hue bathed us. What the hell? Screams came from the center of the dancefloor. Some of them sounded like it was the master of ceremonies shrieking.