Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“That’s not true.”
“It is true. Ask your father.”
“You’re lying. He escaped when he was eighteen.” Tears gathered in my eyes. “He got out, and he never came back.”
Otto scoffed. “He never got out. He was caught before he even got past the gates.”
The idea that Valentine never escaped breaks my already broken heart. For years, I’d held onto the belief that he was living a good life somewhere nice, living free and happy, the Inferno nothing but a faded scar on a beautiful life.
Now, Otto was smashing that hope to smithereens.
I turned and headed for the door, but Otto grabbed me by the arm and swung me back to face him. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“To speak to Max.” I yanked my arm free. “To tell him what you said and see what he has to say about it.”
Otto smirked, and nausea curdled in my stomach because that smirk told me he might just be telling the truth, and I didn’t know what I’d do if he were.
He shoved me through the doorway. “Allow me to escort you.”
Max was behind his desk in his office when we walked in. As we approached him, Star’s head popped up from beneath the desk, and I had to fight back the new wave of nausea rolling through my stomach when I realized what she was doing under there.
“We’ll finish this later,” Max said, giving her a wink. He stood, lifting the zipper of his jeans and buttoning them closed.
Star climbed out from under the desk and looked at me over her shoulder as she wiped the corner of her mouth and sauntered off. The wide-eyed affection she’d shown me the day we met was long gone, replaced with a need to taunt me with how much of an Inferno girl she really was.
She knew I hated it here.
Everyone did.
They liked to shock me with all their weirdness and sexual explicitness.
Otto shoved me forward, and I fell to the floor at Max’s feet. Anger throbbed at my temple. One day, I would wound him for every time he put his hands on me.
But not today.
No, today, I would bite back my hatred for him and focus on surviving.
I hated my life. The feeling of hopelessness was an everyday thing, but I knew it was all going to change. Because one day, I was going to get my revenge on him and Max and burn this godforsaken place to the ground.
Max always said I had Inferno blood in me, and I had every intention of showing him just how true that was.
Use. Torch. Destroy.
“What do I owe the pleasure of my daughter visiting me this evening?”
I didn’t beat around the bush with bullshit niceties. “Is Valentine dead?” I asked, trembling with grief and rage.
The smile on Max’s face vanished.
His cold eyes looked to Otto, then back to me. “What is this about? What’s got you all worked up?”
“Answer the goddamn question,” I demanded shakily. “Is. Valentine. Dead?”
Max sighed dramatically and walked over to Otto, stopping once he was right in front of him but not turning to look at him. “Give her to me, you said. I’ll keep her in line, you said. I’ll show her who’s boss, you said.” He tsked and shook his head, turning to look at Otto. “It’s this kind of disappointment that makes me think I’ve failed as your mentor, Otto. Is this true? Have I failed you?”
“No, Max, but—”
“I gave her to you thinking I could trust you to reprogram her into the Inferno, and a month later, all I see are bruises on her skin, but the wickedness on her tongue still remains. Tell me, when exactly do you plan on showing her who’s boss?”
“She’s willful.”
“Well, she is my daughter, after all.” Max laughed, but his smile vanished quickly. “You disappoint me, Otto. Greatly. But I suppose it’s my fault. Don’t send a boy to do a man’s job.”
Otto’s jaw tightened, and Max looked smug.
He was enjoying this.
Without warning, he swung around to look at me. “And you… who the hell do you think you are, coming in here and demanding something from me?”
“I’m supposed to be your daughter.”
“That’s right, my daughter, but you haven’t shown any interest in being a part of this family. You’re always moping around here with your long face and angry eyes. You’re too much of a wild heart, Lily.” Startling me, he grabbed me around the throat and began to squeeze. “Yes, I am your father. I gave you life, but I can easily take it away. Do you understand me?”
Not trusting my tongue, I didn’t reply, and with his fingers wound around my neck, I wasn’t sure I would make it out alive if I did. Finally, he released me, and with my hands clutching the base of my throat, I sucked in a deep breath.