 by Nicole Casey.jpg)
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
I awaken to darkness and realize I’ve been taken.
Held as blackmail to the Dean, who has entrusted me with the key to everything.
Worse. Sol and Theo don’t know where I am, or that I’ve been taken.
The two men who now hold my fate in their hands are familiar to my enemies.
One of them wants nothing more than to destroy me. Ruin me.
The other one wants to protect me.
With time running out, Theo and Sol will have to team up with an unlikely ally to get me back.
And if they’re successful in getting me back, what will I do then?
Can I pick between the men who have stolen my heart?
Or will my enemies kill me before I can make that choice?
All I know is, blood will be shed and secrets will be revealed.
And no one is safe.
Not even the Kings.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
CHAPTER 1
BIBA
A low, droning sound filled my head when I finally stirred, an ache ranging from temple to temple. I slowly opened my eyes, blurry lights overtaking my vision. I blinked a few times, a pained groan breaking from my lips.
Steadily, my vision started to sharpen, and it soon became clear that I wasn’t at Stormcloud any longer. I was in eerie, ancient catacombs faintly lit up by torches. Shadows flickered along the stone walls as the smell of dust surrounded me. I tried to move, but my body jolted back against the chair I sat in.
Looking down, my heart jumped at the sight of thin ropes trapping my wrists to the armrests of the wooden chair. My legs were also tied, preventing me from moving an inch. The last thing that I remembered was being tossed into a trunk. Now, I was in some cave, tied up and helpless.
“This can’t be happening,” I whispered beneath my breath, a panicked flush breaking across my skin. I was so hot from fear that I nearly broke out into a sweat as I wiggled in the chair, trying to loosen the ropes. I had no luck, though. I was stuck.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps sounded from the shadows in front of me. Two handsome, middle-aged men came into my view, wearing button down shirts and slacks without a wrinkle in sight. One of them had darkening blonde hair, a clean-shaven face, and a tall, lean figure, while the other had dark brown hair with slight waves, dark stubble along his bold jaw, and a more muscular figure. I immediately recognized one as Peter Williams, Zephyr’s father, but I didn’t know who the blonde man was.
“What do you want from me?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear that had sweat beading on my forehead. My eyes shifted over to the blonde man. “Who are you?”
“I’m Edward Hurley. My son has told me plenty about you,” he said with a sly smirk.
My stomach churned at his tone. I had a feeling he was talking about intimate details that he had no business knowing about. However, my biggest worry was that they had kidnapped me for some reason.
“Are you going to answer my questions or what? I’m not here for a damn meet and greet,” I found myself snapping at them with a slight grit to my teeth. I didn’t know what was going on, but I needed to get out of there.
Edward laughed coldly as he stepped closer to me, while Peter lingered behind him with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Arvo mentioned you were feisty,” he murmured, letting his piercing eyes roam over my body.
I felt like squirming beneath his gaze because he made me so uncomfortable, but I restrained myself and held it. I couldn’t let them think that I was intimidated, especially Edward. He would use that to his advantage, and I was already at a major disadvantage.
“Speaking of Arvo, where is he?” Peter asked Edward.
“He’s in Geneva, spying on Schmidt. The little weasel is moving money to Switzerland,” Edward replied as he turned to face Peter.
“We should’ve been focusing on him instead of these kids,” Peter muttered as he rolled his eyes. “I care more about our money than revenge.”
“Seriously? You think it’s just about revenge?” Edward scowled at him. “It’s a warning so that they don’t follow in their parents’ footsteps.”
A chill shuddered through me as Edward looked over at me.
“Or they’ll share the same fate.” Edward smirked.
I looked between them, clenching my jaw. Why did the children of their enemies have to suffer? My father and Gail’s father convinced Rafael to report everything that happened to Estrella, leading to Hurley, Stamos, and Williams being expelled. Theo was only involved because he was Simone’s child, and she was part of the initial conflict.
My heart ached at the thought of poor Gail. Her father was a caring soul just like her, and it cost her in the end. It wasn’t fair! And it wasn’t fair that Theo and I were on a hit list just because of who our parents were. Peter and Edward were just egotistical assholes who couldn’t let go of the past.
“Are you so weak and desperate that you have to bully innocent people who have nothing to do with your stupid revenge plot?” I snapped at them, pulling on the ropes with a glare on my face. I was tired of being dragged into other peoples’ messes. I just wanted this to be over with.
Peter shook his head at me, rolling his eyes.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, girl,” he said in a chastising tone that made me grind my teeth.
“You have plenty to do with this,” Edward told me as he approached me, leaning over to place his hands over my wrists. He dug his fingers into my skin not covered by the ropes, applying bruising pressure as his eyes locked with mine. “You’ve involved yourself.”