Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 114551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“Damn straight.”
“Well, in that case, the next time you feel like putting that thick cock of yours down said throat, I might remember just how parched I was and decline the offer.”
Easton gives me a hard stare, his dark eyes tightening with fear as Venom peeks her head out from around his neck. “You wouldn’t,” he says, trying to call my bluff.
“Wouldn’t I?” I say, knowing damn well if the opportunity presented itself to show this man the time of his life that I’d be down on my knees before he could even call me his good little whore. But hell, he doesn’t need to know that.
I’m pulled in between Dalton and Zade, and I glance up at Zade. “Any sign of Santos?” I murmur, wanting to keep it private.
He shakes his head and disappointment fires through me, having hoped that he might have made one last ditch effort to prove himself, but like the boys have always said, Santos is a ghost with a gift of slipping away when it matters most. “Don’t worry,” Zade tells me, his hand lingering on my lower back. “He can’t hide forever. He’ll slip up at some point, and when he does, we’ll be waiting.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, I sip my water and consider finding someone to spike it when the music begins to fade. I look out at the impressive party, catching Cara’s eye across the dance floor and offering her a small smile. Things are still strained and a little weird, but I feel as though that bridge is starting to mend, and I hope one of these days we can find that easy, relaxed friendship we used to have.
Shifting my gaze away, I notice somebody watching me before noticing another and then another, and as my brows start to furrow, I realize it’s not just a handful of people, but that I have the eyes of the whole room on me. My heart starts to pound, and for a moment, I wonder if I’ve accidentally tucked the back of my dress up into my thong when I find myself looking up at Zade. “What’s going on?” I question, unease beginning to rattle me to my core. “Why’s everybody looking at me?”
Pride shines in his eyes as he stares out at the people he once yearned to call his own. “They’re looking to you for guidance,” he tells me. “They’re lost. Empire as a whole functions through leadership, and while these people as individuals in their personal lives are extremely powerful in their own right, in here, they’re motivated by a strong leader, and you, Oakley Quinn,” he says, pressing his lips into a forced smile. “You’re their rightful leader.”
I hold his stare a while longer, shaking my head. “I never asked for this,” I tell him. “I can’t lead these people.”
“You can,” he says, gently taking my shoulders and spinning me to face the crowd, encouragement thick in his proud tone. “I’ll teach you how.”
Oh, God. This is going to be a disaster.
Nerves pound through my veins as I make my way through the crowded bodies and toward the impressive stage, certain that I’m about to humiliate myself. I wasn’t a public speaker in school. I never tried out for the debate team and always made sure I had an excuse for why I couldn’t go to school on speech days.
Speaking in front of everyone during the service this afternoon was different. I was defending Zade, earning his freedom, and prosecuting my father. This right here? This is a fresh pile of steaming bullshit. If there were ever a time when I would end up humiliating myself, I’m sure it’s bound to happen in the next few seconds.
Making it across the stage to the dais, I hide my hands behind it as they violently shake, and I try to remember who the hell I am. Then raising my chin, I focus my stare on the four loves of my life, and something just clicks inside of me, a newfound confidence telling me that I can do this.
“Today, as we came together as a congregation, lending one another our love and support, we farewelled the many lives that were tragically lost fourteen days ago. We grieved as a whole and we buried the loved ones who have so generously impacted our lives for the better. We will miss them, we will love them, we will never forget them.”
With that, I hold up my glass of water toward the crowd and watch as they follow my lead before taking a sip. As I place my glass down on the dais, I continue. “Tonight we welcome a fresh beginning, we rebuild and rise as one, reborn out of the ashes. We celebrate those we have lost while vowing to make them proud with every step we take.”