Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Taking mine, I pointed them at the scene, swinging the spotlight at them just as Giovanni stumbled out the door with his pants unbuttoned and shirt in the corner where Gabriella threw it. The first string of panicked bullshit dropped from his mouth—his hands up as I read the pleading in his expression.
Annika slapped him across the face, pulling “ooohs” out of both of us. She darted inside while his head was busy snapping around and hitting the doorframe.
“Her acting coach taught that girl to hit with feeling,” Rafael said.
“At least those lessons aren’t a waste of money. That’s one thing she has going for her because an honest relationship isn’t it.”
Giovanni ran inside after Annika, who no doubt blew in there to fuck up Gabriella too. From our angle, we couldn’t see inside, and risking another jaunt to the house would let them know exactly who set them up. An unseen enemy couldn’t be stopped. A seen enemy is lured out of class and beaten, kicked, and spat on in broad daylight. These guys would not know it was me for as long as possible, then they’d have no chance of stopping me.
“Thank you, Rafael.” I dropped my binoculars to gift him a smile. “You really know how to cheer a girl up.”
He winked. “I’m not done yet.”
“You’re not? But we’ve got the pictures. Annika is kicking Gabriella’s ass right now. What else is there to do?”
Rafael wasn’t done pulling surprises out of the trunk. My eyes popped seeing the small device in his hand.
“Watch the fireworks.”
My fingers twitched for the trigger. “But you said it wasn’t time yet.”
“This isn’t to kill them. It’s to keep the fun going longer.” He shrugged, flashing that lopsided grin. “Plus, it’s been a while. A guy likes to keep his skills sharp.”
“Okay,” I said, “but what’s it for?”
I pressed the button on the end of my sentence. An explosion ripped through the blissful beach night, blowing me back in my chair. Flames billowed out from the ruin of Giovanni’s car, catching its neighbor alight. Both cars engulfed in fire.
“Giovanni loves that car,” Rafael said, “and we both know he’s a bit skint at the moment. Can’t afford to buy himself another one. The three of them can mourn that fact together. It’s a long walk back.”
I laughed—loud and riddled with dark delight. Forget keeping my head around the Rogues. “Rafael, you’re amazing.”
“This is true— Oh, look. They’re coming back out.”
My binoculars flew up to position. Giovanni tripped running out of the house. He dropped to his knees before the Lamborghini—half a million dollars becoming charred scrap parts before his eyes. He didn’t notice, or didn’t care, as Annika wrenched Gabriella out by her hair.
Bending her head back, Annika ripped a cry out of the half-naked Gabriella that we heard from the hill. Gabriella kneed her in the stomach, doubling Annika over and freeing herself. She took off running.
Annika was far from beaten. Picking herself up, she ignored her burning car and worthless boyfriend, chasing after Gabriella. She tackled her within feet of the bluffs.
“Ouch,” Rafael remarked as Annika rained punches on her captive. “I’m starting to think she’s taken more than just acting lessons.”
“She’s really whaling on her.” I winced as Annika grabbed a hank of her hair and ripped. “She’s fucking this girl up.”
Giovanni finally noticed what was going on. He abandoned his car, running at them. I swung off him back to his girlfriends. Gabriella kicked Annika off her. She rolled and landed smack on the edge of the cliff.
“Wait,” I said.
The girls clambered to their feet, hatred etched in their snarling lips and bleeding cuts. They launched at each other.
“Stop,” Giovanni shouted. “Annika! Gabby!”
Annika struck Gabriella across the cheek. She snapped back and grabbed her wrists.
“Wait, stop.” My grip strangled the binoculars. “Fuck’s sake, stop!”
Gabriella forced her back, running her at the edge. Annika broke free at the last moment, just as Giovanni reached them, and Gabriella shoved.
Annika flew as my binoculars did, pitching off the cliff. My scream trapped in my throat as Annika’s echoed all the way down, then stopped.
Chapter Eleven
“Holy shit!”
“Rafael! She killed her. Oh my gosh, she wasn’t supposed to kill her!”
“Calm down.” Shooting up, Rafael started tossing our things in the trunk. “We don’t know that she’s dead.”
“Don’t know— She pushed her off a fucking cliff!”
I fell off my chair, clutching my head. I hated Annika. I wanted her to hurt for giving Giovanni the green light to fuck over my sister, but I didn’t want her dead. It was Giovanni who lied, manipulated, humiliated, and broke Winter’s heart. It was him who should go over a cliff!
“What now?” I cried. “What— Wait, what are they doing?”
I snatched up the binoculars. Giovanni and Gabriella stood at the edge of the bluff—still. Neither one was running for the metal staircase built into the rocks, leading down to the beach.