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)
“Help,” I repeated slowly. Saying it out loud didn’t help either.
“Yes, help,” Rafael said, “and damn, do you need it. You’re begging to be caught, girl. Wilder, how many people know she stunned Owen till he wet himself the other night?”
“Everyone on campus.”
“How many people know Owen led the worst of the bullying against her sister?”
“Everyone on campus,” he said flatly.
“How many Royals know she crashed his party tonight?”
“Almost all of them. The freshman Royals will know by morning.”
Rafael nodded, sweeping out a hand. “And how many people clocked her racing off in the same direction as Owen and his hookup?”
“Five,” Wilder said. “Not including me and Lucien.”
“So, when he was found murdered on a bench, who do you think the police were going to question first?”
“Luna Sinclair,” the three said at once. Cato bumped my shoulder.
I opened my mouth and nothing came out. What was I supposed to say? Their logic was solid. If I was a cop, I’d connect those dots too, but they can’t—these guys can’t. No one is getting in my way. Not after all I did to get here.
“Murdered on a park bench?” I forced a laugh. “That’s a bit dramatic. I’m sure it looked bad, but I wasn’t going to kill the guy. I planned to cut his hair. Let’s see him strut around all full of himself with a bald spot.”
“Cut his hair?” Wilder repeated. “With a switchblade? Scissors were invented in 400 BC, sweetheart. Try again. The details are everything in a trial.”
I flushed. “I wasn’t going to hurt him. You have it all wrong.”
“You have a story and you’re sticking to it,” Rafael said. “I respect that. Cato and I were sailing the Atlantic this summer, and you won’t hear me say otherwise. But we’re not kidding, Sinclair.” The joking leeched from his tone. “We’ll help you—whatever you ask. You have no idea the hell we were going to rain on Owen, Levi, and the rest of them. They would’ve wished they never met your sister. Then, we bumped into you on the first day, and there could only be one reason why you’re here.”
Jaw clenching, I looked away.
“She was your sister. Revenge belongs to you,” he said. “We won’t take over or get in your way, but you do need our help. Without us, you’ll be sleeping in a jail cell before Levi and the rest ever know you were after them.”
I didn’t speak for a long time. Neither did they, waiting me out.
“Let’s say,” I began, “that I do want revenge. Why would you help me? You knew my sister, but you don’t know me. There’s also the fact you’re cozy with the Royals,” I flung. “Have you fucked Saylor and her crew yet, or are you waiting until your schedules are clear so you can have the orgy at once and knock it out?”
He laughed. “That right there is how we’ll help you. You actually believe I can stand those four. There’s a reason Cato chases them off when they’re pawing me. A man can come up with only so many fake compliments.”
“What? You mean you don’t like them either?”
“They’re four pairs of matching Fendi wallets and no more, but if some terrible accident were to befall them, no one is looking at me.” He beamed. “Why would they? As far as anyone is concerned, I worship the ground they walk on. That’s rule one, Sinclair: the people you hate are the last ones to know.”
“Not a bad rule,” I said lightly, edging away from Cato.
“As for why.” Something flashed in his eyes. “I was paid to get a woman named Katherina out of an arranged marriage between her and Josiah Thompkins.”
I bared my teeth at the name.
“The business merger was going to make her folks millions and bring better pay and benefits to their employees. Katherina couldn’t face telling them she wanted out. She tried manipulating Josiah into ending the engagement himself, and when that didn’t work, she went to my dad.”
I stopped trying to get away, listening.
“My dad doesn’t deal with trivial matters like that unless they come with a higher price tag. He passed the job to me, and I took care of it. Her parents were sent photos of Josiah with three hookers. The shit they were getting up to made my eyes water, and I told you I’m an open-minded guy.
“Her folks ended the engagement on their own. Katherina was so happy she passed my number on to her younger sister. When Katherina’s parents started talking about hooking sister number two up with Josiah’s younger brother, Levi. Emily warned him not to pull any shit because she could end the whole thing and make it his fault with one phone call.”
“What does that have to do with Winter?”
“Josiah Thompkins’s younger brother is Levi. That marriage was going to make his family a shitload too. Not only that, his future wife put him on notice.” Rafael met my eyes. “I don’t need to tell you what a violent, vicious bastard he is.”