Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“What are you doing here anyway? How did you get in?” I ask.
“Sly’s security system leaves something to be desired.” He releases my hand, steps away, and I feel the loss of him like I felt the cold coming in through the open door just moments ago. It’s like he takes the warmth with him, this man. “How’s Dad?” he asks, both expression and tone neutral. Silas never liked my father, but I don’t think he hated him like he hated—hates—Sullivan Fox.
I glance down and turn my mom’s ring, which is set on the ring finger of my right hand. It’s a modest gold band from my dad to my mom on their wedding day. Dad gave it to me on my seventeenth birthday. That was how old she was when they got married.
“I’ll see him soon,” I say, hoping he doesn’t hear what I’m not saying.
Silas’s eyebrows rise. “You haven’t seen him since he went in?”
I set my jaw. Silas Cruz doesn’t know everything. “I guess that’s disappointing to you, too.”
“It is. I’m surprised you’d abandon a father who loved you so much, O. If I recall, that man would walk over hot coals for his baby girl, and you turn your back just like that when shit hits the fan?”
“It’s a little more involved than that.”
“Well, you’re right about that. Just remember, the courts only see a small fragment of the truth.”
“What does that mean?”
“I imagine now is the time he’d need his daughter most.”
I walk away, turning my back on him. “Don’t lecture me. It’s complicated.”
“It’s not remotely complicated. He’s your father, and I’m sure he needs you.”
I spin to face him. “Why do you care? What’s it to you? Last time I saw you, you made very clear how you feel about me and us.”
“Now, now.” One corner of his mouth lifts into that infuriating grin of his. He closes the space between us. “I told you how I felt about you, Barbie, considering your choices. Your lies.” When I go to move away, he takes hold of my arms to stop me.
“I never lied—”
“Omission is a lie—”
“My choices are none of your business.” I try to shrug him off, but he just tightens his hold.
“But you keep making bad ones.” I hear the front door open, and keys jangle onto the table there.
“Phee?” Ethan calls out.
I tug but Silas holds tight, his jaw tensing, face hardening at the sound of Ethan’s voice.
“Phee, you here? We gotta go,” Ethan says from inside.
“Let me go,” I hiss to Silas.
“He can’t save you from me,” Silas warns.
“Phee, we’re late.”
“In here!” I call out, struggling against Silas’s grip.
He’s so close now, I can feel the stubble along his jaw against my cheek, and I swear he inhales a deep breath before whispering, “Fiancé know about your visit to the courthouse?”
When he draws back, I am sure he can read the panic in my face.
“Didn’t think so. That was a good choice. Try to make more of them.”
“Fuck you.”
“And don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret. Just like I did last time you and I met.” He drops his gaze purposefully to my breasts, then winks and draws back just as Ethan flips the light switch and I break free—or Silas releases me. I’m not sure which. I stumble backward.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ethan stalks up to his half-brother, and just like when they were younger, he shoves him, except it’s different from when they were younger, too. Ethan’s almost as big as Silas now.
Almost.
Still, moving Silas is no easy task, and Silas chuckles.
“Hey, kid,” he says, infuriatingly ruffling Ethan’s hair like he always used to do. He’s still got a few inches on Ethan.
“Call the police, Phee,” Ethan says without looking at me. “How the hell did you get in here?”
I put my hand on Ethan’s arm. I don’t want to call the police. They will haul Silas away, I am sure of it.
“Just came to congratulate Dad,” Silas says.
I manage to pull Ethan back a little. “Come on. Let’s go, Ethan. We need to get changed. Ignore him.”
“I mean, doesn’t he get the whole company now that Hart has taken accountability for pretty much all of it? It’s how the bylaws are written, isn’t it?”
“What the fuck would you know about the bylaws?”
“So Sly will finally stop building the low-income housing now, huh? Cut his losses and all.”
“What?” I ask Silas, keeping my hands firmly on Ethan’s forearm.
Silas looks at me, cocks his head in mock confusion. “Oh, shit. You didn’t tell her?”
“Get the fuck out of here, Silas, you piece of shit,” Ethan says.
Silas snorts. “It’s no way to start a happy marriage keeping secrets, kid.” He checks his watch. I notice it’s a Rolex. For all his money is evil bullshit, Silas Cruz is no stranger to luxury. “Anyway, pass on my greetings, will you? If you’re not too busy discussing wedding cakes and whatnot. I need to go.” He looks at me. “I’m meeting someone at my hotel.”