Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
On pins, Ella nibbled her lower lip as she waited for her sister to speak. Only … Mia didn’t. She just stared dumbly. Ella frowned. “Say something.”
“Uh … ”
Ella leaned back slightly. “You’re not gonna be all judgy, are you?”
“As your baby sister—”
“You’re the oldest.”
“Well, I like to pretend I’m the younger one. Getting old scares me.” Mia flapped a hand. “Anyway, as your sister, I should tell you that this isn’t wise and point out that it could go tits up big style. But if you like Viper and enjoy being with him … then I’m happy for you.”
“Why?”
Mia’s brows snapped together. “What do you mean, why?”
“I mean why would you be happy when he’s one of the Fallen?”
Mia bristled. “They’re not only the Fallen. They’re people. Not bad. Not good. Just some of both, much like everyone else. And, well, I’d be a hypocrite to lecture you.”
“A hypocrite? Why a … ” Ella trailed off as the pieces fell together. She gawked at her sister. “Oh my God, that dude you slept with, who fucked your frustration out of you—it was one of the Black Saints, wasn’t it?”
Squeezing one eye shut, Mia scratched her cheek. “Yeah.”
“Which one?”
“Dice. And, uh, we didn’t just do it that one time.”
“It happened again?”
Mia gave her a sheepish look. “That was sort of an accident. But the times after that, well, they weren’t so accidental. It’s basically become a regular thing for us to meet up for sex.”
Ella gaped again. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”
“I thought you’d lecture me and I didn’t want to hear it. Sound familiar?”
Ella’s mouth snapped shut. To think she’d been nervous of her sister’s response when, in actuality, Mia would have taken it well.
“I was going to tell you. I kept meaning to. But after what happened with Joe, I’m enjoying what I have with Dice—it’s simple, casual, no expectations or demands. I’m not ready to walk away from it yet, and if there’s anyone who could talk me into doing that it’s you.”
Ella let out a long breath. “I don’t know why Viper didn’t tell me about you and Dice.”
Mia’s nose wrinkled. “Uh, Dice hasn’t yet told him. He plans to do it today.”
“Oh. And he didn’t tell you about me and Viper? He definitely knows I’m sleeping with his president—I see the VP at the compound often.”
“He said nothing about it to me,” she said, shaking her head. “But in his shoes, I probably wouldn’t have either. The messengers are never thanked. And I would have worried it would cause trouble between siblings if they found out secondhand.”
Yeah, that made sense. “Dice probably thought it would hurt you to not hear it from me. Are you guys exclusive?”
“Oh yeah, he was pretty insistent on it. And I saw no need to object, because I didn’t want to.”
“Then we’re in very similar situations.”
“Crazy, isn’t it,” Mia marveled. “So, this is how you know Neta, then?”
“Who?”
“The blonde you were talking with earlier. Dice and I once bumped into her, and she made no bones about eye-fucking him. He told me her ultimate goal is to be claimed by Viper.”
Ella felt her eyelid twitch, possessiveness clutching her chest. No happier, her demon cricked its neck. “I see. That explains why she wants me off the scene.”
“So she’s aware you’re doing the sexual rodeo with Viper?”
“I think it’s more of a guess on her part. She didn’t threaten to tell people. Actually, she said she wouldn’t tell. But I’m not sure I believe her.”
“She might mean it. If she revealed stuff she shouldn’t, it would piss off Viper in a mega way. She won’t want to do that. It won’t actually endear him to her,” Mia pointed out.
“She said he’ll never commit to me because he has the kind of secrets only descendants and celestials would understand. I don’t know what exactly she meant by that.”
Mia nibbled on her lower lip. “Dice admitted to me that he is keeping secrets. The club as a whole are secretive. I’ve asked him to part with at least one, but he says he can’t. And really, why should he? We’re not serious. We’re just having fun.”
“I’ve asked Viper some personal questions. He often teasingly blows me off. Which would annoy me, but I don’t get the feeling he wants to hold me at a distance; just that he’s not in a position to share easily.”
Mia hummed. “I can’t complain, because I know all about keeping your own council and holding your secrets close.”
“Yeah, you don’t go round dropping secrets like they’re candy. You share them with people you know will stick around. And I don’t know if Viper even wants me to stick around.”
“All you can do is see how things play out. Fingers crossed they play out in your favor.”
“Fingers crossed.”
Hearing a knock on his bedroom door, Viper slipped on his jacket as he called out, “Come in.”