Total pages in book: 195
Estimated words: 185573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 928(@200wpm)___ 742(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 928(@200wpm)___ 742(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Her words rattle me, and when I reply, my voice loses the well-crafted edge I’ve spent years perfecting to keep people away. “Well, you should.”
Her eyes search mine in that way she has like she’s trying to lure all my secrets out. I don’t like it, but I’m not telling her to stop, either.
“I’ve heard all the rumors.” She leans back and stares up at the sky. “So far, I’ve been told that you’ve killed a guy in a knife fight, stabbed your poor mother, and pushed an innocent old lady into the street.”
I snort at the ridiculous bullshit people come up with. I guess when they don’t know why I’m really here, they can fill in the gaps however they want. It works for me if it works for them and keeps them the hell out of my way.
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you,” I smirk at the idea. “It’s all true.”
She tosses me a smile, and I like it far more than I care to admit. “I’ve been here two weeks and haven’t seen you lose your shit once. I’m still waiting for one of these epic meltdowns.”
“How do you know today’s not your lucky day?” I shrug. “Not a soul in sight. You could be sitting next to a complete psychopath and not even know it.”
“Or maybe this is all for show.” Her eyes soften with something that looks suspiciously like sympathy. “Maybe it’s easier to lock everyone out so they can never hurt you.”
Any warmth I may have felt turns to ice in my veins.
“Nice try, doc. But you better save the psychoanalysis for the quacks back at the ranch. I’m not a fixer-upper, I’m just an asshole. And if you believe otherwise, you really do need help.”
She tosses the grass aside and turns her attention back to the clouds. “Just saying, I don’t think it will kill you to have one real friend here. And I’m not talking about your female fan club back at the ranch. We can just… hang out.”
“I don’t do friends.” I give her a dark look. “I fuck, then I move on. So unless that’s what you’re offering, you should save your energy for someone else.”
That idea seems to leave a sour taste in her mouth, but she still doesn’t leave.
“You can keep playing.” She gestures to the guitar. “I don’t mind.”
“I do.” I toss the guitar aside and stare off into the distance. It’s too early to go back to the ranch. Between Bianca and the visitors wandering around the property, she’s surprisingly the less annoying option.
“You’re really talented,” she says quietly. “Your vocals are powerful and dark and insanely hypnotic. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything quite like them. It literally gave me chills.”
I don’t reply, but I can feel a flush creeping up my neck. She wasn’t supposed to hear me. Nobody was.
“Isn’t there a picnic you need to get to?” I bite out.
She doesn’t respond. For whatever reason, she seems to be immune to my usual tactics of barking and growling my way through life. But I have a feeling there’s one thing she’s not immune to. Like everyone else here, she has a vulnerability, and being the dick I am, I want to pour some salt into the wound.
“Okay, friend.” I draw out the word. “You want to sit here and talk? Let’s talk.”
She glances at me like she already knows what’s coming, but it doesn’t stop me.
“Let me take a stab at your crisis,” I muse. “How did Bianca brown eyes end up at the ranch?”
She narrows her gaze at me but doesn’t play along.
“I bet your parents must be brimming with disappointment over having to send you here,” I tell her. “I’m sure they’ve given you everything, yet you can’t quite seem to meet their expectations. They think if they just throw enough money at your imaginary problems, they’ll all go away.”
She stiffens beside me, and for a second, I almost regret the words because now I know I’m right. I’ve seen her parents here, and I’ve watched how Bianca acts as she parades them around and plays her part as the obedient daughter. She wants to please them, even as she’s dying to break free inside.
“That’s not how it is,” she murmurs.
“Really?” I answer in a bored tone. “It sure as fuck looks that way. It must be exhausting to be you. Always performing. Putting on a show. I wonder what we’d find if we cracked you open and looked inside. Is it just a robot at the controls, or do you actually have thoughts of your own?”
Her eyes cut to mine, and this time, the hurt doesn’t wash off her face. “I take back what I said before. You are an asshole.”
Chapter 5
Madden
“Hey, Kodiak.” Gypsy greets me at the door and gestures me inside. “It’s good to see you.”