First Read online Penelope Sky (Betrothed #5)

Categories Genre: Dark, Erotic, Romance Tags Authors: Series: Betrothed Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
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“Told me I shouldn’t…that I deserved better.”

He closed his eyes.

“We argued for a while, and then I asked him to leave.”

“You didn’t take him back?” He lifted his gaze to look at me.

“No…but he didn’t ask. He still doesn’t want me. He just doesn’t want me to be with you.”

He gripped the counter with both hands and sighed. “What is it about this guy?”

“I don’t know…he says he cares about me—”

“No.” He sighed again. “Why are you still on his hook?”

I hadn’t thought about Damien much in the last month, probably because I didn’t have to see or talk to him. But the moment I saw his pretty eyes and hard features, I was sent back in time to all those nights we’d spent together. Feelings rushed back like no time had passed at all. “I don’t know…”

“Are you in love with him?” Liam had never asked me details about my former lover because he preferred to avoid the elephant in the room, but when the problem wasn’t going to go away, he couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I couldn’t look him in the eye as I answered. “Yeah…I loved him.”

He couldn’t hide his hurt. “I asked if you loved him now.”

“I…I guess. But I don’t want to. I hadn’t thought about him much lately, but when I saw him…everything started again.”

Liam had clearly lost his appetite because he didn’t even look at his food. “Is it done now?”

Damien had said what he wanted to say, and now it was over. I’d told him how I felt, and he didn’t reciprocate. He hurt me all over again. Now there was no reason for us to ever speak again. “Yeah. It’s done.”

“If he wanted you, would you go back to him?”

I wanted to lie to spare Liam’s feelings, but I couldn’t. “Liam…”

“I think I already know the answer, but I want to be sure.”

I stared at my plate. “Yeah…”

He dropped his hands and stepped back for a second, unable to hide his disappointment.

“We don’t have to do this, Liam. I understand if—”

“You’re the only woman I want to be with.” He came back to me, his arms crossed over his chest. “None of this would have happened if I hadn’t fucked up everything. We’d still be together right now, maybe even have another kid on the way. I’m the only one to blame for this, so I accept the consequences. I know in time you’ll really forget about him…and I can be patient.”

33

Damien

Weeks had passed since Annabella and I had spoken.

Since she’d told me she loved me with tears in her eyes.

And I’d just stood there…and felt worthless.

Time had passed, but the wound was still fresh. When my thoughts wandered, they always wandered to her. Now I sat in my office at the lab, my feet on the desk as I stared at the weird painting on the wall. It had been there when we’d moved in to the place, but Hades and I thought it was so stupid that we had to keep it.

A knock sounded on my door. “The Skull King is here.”

I took a deep breath and steadied my temper. I wanted to pull out a rusty knife and stab him right in the throat, let the blood spill and the rust enter his veins. “Send him in.”

A moment later, the arrogant son of a bitch entered my office. “Nice place.”

I dropped my feet and righted myself in my chair. “The money is on the table.” In a black duffle bag were the royalties that he was due. “Paperwork is inside.”

He grabbed it with one hand and tested the weight.

“You can count it if you want.”

He lifted it over and over. “I am.” When he was satisfied, he put the bag on his shoulder. “It’s always nice to see you, Damien.” He stood at my desk and grinned, enjoying every second of my submission.

I’d get my chance.

He continued to linger. “Why the sour face?”

I rose from my chair and faced him. “You got your money. I don’t owe you anything else.”

He chuckled. “We could be friends, you know.”

“I have enough friends.”

“Well, Balto doesn’t owe you anything, so he doesn’t count. So, Hades is all you’ve got, but he’s out of the game, so he’s useless to you.”

“He doesn’t need to do anything for me to be my friend.”

“True. But he’d be a much better friend if he could save your ass. I could do that for you. It’s what you’re paying for, right?”

I’d never ask for help, even if I desperately needed it. “Goodbye, Heath.”

He grinned again before he walked out.

When I opened the door, Hades stood there.

In a nice suit with his watch on his wrist, he stood with his hands in his pockets. “Damien.”

“I told you I’m not going.” I left the door open and walked away. I was in my sweatpants, and I hadn’t showered. It was too early in the day to drink, but that hadn’t stopped me. I moved to the couch and fell into the cushions.



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