Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
And it took her no time at all to spot me. Hunter’s voice was full of alarm when she shouted my name and began sprinting toward the truck.
“Hunter!” I yelled, leaping toward the open window as if I might dive through it. Ocean immediately seized my throat, his fingers a hot possessive collar around my neck as he pressed me back against the seat and kept me there. Even now, I could hear the rapid click of Hunter’s heels as she sprinted for the truck.
God, she was fast, even in heels.
Hunter ran track in high school and for a semester in college to stay in shape before we both dropped out after freshman year. She’d only gone because I wanted to give it a try, but when I realized it wasn’t for me, we dropped out and worked odd jobs to make ends meet, living our best broke bitch life.
It never mattered.
Since we lived together and had no plans to ever separate, we always felt like we had everything already. The only time I ever questioned if it was true was two years ago, the night I met Ocean.
He rolled up the window just as Hunter reached the SUV. She slammed her fist over and over against the glass while screaming at him to let me go, but Ocean paid her no mind as he waited for my reaction.
It was as if he already knew the truth I buried deep, but I told myself there was no way he could.
“Stop,” I begged as my eyes welled with fresh tears. “This is hurting her. It’s hurting me. Please just stop.” Tormenting us both like this, knowing we might never see each other again, was more than I could bear.
Ocean’s fingers immediately relaxed around my throat, and while it could be my imagination, I could have sworn there was remorse in his brown eyes. “Drive,” he ordered his goon.
The Denali sped from the curb, and I couldn’t help turning in my seat to get one last glimpse of Hunter. My sore eyes widened a moment later when I saw that crazy bitch reach inside her clutch.
Goddamn it, Hunter!
I threw myself onto the SUV’s floor and folded my body into a ball.
“The fuck are you—”
The muted sound of something hitting the rear windshield repeatedly interrupted Ocean before he could finish. To my horror, I realized Hunter was close to emptying the clip, but the glass remained intact.
Bulletproof.
The goddamn truck was bulletproof.
“Drive faster before she catches on and shoots out the fucking tires!” Ocean shouted.
The driver slammed on the gas.
My body was thrown into the door when he turned down another street on two wheels. Once the truck was righted, I carefully crawled back into my seat, buckled in, and then put my head in my hands.
“Why do I get the feeling that you lied to me again?”
Carefully packing away my rage, I sealed it in an air-tight box that I would only open again when it was useful. “What?” I croaked. My voice sounded tired even to my own ears.
“You said your friend wouldn’t be a problem, but that’s clearly not true.”
“Because she’s going to be a problem for you, not me.”
It was quiet for a long time before Ocean responded. “I sincerely hope you’re wrong, Coby. For her sake.”
My head shot up, and I glared at the underboss of the Fola like I had a death wish. “Did you just threaten my fucking friend?”
“Our deal doesn’t include Hunter.”
“Please just…tell me what you want from me? What is this job you want me to do?”
Ocean took his sweet fucking time answering, and I had just begun to give up thinking that he would when he said, “My father is ready to step down and let me take over as head of the family.”
“Congratulations,” I offered dryly.
Ignoring my sarcasm, he went on. “A standing tradition must be fulfilled before it can be made official.”
“What is this tradition?” I forced myself to ask. I didn’t give one solid fuck.
“I have to marry.” There was no emotion in his tone whatsoever, and all I could do was pray for that unlucky girl. Whoever she was. “And if I want to stay in power, children must follow.”
Stiffening, my heart beat a panicky drum. “I’m not sure how I can help you with that other than to recommend a good dating app.”
Ocean smiled and thought it was a gorgeous sight, but it was a little too sharp and devious for my liking. Still, I found my attention caught by the divots below his cheeks.
Dimples.
This murderous lunatic actually had dimples—deep, distracting ones that made all of his other arresting features fade into the background.
“That won’t be necessary, Coby. I’ve already found my wife.”
I had two opposing reactions to that news—warm relief because, for a second, I thought he was going to say he intended to marry me and bitter jealousy at the girl who robbed me of my fantasy.