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)
The chess pieces were already moving, except this time from the opposing side of the board. Pawns, knights, and rooks were knocked over as the second-tallest piece—and easily the most important—did the unthinkable. The impossible. It slid across the center of the board until it stood tall by my side.
Two queens, one king.
With that eager burn stirring in my gut, I gave the order that I’ve been resisting for far too long because I knew…I fucking knew that it could shatter everything. “Find Hunter. Bring her to me. Spread the word that I want her captured alive and make it known to everyone that anyone caught helping Hunter Parrish will be dealt with.”
Coby’s best friend now had the highest bounty on her head in all of Black Veil.
She was officially duine gun fàilte2. Persona non grata.
Hunter was all alone and had nowhere to run except straight into me.
“Coby, is Hunter your girlfriend?” I questioned softly. It was an unusual thing to ask about platonic friends when there was no real evidence to suggest otherwise—only my gut feeling. Coby’s brows dipped a little as she subtly shook her head, only to wince as if the denial—or the acknowledgement of the truth—pained her. None of it escaped my notice. Not even the sharp little inhale or the way she slightly turned her head to discreetly blink away her tears. Tamping my need to turn this room inside out, I kept my tone gentle and patient because it was what she needed. “Was she ever?”
My bride, who was already my wife in my heart, was slower to answer this time. “No.” Looking up from the floor where her attention had been, she finally met my gaze. “Hunter was never my girlfriend. She’s my sister. If she did this, it’s because she’s angry and scared. Wouldn’t you be if someone took me from you and you didn’t know if I was alive or dead?” Yes. But I remained silent as I listened. “I told you, Ocean. We’ve never been apart. You need to let me see her.”
Inhaling deeply, I could feel the ice forming around my heart and bleeding into my tone as I spoke. “Hunter is backing herself into a very dark corner,” I explained while ignoring her request. “Her actions tonight cemented that. I’m sorry, mo aingeal, but it’s war.”
“What?” Coby blinked and took an astonished step back. “W-what does that mean?”
“It means,” I said slowly, “that I don’t have to imagine how scared and angry your friend is feeling because I would never and will never allow anyone to take you from me. Hunter included.”
In my peripheral vision, I spotted the door to the office slowly creeping open and someone quietly slipping through. I kept my gaze straight ahead at Coby, who was currently eyeing the paperweight on my desk.
“What are you going to do?” she asked nervously.
“What I have to.”
Coby lunged for the small, round glass with an ocean wave trapped inside its prison, but still rising high to swallow and drown everything within its orbit. Ironically, it was a cherished and recent engagement gift to me. From my wife.
“NOOO!” She screamed when Abel grabbed her before she could bash my head in with it. Fuck, I loved this rare side of Coby just as much as her sweet and softer side. Abel lifted her up and carried her away from me as she kicked and screamed. It was all I could do not to kill my loyal friend for touching her. He was just following my orders after all. “Ocean! Don’t you touch her! Leave her alone! I’ll fucking kill you! Do you hear me? Ocean!”
Abel carried her out, and the door to my office slammed closed behind them, leaving me to sit in the dark alone. I didn’t move long after my baby’s enraged screams had faded.
She’d probably never forgive me, but it was a risk I was willing to take since I was more than committed to making sure my wife had all her heart’s desires, even the ones she was determined to keep from me.
But this new game of ours was a delicate, treacherous one, and I had no moves to spare, so it must be played carefully.
* * *
1 . Blood in, blood out.
2 . An unwelcome person.
COBY
I’ve been trapped in this room that I once thought beautiful for a week. The first three days were spent banging and screaming at the door. The only people I saw during that time were the staff who brought me food and books, restored the room after I tore it apart, changed my sheets that are thankfully no longer silk, and ignored my pleas for help.
Ocean hadn’t come to see me once.
He was too busy hunting down my best friend so he could…what? Kill her?
It was certainly the impression he’d given me right before he locked me in here again. So much for not being a prisoner. I spent my days reading but not hearing the story, eating but not tasting the food, and sleeping but not allowing my mind to rest.