Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
This put an end to our conversation.
It was merely the beginning of mine with Kraven.
Julius
“Yeah?” I hollered as Kraven opened the door.
We must have been quite a sight because it was obvious he was caught off guard by our proximity.
“Am I interrupting?” he repeated the same thing from the park.
“Your timing is impeccable as always,” I mused.
He smiled, and I wanted to wipe it off his face.
Nodding to Isla, he asked me, “Did you tell her?” Unable to resist, he taunted, glaring right at her, “Hey, Kitty, weekend custody belongs to me now.”
A quick, smoldering heat brewed in the space between us, heightening in a matter of seconds. The walls caved in, and little by little, his words took up space. Where there once was smoke, now there was fire.
And his statement just lit a match.
Simply igniting flames that none of us could ever put out.
Bigger and bigger, it engulfed us until we lost ourselves in the pit of hell. It burned us all alive instead.
* * *
Leaving ashes in its wake.
Chapter
Fifteen
Isla
After Julius left Friday afternoon, Kraven made his way into Julius’s bedroom. Julius didn’t say much to me that morning. I could tell he was lost in his own mind, which only worried me more, as I thought he was getting into something illegal. I wasn’t naive enough to think otherwise, and I knew he was aware of that, too.
It was probably why he was quiet. He didn’t want to lie to me and was aware I would know if he did. I was sitting at Julius’s desk, working on some trigonometry homework. To say I was avoiding Kraven would be an understatement, especially when I had no clue what to expect from this nightmare of a scenario that I unwillingly found myself in.
The choices were made for me.
Kraven didn’t waver, ordering, “Be ready in an hour and try not to dress like you’re attending a burial.”
I scoffed, glancing down at my clothes. I was wearing black sweats.
What the hell?
Without missing a beat, he cut right to the point. “Listen, if this is going to work”—he gestured back and forth between us—“then you’re going to have to be on your best behavior, and by that, I mean, black cat is going to have to retract her claws. Understood?”
I glared at him, and he laughed at me.
He gestured to my expression. “Case in point.”
I couldn’t help it. I softly chuckled.
“Now nod your pretty little head if we’re on the same page?”
Of course, my stomach decided to flip-flop the second it heard the word “pretty” out of his mouth.
I gave a slight nod, mostly because I wanted to see where this was going.
“Great.” He grinned with a flicker in his gaze. “Since we have that out of the way, the next order of business is that you’re going to have to follow my orders. Are we clear?”
I glared at him again, this time in disbelief.
This was the most he’d ever said to me, and all he was trying to do was boss me around.
Who the hell did he think he was?
“Let’s get this straight, so there’s no confusion. Alright?” He paused, waiting for my nod. I didn’t give him the satisfaction.
“I’m not Julius, and I have no interest in pretending I am. He asked me for a favor, end of story. I also owe you one, and I always make good on my promises. Which makes you my responsibility this weekend, and I take that very seriously.”
I didn’t move a muscle.
“Great, you agree.”
My eyes went wide as I firmly shook my head, showing him the opposite of agreement.
“Yeah, I know.” He pointed at himself, smiling widely. “I’m always right.”
Oh my God, the nerve of this guy.
I shook my head so hard it hurt my neck as I abruptly stood, literally standing up to him.
“Now last but not least,” he executed with conviction.
This was where he almost knocked me on my ass when he demanded, “You’re going to actually speak to me.”
Kraven
Seeing her get flustered was far more entertaining than I thought it would be, and knowing that I was the sole cause was just as comforting.
Ignoring her blatant dissatisfaction with my disregard, I stated, “I’m so glad we see eye to eye. Now get dressed. You’re going with me to a party.”
With that, I spun to leave, but she grabbed my arm, holding me in place.
A literal spark of electricity rang between us, and I blamed her. “Are you trying to start a fire?”
She yanked her arm away like I’d burned her, making me wince for a second. I hated that she saw it, but mostly, I despised that she pulled away from me.
What the hell is that?
It was my turn to shake my head, shoving away those thoughts and questions. She spun around to the desk and started writing something on a piece of paper before handing it to me.