Reign of Freedom (Corium University Trilogy #5) Read Online J.L. Beck, Cassandra Hallman

Categories Genre: Contemporary, Dark, Mafia, Romance, Taboo Tags Authors: , Series: Corium University Trilogy Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
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A moment of silence hangs between us before Xander breaks it. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Like I said, I just want her.”

“Want or need?”

“Maybe both.” Jesus, this is more uncomfortable than talking to Lauren. “Look, I’ll keep an eye on her. I will make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid again. I was too lenient while she was at Corium. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“I don’t know if that’s enough.”

“It has to be.”

“You do realize you are putting both of our children in danger, right?”

“There isn’t any danger.”

“So Delilah didn’t try to kill Aspen?”

I finally stop pacing, feeling the need to sit down for a moment. I take a seat at the end of the mattress. “Marcel was the one who tried to hurt her, and I dealt with him.”

“You sent him away. That’s not the same as dealing with him.” Any other day, I would tell him that Marcel will soon have an unfortunate car accident. Today, I don’t have the patience to explain my plan.

“You’re just going to have to trust me on this.” Xander has been my friend for years, so I hate leaving this tension between us, but my mind is reeling, and I can’t deal with him right now. “I’ll call you back once I have her. I have to go now.”

“This conversation is not over.”

“Goodbye, Xander.” I pull the phone away from my ear and hit the red button. I already know this is going to bite me in the ass later.

Xander Rossi is used to getting his way, and not even years of friendship will get in the way of that.

Before I put my phone away, I dial my own number and hit the green button. Just like every other time I try to call, it goes straight to voicemail, which means Delilah turned the phone off or someone found it on her. Neither option is good.

I can’t track the phone if it’s off or out of range. My only hope is that she turned it off on purpose. I typed out a quick message earlier telling her it’s me and to call when she gets it, just in case she turns it back on. Though my gut tells me she doesn’t have the phone anymore.

If they hurt her, I’ll kill their entire family.

A knock on the door pulls me out of the murder scene already playing out in my head.

“Yeah, come in.” I stand from the bed just as the door opens, and Celia’s head pops into the room.

“You okay?” The way she’s looking at me like I’m a lost puppy annoys me to no end.

“No, but that’s nothing new.”

She frowns. “We’ll find her. Why don’t you come downstairs and eat something?”

I shake my head. “I’m not hungry.”

“I know, but you have to eat. How about a protein smoothie? You want to be ready to go as soon as we find her, don’t you?”

I let out a sigh. “God, you know you’re not my mom, right?”

“I can be concerned as your sister. That’s how family works. Now, let’s go. I’m feeding you whether you want to eat or not.”

“So bossy.”

Celia rolls her eyes at me. “It’s not like you and your brother respond to anything else.”

“Actually—” My phone buzzes in my pocket. “Dammit, Xander,” I mumble while fishing it out of my pocket. I glance at the screen, and my heart squeezes in my chest when I see my own number flashing at me.

Holding my breath, I answer the call and put it on speakerphone.

“Hello?” My voice cracks.

Silence.

Seconds go by, and there is still nothing on the other line.

“Delilah?” A quiet sob comes through the phone. The sound only worries me more. “Delilah, talk to me. Where are you? Tell me what happened, and I’ll come and get you.”

Another sniffle before her shaking voice finally comes through. “I-I don’t know.”

“You don’t know what?”

“I… I don’t know where I am.”

“That’s okay. Just keep the phone on, and I’ll find you. I’m on my way.”

I grab Celia by the arm and pull her downstairs with me. Nic meets us at the bottom of the stairs, glaring at my fingers wrapped around Celia’s wrist. He’s looking at me like he’s about to chop my hand off. I let go of her and ignore his death stare.

“Are you still there?” I ask.

“Yes… I’m here,” Delilah whispers, her voice sounding shaky and monotone as if her mind is elsewhere.

“Is anyone with you?” I point at the door, wanting to leave right away. Luckily, Nic understands and calls for a car.

“Nathaniel is here. I mean… his body.”

“His body?” Fuck. As I speak, I run a hand through my hair. “Is he dead?”

“Yes.” She says the word without a lick of remorse in her voice. Dammit, I wanted to kill him myself. I don’t have the patience to ask her how it happened. That’s something I can figure out later.


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