Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“You know… we never really settled the question of what we’re going to tell Hattie.” Her smile is glassy and bright.
“Tell her that we’re married. Tell her that I care for you more than anything in the world. Except for maybe Hattie herself.”
“You should be the one who says it.”
“Easy. Done.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to lie to her.”
“June…” I tilt my chin back. Can I actually tell her? Can I conjure words I haven’t spoken in a long time?
Not since the fire. Not since losing my mother and father and my little baby sister. Leanna was a child; she didn’t deserve to burn like that. I told myself I’d never find happiness, never find comfort with a woman, not ever again, not since I was off getting my dick sucked while my family’s home was a raging inferno.
But do I really have to suffer forever?
Isn’t this a better way to honor their lives?
“It’s okay,” June says and touches my cheek with her lips. “It’s okay, I know.”
There’s a bang on the door. Nunzio’s voice from the other side. “Boss, Kellan’s on his way. Should we get set up?”
June looks at me quizzically but gets up and starts pulling on her clothes.
“Give me a few minutes,” I call out. Nunzio leaves and I get to my feet. I tug June to me and kiss her one more time. “I should warn you. There might be some trouble in the house shortly.”
“What’s going on? Anything I should be afraid of?”
“No, no, not like that. It’s under control. Don’t worry.”
She nods, looking uncertain. “Will you come talk to Hattie tonight?”
“I will. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
One more kiss.
This time, it lingers.
26
JUNE
The scream echoes through the house.
Priya looks back toward Rafe’s office with an expression of pure horror. “Maybe, ah, we should—“
But Hattie cuts her off. “That’s just Daddy working.”
Priya’s face pales as she stares at me pleadingly.
I don’t even know what to say, because Hattie’s right.
Rafe tried to warn me. Earlier, after we slept together, he tried to tell me.
Only I didn’t know how bad it would get.
Another scream. This one cuts short.
“Okay! Let’s move upstairs!” Priya hops to her feet and puts on a brave face. “What do you think, Hattie? Or maybe we can take a walk outside?”
“No, I don’t want—“
A third scream and a slamming door.
“Yes, walk time!” Priya drags Hattie up and practically carries her to the door.
“Mom!” Hattie complains, but I don’t try to stop them. Instead, I usher the pair out the back and toward the garden path.
“Good luck!” I wave as Priya hurries to get Hattie away.
What the hell is my husband doing?
I want to say it gets better after that, but it sure doesn’t.
All day long, there are banging doors, slamming objects, and screams. So many pained, scared, violent screams.
They make my teeth chatter and my blood run cold.
The rumors are flying though and the whole mansion’s on edge. Even Byron seems worried. “You don’t know what’s going on, do you?” he whispers furiously when I make a quick stop to the kitchen for a snack later that afternoon. “Everyone’s upset.”
“I have no clue, honestly.”
“They’re being called back to Rafe’s office, one by one—“ He shivers and covers his mouth with his hand.
“You’ll be okay, don’t worry.” I pat his arm and give him a sad smile, because I really have no idea if that’s true.
This isn’t my place. Rafe’s got a second life, and while it sometimes bleeds through and makes me miserable, he tries to keep it contained.
There’s my husband, and there’s the Don.
Rafe leaves the Don behind when he comes to sleep in bed with me.
It goes on like that all day. Even Marnie notices. “Jesus, did your husband start murdering everyone down there or what?”
“I think it’s both Rafe and his brother Kellan.”
Marnie’s eyebrows raise. “He’s got a brother?”
“A few of them, actually, and—“ I swat her arm. “Marnie! They’re hurting people and you’re honestly thirsty for them right now?”
“I mean…” She trails off and shrugs sheepishly. “I haven’t been with anyone since the divorce and if Rafe’s brother is even half as hot as he is—“
“You’re a monster.”
“No, they’re the monsters, and if they fuck half as good as they seem to torture, I’m ready to turn to the dark side.”
Eventually, the stress of the house gets to me. Priya has to go home around six and that leaves me alone with Hattie. I try to distract my daughter by playing movies loudly in the upstairs living area, but that only goes so far.
The whole place is an anxious mess. Everyone’s afraid of what’s going to happen to them when it’s their turn to visit the boss’s office.
Once Hattie’s down for bed, I can’t take it anymore. I storm downstairs, march past the guards, and shove my way into Rafe’s inner sanctum.