“Was that necessary,” I mouth when Reign’s gaze meets mine.
“People need to understand that all disrespect will be met with unapologetic force,” Reign asserts, then kicks the man’s side. “Get up and finish this bullshit speech, and then get the fuck out!”
The man gathers the contents, places them back in the box, and scrambles to his feet as if his ass was on fire. He massages his throat before he continues. “You will find all??”
Elias cuts him off. “Apologize!”
“What?” The man asks.
“Don’t make him repeat himself. You won’t like the outcome,” Nando adds.
The man’s once-red face drains of its color. “I-I-I. . . I’m s-sorry,” he finally gets out. “I was out of place, and it won’t happen again.”
I almost feel bad for him.
“You will find more details within this box,” he croaks, attempting to hand it to me. My hands don’t move to accept it. “Miss Bradford.” He tries again. “Miss. I can’t leave without you accepting the box.
Groaning, I resignedly take the box. He turns and dashes from the house the moment it’s in my hands.
I stare down at the gold box, and I don’t mean plated gold. The stupid thing looks like it’s made of solid gold.
Who the fuck does this shit? It’s ostentatious packaging in poor taste.
“That’s ridiculous,” Shay mutters, pointing at the gaudy invitation.
I hum in agreement as I walk toward the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” Elias questions.
“I’m putting this where it belongs,” I answer, striding past him. I don’t stop until I reach my intended destination.
Shay gasps when she sees where I’m headed.
“Do it,” she encourages.
Turning, I smirk, appreciating her support. But in this instance, I would’ve done it even without it. Pulling the handle, I open the trash compactor and dump the box, and all it contains precisely where it belongs. Down the fucking chute with the rest of the garbage.
I slam it closed, then wheel around and head to my room.
KARL
My eyes droop as I fight to stay awake in the back of my math class. This professor needs to put some inflection in his monotone voice. I don’t even know why I bother coming. Outside of the classes I have with my angel, college can suck my left nutsack.
What I want is to get my hands on one of her guards. Those fuckers’ days on this earth are numbered, but all the damn Dudley Do Rights have thwarted every attempt to catch one of them.
My head dips, jolting me from my doze.
I gotta get the fuck out of here.
Sighing, I stand, grab my belongings, and then descend the stairs. I need to get some damn air. If I sit here another minute, there’ll be drool on my desk.
“Mr. Jefferson, the class has not ended,” the stuffy instructor in the god-awful oversized muddy-brown tweed suit states.
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
I roll my eyes, not bothering to dignify his astute observation with a response, then turn the knob, exiting his room into the hallway. I don’t stop walking until I’m standing in the quad outside the math and sciences buildings and feel the cool fall breeze on my face. The leaves have started changing colors-vibrant reds, oranges, and purples announcing autumn is here.
This is exactly what I needed.
Increasing my stride, I pass groups of students lounging at benches along the sidewalk. I ignore the lust-filled stares from girls who don’t give a fuck that I’m ” engaged.” Bile churns in my gut at the reminder.
Samantha Davenport is a bitch who couldn’t handle rejection and has taken the term spoiled rich girl throwing a tantrum to a new level. If the blood in my veins didn’t pump for only one girl, I’d take up their offers and fuck them into oblivion in front of the leech we’re being forced to marry.
My fingers graze over the imperceptible bump on my arm-the invisible collar around all our necks, forcing us to heel at the feet of a twisted girl and her crazy brother, the Senator.
Growling, I double my speed. I need quiet, and too many cheerful students are ambling around for me to think here.
I’m barely out of the quad when I hear my name being called.
“Karl,” someone shouts, but I keep walking, praying they’ll take the hint. “Karl.” They try again. “Hey, man, hold up!” The sound of feet pounding against the pavement, getting closer, makes me reluctantly stop.
Turning, I spot Jordan.
Or is Justin? Maybe Jasper? Whatever the fuck his name is, he’s about to get a knife to the throat for bothering me.
“Hey,” he greets, bending over and resting his hands on his thighs to catch his breath. “Almost thought you were ignoring me, figured with all the people roaming about, you didn’t hear me.”
I quirk a brow, preparing to tell him I was ignoring him, and he should’ve taken the hint, but he rambles on.
“Are you finally cleared to play?” He questions, reminding me of yet another reason this shit with Senator Baker and Samantha has to end.
Due to the extensive injuries I endured during my time in captivity, I was forced to be benched for the first six games of my college career. Football isn’t as big of a deal to me as it is for Liam, but it still annoys me that I’m sidelined.
“Not until our homecoming game in two weeks,” I reply.
“Fuck yeah, in time for the Groveton game,” he exclaims, and I share his excitement.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.