“You’re lying,” I growl. “What the fuck is it?”
She reaches up, shoving my hands off her face, and straightens her shoulders. Picking up the bottle of champagne, she takes a big gulp. “Drop it, Sin. I told you I’m fine.” She wipes her painted red lips with the back of her hand.
ELLINGTON
EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD
I’M ON THEfloor, facedown, and I can’t open my eyes. They’re too heavy, but I can hear them talking. Laughing at me. I wish I cared enough to get up and leave. But I can’t. The drugs have kicked in, and I’m long gone. Lincoln did just what James told him to do while he fucked me. I’m exhausted. They tossed me to the side once they were done. Like the trash he tells me I am.
Instead of feeling embarrassed, I feel good.
Hair is pushed from my face and knuckles gently run down my cheek.
“Take her to her room,” I hear James order from behind me, sitting at his desk.
Hands flip me over onto my back and I’m lifted into a set of arms. One of mine hangs off to my side while the other lies across my stomach. I manage to open my eyes and look up to see the kid carrying me out of James’s office.
The one that was sitting on the couch that looked around my age. His green eyes drop to look over my face and run down my body. I’m still naked from the waist down.
If I could fight him, I would, but I can’t even feel my own lips let alone get him to let me go.
He pushes my bedroom door open and places me on my bed. Gripping the hem of my shirt, he yanks it up and over my head and then unfastens my bra.
“N-no—” I manage to say, my tongue heavy.
He smiles down at me. It’s not soft or inviting. Reaching out, he runs his knuckles over my face once again. His thumb then making its way over my parted lips. “Don’t worry, Ellington. I’m not allowed to touch you. Not yet anyway.” Leaning down, he places his face in front of mine, his hand dropping to curl around my neck, holding me in place as if I had the strength to fight him. “But one day, you will belong to me. And when that day comes, you’ll beg for drugs to numb the pain I will cause.”
I throw back another drink of the champagne, my eyes on the man who sits across from me. It’s him. The kid from James’s office that night. I haven’t seen him since then. I never knew what he meant, and I never asked anyone.
James would have lied, and I had only ever seen Lincoln one more time at the party that night James was killed. I thought maybe I had dreamed it, made it up in my head. I was rolling my ass off. Thought my imagination got the best of me.
But here he is, at my mother’s reception.Why?Who the fuck is he? And why is he at this table? I know why I’m here. I’m the bride’s daughter. Sin is my date. Mr. and Mrs. Sinnett have been friends of my mother’s since before I was born. Kira brought Corbin. This kid doesn’t fit. I know he’s a Lord, but so what? Almost every male in this room is.
I ignore Sin’s eyes on me. I’m not ready to go there with him. How much can he find out about me before he just throws his hands up and saysfuck it, you’re not worth all the trouble? I don’t want to find out.
I’d take Sin any day over what others would do to me if given the chance. Easton Sinnett may want to break me, but he’s the only one that could put me back together after he’s done.
I trust Sin with my life. Anyone else, not so much.
My mother and Lincoln make it to the front of the room and take their place at the table next to us. It faces the ballroom. Giving everyone a look at the happy couple. I want to puke.
When Sin asked me if I was going to be sick, I wanted to laugh, but now I can taste the bile rising. I swallow it down with another drink of champagne. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mrs. Sinnett frown at me. I hate how weak I look to her right now. She has always been a second mom to me. Sometimes more than my own.
When I found my father dead, she held me while I cried in Kira’s room. She rocked me to sleep like I was an infant needing to be coddled. The next day, my mother showed up to get me and she was so distraught she never even looked at me. She never asked me if I was okay. She never once thought to offer me support. I was the one who found him, for fuck’s sake.
I know she was his wife, but I was his daughter. It didn’t matter. I never did. Why would I then? Why would I now?
The kid leans over to Sin and Corbin, saying something I don’t hear, making them both laugh. Of course, Sin knows him. They’re the same age. Both Lords. Have lived at the house of Lords since freshman year. Thankfully, Barrington is large enough that you can easily avoid someone who you don’t want to run into. And I’ve never had any classes with them because they are seniors.
I throw back another drink and close my eyes. I take in a deep breath, feeling the room spin. I want it to swallow me up. A hand on my thigh makes me open my eyes and I come face-to-face with a set of pretty blue ones. They search mine before dropping to my chest that the black, silk dress shows off. He doesn’t say anything, but I can see the question all over his face.
Am I okay?
No. I’m losing my goddamn mind. But it won’t be the first time. And honestly, I’m tired of fighting to stay sane. Going crazy would be a vacation.
“We want to thank you all for joining us today,” I hear Lincoln call out to the room that quiets down for his speech. “Laura and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome you all to our home…”
That bile returns and my chest heaves as I force it down.Their home?I wish I had that candle to set it on fire.