Tarnished Crown (Gravestone Elite #2) by Caitlyn Dare (books like beach read TXT) 📕

The house sits on a hill, so one wall of the basement is a solid sheet of glass that allows us to look out over the pool beyond.

"This is bullshit," Channing spits out once the door slams behind us.

"I'm sorry, man. You kinda expected it though, right?"

"I guess." He falls down onto the weight bench and drops his head into his hands. "I fucking promised her, though. Did you see the look on her face?"

I nod despite the fact that he's not looking at me. But he really doesn't need me to confirm how devastated Sasha looked when Cade announced his news.

"I don't want anyone else," he mutters.

"Fucking know how that feels."

I'm hardly dressed to work out, but I'm not going back upstairs now and risking bumping into Kingsley. So I make do with how I am, dragging my shirt over my head and dropping it on the bench along with my cell and wallet, before stepping onto the treadmill.

The garden and pool are currently empty—well, aside from a few of Cade's staff arranging everything for his impromptu party.

It's such bullshit.

All of it.

I up the speed until the only thing I can focus on is keeping up with the belt. Music leaks through the inbuilt speakers, and when I look over my shoulder, I find Channing dropping his cell down and lying back on the bench, ready to press some weights.

I want to help, but I have no fucking idea how.

He's in just as hopeless a position as me and Mia.

Love conquers all. What bullshit.

I run until my muscles burn and sweat drips down my body. At some point, Channing climbed on the treadmill beside me and we've been running in sync for at least thirty minutes when two people walk in front of the windows and our pace falters.

"Motherfucker," he grunts, his eyes locked on Sasha.

And fuck if I can't see his issue. The bathing suit she's wearing is almost nonexistent. Not that I've paid all that much attention, seeing as Mia is walking beside her, although her body is covered in a light floral dress thing.

My fist curl, hating that despite the fact that she's tried to cover up, she's showing off way too much fucking skin for these assholes to eat up.

As if they can feel our heated stares, they both turn toward the window. Sasha is the first to find us. Her movement stops as she grabs Mia's forearm. She says something, but I can't read what it is as Mia's eyes land on mine.

Tension crackles around us despite the glass that separates us.

"Fucking hell," I mutter.

"We gotta fucking fix this." Channing slams his hand down on the stop button and his movements slow.

I do the same and glance over at him, watching him eat up his girl. His chin drops in shock, and I turn back to the window in time to see Sasha run her hand seductively down her body.

A loud growl rumbles up Channing's throat at her little display. "She's fucking taking shit again."

"Can you blame her?" I mutter, thinking how much I could use some of that shit right now. Anything to make this easier.

After a second, Channing rips his eyes from his girl and marches out of the room, slamming the door closed behind him as he goes. Disappointment washes over Sasha's face as Mia wraps her arm around her shoulders and guides her over to the loungers.

I stand there watching them, knowing full well that Mia is aware of my attention, until Cade, Ashton, and Brandon emerge, wearing black boardshorts. Ashton and Brandon immediately cannonball into the pool, sending water all over the girls. Cade uses their surprise to his advantage and wraps his arms around Mia's waist, pulling her back into his body. He drops his lips and whispers something in her ear.

Anger surges through me, pulling my muscles tight as I imagine just how she feels, how she used to shudder when we connected.

Cade buries his nose in her hair, and I inhale as if it's me.

"Motherfucker."

As if she heard me, Mia turns my way. Our eyes hold for a beat, but I can't read anything in hers, while I'm sure my anger is more than obvious in mine. She's either learning to lock down how she really feels, or she really means it when she tells me that we're over.

Either way, it's fucked up.

Shaking my head at her when Cade's fingers touch her jaw and encourage her to twist so he can kiss her, I turn my back on them and follow Channing's lead. I want to stay hidden, to refuse to attend his fucking party, but I know the longer I stay in my room the more chance I've got of being dragged out of here and made to do something I really don't want to do.

The music is now pumping through my window, and the sound of laughter and water splashing can clearly be heard, but despite how much fun they might be having, there's not a single part of me that wants to join them.

I stare at myself in the mirror before I bite the bullet and go down there. My eyes lock on the crest burned into my chest. The sight of it makes my stomach churn. I fucking hate it. It's just a permanent reminder of the life I don't want but am bound to.

Sucking in a deep breath, I rip my door open. At least if I'm down there I can somewhat protect Mia. I swipe a bottle of vodka from the kitchen as I pass through before claiming the lounger between Alex and Channing.

Almost all the girls are in the pool, flicking their hair over their shoulders and pushing their bikini-clad chests out as if it's meant to entice me. The old me would have lapped that shit up. He'd have been right in the middle, much like Ashton and Brandon are right now, taking everything they were offering.

But I'm no longer him, and the only girl I see is the one on the