Shattered Legacy : A Dark Bully Romance (Gravestone Elite Book 1) by Caitlyn Dare (red seas under red skies TXT) 📕

mine. “Ignore him, babe. He’s just jealous I get to tame you and he doesn’t.”

“Nah, I like my girls with a little more bite, if you know what I’m saying.”

“I’m hungry.” I shirk out of Cade’s grip and make for the breakfast counter. “Are there pancakes?” Flipping my hair over one shoulder, I take Cade’s stool, forcing him to stand.

Sasha’s lips curve, and I’m sure I see a little flash of pride in her eyes. She’s right. You can’t show Cade and his friends even an ounce of fear, because they’ll use it against you.

“So Mia,” Ashton says as I load a plate with pancakes. “What did you think about the party?”

“It was okay, I guess.” I shrug, barely meeting his eyes.

“Okay?” He chuckles darkly. “It was fucking epic. Did you see Alex go down? I thought he was going to cry… shit, I would have paid to see that.”

A ripple goes through the room.

“I still can’t believe the two of you are related.” He pins Channing with a skeptic look. “I mean you’re so… and he’s so…”

“Knock it off, fucker. I didn’t know any more than you did.”

“The two of you are cousins?” I ask.

“Apparently so. Our dads are brothers.” Channing sips his juice. “I guess Aunt Marissa wasn’t putting out enough, so Uncle Harrison went elsewhere.”

I bristle at his words. I don’t know Alex’s mom very well, but I know she isn’t like most of the vapid, snobby women of Gravestone.

“Why do you think he waited until now to claim Alex as his son?” The words spill from my lips before I can stop them. Rexford has an Electi heir—Channing. But his father isn’t the Quinctus elder. Harrison is. So although Alex is younger than Channing, he’s the heir of an elder, which trumps everything.

I feel Cade’s eyes drilling holes into the top of my head as he curves his body over mine and drops his chin to my shoulder. “Well, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?”

“Probably realized Channing isn’t fit for the job,” Ashton says, and Channing flips him off.

“Fuck you, man. I’ve got more right to be here than you.”

The air crackles with tension, and I get the sense that perhaps the Electi aren’t as united as they make out.

“Ashton’s here because I want him here,” Cade says. “Q can go fuck themselves if they think a Rexford or Easton heir changes anything. Channing has Rexford blood, that’s all that matters.”

I catch Sasha’s eye, a million and one questions running through my head. I always thought Quinctus ruled Gravestone, but Cade talks like he holds all the power. She shakes her head discreetly and I press my lips together, swallowing the other questions I want answers to.

“What did you do with them?” she asks. “After you beat the shit out of them.”

“You’re not upset over a little blood are you, Sash?” Brandon teases, and she flips him off.

“Just wondering is all.”

“They’re learning their place.” Cade moves around me and snags a pastry from the plate. I have no idea who prepared all this food, but I can’t imagine the Electi did it.

Just then, Tim comes running into the kitchen. He stops sharply when he sees me and arches a brow at Cade.

“She’s with me.” He pins him with a hard look. “Whatever you’ve got to say, spit it out.”

“We’ve got a problem… with the… rats.”

“The rats?” Ashton smirks. “What kind of problem?”

“They’re gone.”

“Gone?” Cade shoots upright. “What do you mean, they’re gone? They were supposed to be locked up.”

I wince. They’re not talking about rats at all. They’re talking about Bexley and Alex.

Cade scrubs a hand down his face and lets out a frustrated breath. “You two,” he moves closer to Ashton and Brandon, keeping his voice low, “go with Tim…” His words become inaudible over the blood roaring in my ears.

They all glance at me, but I pretend to be eating my breakfast. Then the three of them march out of the room, taking the air with them.

“Everything okay?” I ask Cade.

“Nothing for you to worry about, babe.” He winks. “But I’m going to need to take care of this. Sasha and Channing will make sure you get back to your dorm okay.”

“Sure.”

His eyes drop to my lips and I hold my breath, silently hoping he won’t kiss me.

“Cade, man, let’s go,” someone yells through the house, and he backs away from me.

“I’ll see you soon, Mia.”

My stomach twists at his words. “Bye.”

Cade runs his thumb over his lower lip before spinning on his heel and taking off after his friends.

“They had them down there?” Sasha pins Channing with a look of disbelief.

“Leave it,” he warns her, and hurt etches into her expression.

“Fuck you, Chan.” Sasha slides off her stool, the legs scraping against the tiles. “Fuck you.” She flees the kitchen, leaving me with Channing.

“Channing, about—”

But he cuts me off, shooting up from his stool and raking a hand through his dirty blond hair. “You need to watch your back.” He echoes Sasha’s words from earlier. “I don’t know what Kingsley’s obsession with you and Easton is, but it isn’t going to end well. For anyone.” He stalks off without so much as a backward glance.

But his warning stays with me long after he’s gone.

13

Bexley

My entire body screams as I stumble through Marcus’ once again unlocked front door. I have no idea if he's expecting me or not, but he's about to discover I'm here.

"MARCUS," I bellow as loud as my ribs will allow. It might have been more than thirty-six hours since Cade and his friends beat the crap out of me, but they still smart.

Silence ensues.

"MARCUS."

Still, there's nothing. But he's here. I know he is. His car was out the front, and there are lights on.

Remembering my first visit to one of his hidden rooms last night, I go in that direction, staring at the grand staircase as if it’s Mount Kilimanjaro. Sucking in a steeling breath, I wrap my fingers around the polished mahogany bannister and begin dragging myself