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

“Don’t do that,” Bexley whispers. “Don’t let him in.”

I don’t want to, but as we descend the stone staircase, it’s hard to keep the memories out. If Brook is down here, I’m not sure I’ll be able to contain myself.

“You’re shaking,” Sasha says, squeezing my hand tighter.

“I’m fine.” I steel myself for whatever we’re about to find in the den.

Muffled voices fill the air and fear trickles down my spine.

We spill into the room, and I smother a gasp at the sight of a guy tied to a chair in the middle of the room.

“What is this?” Sasha asks, and I’m in awe of the indifference in her voice. She almost sounds bored, as if it’s just another day.

Everyone is here. Ashton and Tim flank the guy while Channing, Brandon, and Alex stand off to the side, watching.

“Noah here has something to say to Mia.”

“Me?” I balk.

“Yeah, don’t you recognize him, babe? Come closer, get a better look.”

I step forward, rounding the chair a little to face the guy head on, paling when I do.

“You.”

“I-I swear, it was an accident. You were in my way.”

“Cade, what is this?” I repeat Sasha’s words from earlier.

“He disrespected you. Now he pays the price.”

“Cade,” I say more firmly, coaxing him to look at me, “this is silly. It was an accident.”

“Nobody, and I mean nobody, touches my prosapia and gets away with it.”

“Easton, show him what we do to guys who touch what isn’t theirs.”

My eyes flick to Bexley, and his jaw clenches. “I’m not going to hurt him. He didn’t—”

“I said show him what we do to guys who touch what isn’t theirs.”

“Please, man… I swear, it was an accident. I didn’t even see her until it was too late. She came out of nowhere, I didn’t… oh fuck. This is crazy, come on. I’m not—”

“Ash.” The second his name falls from Cade’s lips, Ashton stalks forward and throws his fist right into the guy’s face. His head snaps back on a pained grunt, and I wince.

“Please,” his pleas fill the room.

“Your turn, Easton,” Cade barks, but Bexley stands firm.

“I’m not going to do this again,” he says.

Again?

I frown.

Bexley is keeping things from me. James alluded to that, and Cade just confirmed it. But is he doing it to protect me, or because it proves what I’ve been worried about from the start—that he’s one of them now?

An Electi.

Cade’s hand shoots out, grabbing my arm, and he hauls me back against his chest. “You might want to rethink that, Easton.” There’s a warning in his voice as he tightens his grip on me.

I cry out, unable to stop myself as his fingers dig into my skin, no doubt leaving bruises.

Bexley’s eyes narrow to dangerous slits, but I shake my head. Don’t do something stupid.

“This is stupid, man,” he says, his voice calm and composed. “I’m not going to hurt—”

“Maybe you need a bigger incentive.” Cade rips open my jacket and roughly palms my breasts through my thin t-shirt. I swallow the cry of pain, steeling my spine for Cade’s assault.

What I really want is to scream, ‘You’ll have to try harder than that,’ but I know a guy like Cade will only see that as a challenge he will gladly rise to.

His fingers twist into my hair, wrenching my head to the side. He licks my exposed skin, grazing his teeth along my jaw. “She tastes so fucking good,” he rasps, his words meant for only one person in the room.

Bexley’s eyes shutter as he inhales a deep breath.

“What’s it going to be, Easton?”

“If I do this, you’ll stop?”

A tremor goes through me.

“I only want to make him pay for hurting our girl.”

Our girl.

My stomach drops.

“Please, man,” the guy cries as Bexley stalks toward him, “I don’t deserve this. I swear, I didn’t—”

“Hit him,” Cade orders, his hand still on my breast. “Hit him and make it hurt.”

The guy is crying now, big fat tears that roll down his cheeks and onto his thigh.

“I’m sorry.” I see the words form on Bexley’s lips right before he cocks his arm and sends his fist flying into the guy’s nose. Blood sprays into the air, splattering all over Bexley.

The guy shrieks with pain, thrashing against his restraints, and my stomach churns. “God, no… no… no…” He repeats the words over and over.

“Wanna take a shot, Rexford?” Cade taunts Alex, who freezes up. “No? Shame. Guess Easton will have to take your place. Again. Hit him.”

“Cade, man,” Channing interjects, but Cade’s head whips around.

“Something you want to say?”

“He’s done.” He motions to the bloodied guy tied to the chair.

“He’s done when I say he’s done.”

Bexley lets out a strained breath, flicking his eyes to me. I shake my head again, but I know it’s futile.

“Again,” he barks.

Bexley drops his head, defeat rolling off him.

“Why do you continuously push, Easton? I’ll always push back ten times as hard. The sooner you realize that, the easier it will be. Mia is mine. Anyone who hurts her or disrespects her will pay. Surely you can’t disagree with me on that.”

“I’ll do anything…” the guy splutters. Blood pours from his nose, running over his mouth and dripping from his chin. “Anything, please… just let me go…”

“Should have thought of that, Noah, before you put your hands on my fucking woman.”

The venom in Cade’s words shocks me. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him sound so out of touch with reality. This poor guy didn’t hurt me. He didn’t mow me over or shame me in the hall. It was a simple mistake. Yet Cade is acting like he deserves to die.

Another shudder rolls through me. “Cade.” I try to twist in his arms, but he has me in a vise-like hold. “You don’t need to do this. I’m fine, see?” Desperate, I take his hand in mine and gently press it over my beating heart. “See?”

He tucks his body behind mine, pressing his lips to the sensitive skin beneath my ear. “This is what happens, Mia. Don’t say